Crusades & the Black Plague

Video https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/wo rldhistory/middleages/ (start at 44 seconds)

The Beginning In the mid 1000s, a group of Muslim Seljuk Turks from Central Asia rose up and defeated a Byzantine army. This marked the decline of Byzantine control over Asia Minor. The Turks conquered many lands, including Palestine. Christians considered Palestine the holy land. Specifically Jerusalem, where Jesus had died. Byzantine emperor, Alexius Comnenus, asked Pope Urban II for help. The pope responded by issuing a plea to free the holy land from Muslims and launched the first Crusade.

The Crusaders Kings, nobles, knights, and peasants (serfs) all became crusaders and set out to win back control of Palestine and Jerusalem.

You have ONE minute to discuss with your shoulder partner! Think-Pair-Share If you were a Christian during the Middle Ages, would you join the Crusaders? Why? You have ONE minute to discuss with your shoulder partner!

The Crusades Between 1095 and 1214, Christians in Western Europe organized eight major military expeditions called the Crusades in order to win back control of Palestine. The most famous Crusade is the Third Crusade, in which King Richard the Lion Hearted of England faced Muslim leader Saladin. Both were great generals, but King Richard did not regain control of Jerusalem.

Impact of the Crusades Increased Trade- People wanted new spices, food, and products from the Middle East and Asia Feudalism Ended- Many serfs and nobles died or did not return from the Crusades, so Kings gained power. Improvements in Technology- Medicine, algebra, new ways to build ships, etc.

Line-Up You have THREE minutes! On a scale of 1-10, do you think the Crusades were justified? 1 being the Crusaders had every right to conduct the Crusades and 10 being the Crusaders did not have the right. On your index card, write which number you think and explain in two sentences. You have THREE minutes!

Trade Grew Following the Crusades, European trade routes grew. They were linked to Muslim trade routes and the silk road.

The Plague When medieval culture was at its greatest strength, the plague (Black Death) hit Europe. The plague was a bubonic plague, a very aggressive epidemic. The bacteria infected fleas first, who infested rats, then moved on to humans. It began in Central Asia, then moved along the Silk Road to Europe. Rats would also travel on ships and spread the plague by sea.

Effects of the Plague Killed 1/3 of the population of Europe from 1347-1352. Businesses went bankrupt. Deaths caused labor shortages. Trade declines and towns disappear. Food supply decreases and people starve.

Video https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/worldhistory/black death/