The High Middle Ages in Europe The Crusades The High Middle Ages in Europe

The Holy Land Late 1000s: Seljuk Turks gain control of the Holy Land Sunni Muslim dynasty that ruled parts of Central Asia and the Middle East from the 11th to 14th centuries Holy Land: Christians’ name for Jerusalem and the area around it Turks also attacked the Byzantine Empire

A Cry for Help The Byzantine emperor, Alexius I, calls Pope Urban II for help 1095: Pope calls for a meeting of church leaders and feudal lords Motivated by religious and political reasons “With earnest prayer I, or rather the Lord, exhort you as heralds of Christ to urge men of all ranks, knights as well as foot soldiers, rich and poor, to hasten to exterminate this vile race from our lands…” Promised that the expedition would count as penance for their sins Begins the Crusades: military missions to take the Holy Lands from the Muslims Over 10,000 Europeans joined the mission

The Horrors Killing was without regard to age, sex, or religion Oriental Christians also killed because Crusaders could not distinguish them from Muslims “Some of our men cut off the heads of their enemies; others shot them with arrows, so that they fell from the towers; others tortured them longer by casting them into the flames. Piles of heads, hands, and feet were to be seen in the streets of the city. In the Temple and Porch of Solomon, men rode in blood up to their knees and bridle reins.”-Raymond d’Aguilers (chronicler)

The First Crusade Lasted from 1096 to 1099 French and Italian lords led armies to recapture Jerusalem after a series of violent battles The Crusader army killed around 40,000 unarmed civilians, or 80% of the city’s population

Later Crusades Later Crusades were less successful By the end of the Crusades in 1291, Muslims had regained control of the Holy Land

Effects of the Crusades in Europe Use of crossbows in warfare Advances in trade between Italian cities and the Holy Land Increase in the power of kings because of the number of nobles who died fighting

Group Work Work in assigned groups of 2-3 students Work in your group to read through the short Crusade description I provide to you. Discuss as a class: the importance of nursery rhymes in history and their use as a safe means of political commentary. In your group, write a nursery rhyme with themes and characters that allude to stories about the historical people of the Crusades. You will present your topic and rhyme to the class. You will be evaluated according to the provided rubric.