Setting the Stage

To Christians and Jews and Muslims, Palestine is/was a holy land.

In the 600s Muslim Arabs took control of Palestine and by the Middle Ages, the Muslims were limiting the access of Christians and Jews

Main Idea

The Crusades, a series of attempts to gain Christian control of the Holy Land, had a profound economic, political, and social impact on the societies involved.

Goal of Crusades1. European Christians launched series of religious wars, Crusades, in Middle Ages

2. Goal to take Jerusalem, Holy Land, away from Muslims

3. Jerusalem site of Holy Temple of Jews, also where Jesus crucified, buried, was to come again

4. Vital to Christians to control city

Muslims Control Holy Land

5. Jerusalem under the control of Muslims from Central Asia, known as the Suljuq Turks during the late 1000s

6. Turkish Muslims went on to gain control of Persia, other lands, persecuted Christians visiting region

7. Turks attacked Byzantine Empire, and threatened the city of Constantinople

8. Emperor turned to Western Europe, Pope Urban II, for help

The Council of Clermont

•9. Pope Urban II called church leaders to council in Clermont, France Described dangers faced by Byzantines

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•1o. Called on Christian warriors to put aside differences, fight against Turks

Effective call to arms

Hundreds of knights, nobles volunteered for Crusade

Set out to meet foes with slogan “God wills it!”

Why Go Crusading?

11. Some went to save their souls. They believed if they died on a crusade they would go straight to heaven.

12. Some to gain land and wealth in Palestine and SW Asia.

13. Some for adventure

Crusaders left France in 1096 in First Crusade. In all, nine Crusades set out between 1096 and

1291 to claim or protect the Holy Land.

1st Crusade

1. After a series of vicious battles, the crusaders captured Jerusalem.

2. In a terrible massacre, they slaughtered its Muslim AND Jewish inhabitants.

1st Crusade

The Arab historian Ibn al -Athir wrote “The Jews [who lived in Jersualem an who had

been trapped by the crusaders’ siege of the city] had gathered in their synagogue and

the Franks burnt them alive. They also destroyed monuments of saints and the

tomeb of Abraham, may peace be upon him”

Results of 1st Crusade

3. Much of the Holy Land brought under Christian control.

4. Increased trade between Europe and Asia.

5. Eventually Christians and Muslims get along.

Other Major Crusades

1. Christians rule Holy Land for around 100 years.

2 Muslims began retaking lands lost in Fertile Crescent

3.The Second Crusade (1147-1149)- attempt to capture the city of Damascus ends in failure.

Third Crusade

4.The Third Crusade- (1189-1192)- Saladin- the great Muslim leader overthrew Fatamids and took title of sultan.

5. Saladin set out to take back Crusader states, succeeded, drove European Christians out of Jerusalem.

Third Crusade

6. Three Kings: Frederick Barbarossa, Richard the Lionhearted, and Philip II set out from Europe on Third Crusade.

7. Frederick was killed, Philip quarreled with Richard, returned home

8. Only King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England fought in Holy Land

Third Crusade

9. The Fourth Crusade- called in 1202 by Innocent III- Crusaders attack and loot Constantinople in 1204.

10. City eventually falls to the Ottoman Turks in 1453.

11. Other Crusades- the Children’s Crusade of 1212 was a huge failure and many died.

12. The young crusaders lacked adequate training, equipment, and supplies.

13. Those who reached southern France were tricked into boarding ships that carried them off into slavery instead of the Holy Land.

14. Several thousand children were lost.

Results of the Crusades

1.Christians failed to retake the Holy Land.

2.Weapons and warfare- use of the crossbow, new ways to wage war, gunpowder.

3.Political changes- fewer lords left, stronger kings, end of feudalism, more powerful Christian church and pope.

4.Ideas and trade- exchange of new cultural ideas and trade patterns from contact with the Muslim world.