1. WORLD HISTORY READERS
Level 4-⑩
The Crusades

2. The Holy Land Where is the Holy Land? Why is it important?
It is area of the Middle East from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea. Today, Israel and Palestine occupy most of this area.
A mosaic map of the Holy Land
Why is it important?
This area is considered important to Jews, Christians, and Muslims because this is where many important events for these religions happened and where important people, such as Jesus Christ, lived long ago.
A modern map of the Holy Land
What is the problem?
For thousands of years, there have been fights to control the Holy Land. Christians in western Europe did not like that the area where Jesus had lived and died was in the hands of the Muslims.
Modern Jerusalem

3. The Beginning of the Crusade
The Crusades started at the end of the 11th century because the Byzantine Empire was attacked repeatedly by Muslim Turks. So the Byzantine Emperor asked Pope Urban II for help. The Pope was able to get a lot of help, and the first Crusaders, who were made up of many different groups, left Europe in August 1096.
How did the Crusades start?
Pope Urban II
Pope Urban II, preaching during the First Crusade
The First Crusade

4. The First Crusade (1095-1099) Were the Crusaders paid?
No, Pope Urban II told the Crusaders that if they took control of the Holy Land, they would be fighting for God. They would receive special benefits when they entered heaven.
What happened during the First Crusade?
The European Crusaders arrived in Constantinople, now modern-day Istanbul, and met with their allies in the Byzantine Empire. The Crusaders and Byzantines marched toward Jerusalem through Muslim-controlled territories. In 1099, they captured Jerusalem. Many Muslim and Jewish people were killed. The Crusaders were able to create many permanent settlements throughout the Holy Land.
A Byzantine Christian image of Jesus Christ
The Crusader States, around 1135

5. The Second Crusade (1147-1149) What caused the Second Crusade?
In 1144, the Muslims were victorious at Edessa, and this victory sparked the Second Crusade.
Crusaders attacking Damascus
What happened during the Second Crusade?
In 1148, King Conrad III of Germany and King Louis VII of France joined forces to attack the Muslims at the city of Damascus, but it was a failure. It was easy for the Muslims to defeat the Crusaders because the two kings could not communicate.

6. The Third Crusade (1189-1192) How did the Third Crusade start?
Europe’s three greatest kings went to the Holy Land to fight Saladin. King Frederick I died on the way there, but King Philip II and King Richard I arrived safely.
King Richard I and King Philip II
What happened during the Third Crusade?
The Crusaders were successful at the siege of Acre and the Battle of Arsuf. However, Saladin remained in control of Jerusalem. The Third Crusade was a failure for the Crusaders.
What happened in 1193?
Saladin died in 1193.
Richard I and Saladin at the battle of Arsuf
How did the Crusaders react to this?
The Crusaders thought Saladin’s successors would be easier to beat.

7. The Fourth to Ninth Crusades (1202-1272)
What are some highlights from the Fourth through Ninth Crusades?
Fourth Crusade: The Crusaders took control of Constantinople. The Crusaders took the money, jewels, and gold they found in Constantinople and went home.
Fifth Crusade: The Crusaders attacked Egypt, but lost.
Sixth Crusade: Jerusalem was return to the Christians through a treaty.
Seventh and Eighth Crusades: Even though they are considered failures, they did regain some of the Holy Land.
Ninth Crusade: The Europeans were defeated in the remaining Crusader states. This ended the Crusaders’ control of the area.
The Fourth Crusade
Constantinople
The Seventh Crusade
The Eighth Crusade

8. Failure Why did the Crusades fail?
• One of the main reasons was unity. After the First Crusade, the Crusaders were not united. While the Muslims became more united over time, the opposite was true for the Christians.
• Another reason was the route. The Crusaders did not have enough boats to sail to Syria. Instead, they had to march. It was a long and tiring route.
• Lack of enthusiasm was also an issue. In the beginning, the Crusaders were fighting for God—nothing could stop them. But after a while, the men lost their passion.
The route of the First Crusade

9. The Holy City What is the Holy Land like today?
It is still unsettled. Israel occupies the Holy City of Jerusalem and controls the coastal area while giving a little land to Palestine. However, the Palestinians and Israelis constantly struggle with each other for control in the area.
Pope Francis meeting Muslims and Catholics
The Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock
What is one example of how the Jews, Muslims, and Christians fight over the same places?
What is the lasting impact of the Crusades?
The Temple Mount is one example of this. It is considered one of the most important places in all three religions. For Muslims, it is where Mohammad rose up to heaven. For Christians, it is where Jesus walked. And for Jews, the mountain itself is sacred. They all want to control it.
The Crusades caused a lot of tension between Christians and Muslims, and these tensions are still felt today.

10. Vocabulary ally n. enthusiasm n.
a friendly person or country during a war or fight
enthusiasm n.
strong excitement about something

11. Vocabulary expand v. failure n.
to increase in size, number, or importance
failure n.
not successful in doing or achieving something

12. Vocabulary march v. pope n.
to walk at a steady pace, usually in a group of people who are all walking in the same way
pope n.
the leader of the Roman Catholic Church

13. Vocabulary tension n. treaty n.
a feeling of fear or anger between two groups of people who do not trust each other
treaty n.
a formal agreement between countries