The Decline of the Arab Empire: Turks, Crusaders, and

Mongols

I. Introduction

Dissension and Crisis

II. The Withering of Abbasid Power

A. Regional Independence1. The Aghlabids (800-909)

B. The Shi'a Challenge 1. Fatimid Egypt (909-1171)

II. The Withering of Abbasid Power

C. Court Problems1. Civil War (811-819)2. Turks3. Buyids and Seljuqs

D. Impact

III. Origins of the CrusadesA. A Brief Review of the Byzantine Empire

1. Manzikert (1071)2. Alexius Comnenus (1081-1118)

B. Urban II (r. 1088-1099) 1. Plenary Indulgences

IV. The Crusades

A. The First Crusade (1097-1099)1. The Sack of Jerusalem (July 1099)2. Outremer3. Why Successful?

IV. Crusades in the Holy Lands

B. The Second Crusade (1145-1149)C. The Third Crusade (1188-1192)

1. Salah al-Din (1169-1193)2. The Treaty of Jaffa (1192)3. Results

IV. Crusades in the Holy Lands

D. The Fourth Crusade (1198-1204)1. The Sack of Constantinople (1204)

E. The Fifth Crusade (1213-1229)F. Later Crusades

V. The Mongols

A. The Sack of Baghdad (1258)B. Mamluk Egypt (1250-1517)

1. Battle of Ayn Jalut (1260)2. The End of Outremer

VI. Results

A. The Muslim Middle EastB. The Byzantine EmpireC. Europe

Urban II Calling the First Crusade

The First Crusade

Outremer

Crusader Castle

Allenby Enters Jerusalem

VII. Conclusion

• Historical Myth and Memory