1. Church Reform & The Crusades
The Middle ages
Church Reform & The Crusades

2. Church Reform & The Crusades
What is a crusade?
A holy war involving the journey of thousands of Europeans to reclaim the holy land of Jerusalem in the name of Christianity
In all, there were 8 or 9 Crusades (depending on your source)
Began in 1093, lasted nearly 300 years

3. Why was Jerusalem important?
Christians-site where Jesus was crucified & buried
Many Christians believe Jesus would not rise again until Christians controlled the Holy Land
Significant for Muslims as well
Known as The Noble, Sacred Place
Muhammad ascended to Heaven from Al-Aqsa Mosque
Muhammad reportedly said: “There are only three mosques to which you should embark on a journey: the sacred mosque (Mecca, Saudi Arabia), this mosque of mine (Madinah, Saudi Arabia), and the mosque of Al-Aqsa (Jerusalem)."

4. The Crusades
Why crusade? Social, Economic, Spiritual, & Political reasons
Spiritual: Pope Urban II called for a holy war against Muslims controlling holy lands
Social: Opportunity to get knights to stop fighting each other and fight a new foe. These knights threatened peace in Europe.

5. The Crusades
Why crusade? Social, Economic, Spiritual, & Political reasons
Economic: Younger sons who did not stand to inherit father’s property were looking for wealth and adventure; poor knights looking for $$$

6. The Crusades
Why crusade? Social, Economic, Spiritual, & Political reasons
Political: A chance for the pope to gain territory instead of Byzantine rival
Spiritual: Kill Muslims = ticket to heaven (Christian contradiction)

8. The Crusades What happened: First and Second Crusade
Urban’s call brought tremendous support for the Crusade
Those who died on Crusade were assured a place in heaven
“God wills it!” was the battle cry
3,000 mile journey from Europe to Jerusalem
Eventually, 12,000 approached Jerusalem and besieged it for a month
On July 15, 1099, the Christians captured the city

9. The Crusades First and Second Crusade
The Second Crusade was organized to recapture the city of Edessa
In 1187, Europeans were shocked to learn that Saladin and the Muslims had captured Jerusalem again

10. The Crusades The Third Crusade
Led by 3 of Europe’s most powerful monarchs
Philip II of France – went home
German Emperor Frederick – drowned on journey

11. The Crusades The Third Crusade English King Richard the Lion-Hearted
Fought many battles against Saladin
Agreed to a truce with Saladin in 1192
Jerusalem stayed under Muslim control
Saladin promised unarmed Christians could freely visit the city’s holy places

12. Fourth Crusade-Super Fail
Christian forces agreed to pay Venetians to take them
Problem---Couldn’t pay them, so they agreed to attack the port city of Zara
Problem---Christian City…Full of Christians
Solution---Christians attacked other Christians!
RESULT-Pope excommunicated them all!
Stopped at Constantinople, another Christian city
Ransacked, named one of their leaders as new Emperor
Christians end up being pretty bad at this whole ‘Crusades’ thing

13. Crusades-Successful? Did they retake the Holy Land?
How did Crusades treat foreign people they encountered?
8-9 Crusades in Total…Complete failure?
By 1291, Muslims had succeeded in driving Christians completely out of the Holy Land
Any good come from these?

14. Effects of the Crusades
Economic
-Crusades enhanced existing trade, bringing goods such as spices & textiles to Europe from new markets
-Cultural Diffusion!
Political
-Loss of Power in the Church
-Many Knights & Nobles died, leaving lands vulnerable
-Who benefits out of the 3 Major Institutions?
Social Changes
-Knowledge of Muslim culture spread thru EU
-Many Christians viewed non-Christians as enemies
-Jews & Muslims in Holy Land viewed Christians as invaders…Rightly so?