The Age of Faith and the Crusades

Reforms to the Christian Church 1.Many monasteries were destroyed or weakened because of Viking raids. 2.Feudalism also weakened the power of the central Catholic church because more power was in the hands of noblemen.

Problems 1.Some priests got married and had children. 2.Some bishops sold positions to unqualified people, a practice called simony. 3.Kings appointed church officials rather than the church itself.

Reforms 1.Religious orders, led by Benedictine monks, opened new monasteries which strictly enforced church rules and became a model that the church followed to make reforms.

2. Popes Leo IX and Gregory VII expanded the power of the church and eliminated many corrupt practices. We hate simony!!

3. The Catholic church started to be run like a kingdom. – They sent diplomats to negotiate with foreign kingdoms. – They collected a tax called a tithe. – Issued calls for wars.

Larger cities built cathedrals to show the power of Christianity. – Largest building in the city – Located in the center of town – Many peasants helped build it with labor or tax money.

Cathedrals were built in the Gothic style. Gothic style buildings have the following features…

1) Stained glass windows showed Bible stories to illiterate church members.

2) Churches had vaulted ceilings, which allowed for very large interior spaces.

3) Cathedrals basic layout was cross shaped, but other rooms were added on.

4) Flying buttresses helped keep the weight of the roof from collapsing.

The reforms to the church practices, increase in the church’s power and revitalization of church construction began a period known as the Age of Faith, where the Catholic church was at the peak of its power.

The Crusades

By the late 1000’s, Muslim were threatening to push into more Christian territory, especially in the Byzantine Empire.

In 1093, the Byzantine Emperor requested aid in fighting against the Muslim Turks. HELP!!!

In 1096, Pope Urban II issued a call for the Christian kingdoms of Europe to send troops in a Crusade against the Muslims. – Crusade – a holy war

Pope Urban II “I, or rather the Lord, beseech you as Christ's heralds to publish this everywhere and to peruse all people of whatever rank, foot-soldiers and knights, poor and rich, to carry aid promptly to those Christians and to destroy that vile race from the lands of our friends. I say this to those who are present, it meant also for those who are absent. Moreover, Christ commands it. ”

If a soldier died while on a crusade, they were supposed to automatically go to heaven.

“This royal city, therefore, situated at the centre of the world, is now held captive by His enemies, and is in subjection to those who do not know God, to the worship of the heathens. She seeks therefore and desires to be liberated, and does not cease to implore you to come to her aid. From you especially she asks succor, because, as we have already said, God has conferred upon you above all nations great glory in arms. Accordingly undertake this journey for the remission of your sins, with the assurance of the imperishable glory of the kingdom of heaven.”

Pope Urban’s demand for a crusade was responded to by 50-60,000 men of all social classes. – Many people were motivated by religion – Poor people were forced by their local lords – Knights and nobles were looking for a chance to earn wealth or land.

God wills it!

The First Crusade ( ) was designed to recapture Jerusalem and the Holy Land from the Muslims.

The Crusade was poorly organized but eventually succeeded in capturing Jerusalem in 1099.

Christians set up kingdoms called the Crusader States in the Holy Land. Each was ruled by a European nobleman.

The Second Crusade Muslim Turks (called “Saracens” by the Europeans) counterattacked and retook much of their territory, including Jerusalem, in 1187.

Muslim troops were led by the sultan Saladin. – Sultan-Muslim ruler, particularly ruler of the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) Because of his skill and generous treatment of defeated enemies, he earned respect from both Muslims and Christians.

The Second Crusade failed to recapture lost Christian territory.

The Third Crusade Christians, led by King Richard (the Lion-Heart) of England, were determined to recapture Jerusalem.

Richard the Lion- Heart and Saladin fought many battles against each other and ended up signing a treaty.

Muslims were allowed to keep Jerusalem, but Christian pilgrims could visit the holy land freely.

The Fourth Crusade One final attempt to recapture Jerusalem in Christian crusaders got involved in Byzantine politics and ended up attacking and looting Constantinople in 1204.

The looting of Constantinople furthered the split between the eastern (Orthodox) and western (Catholic) Christian churches.

The looting of Constantinople in 1204 and 100 years of constant fighting against the Turks weakened the Byzantine empire.

Several smaller crusades were organized by individual kings in the 1200s, but none succeeded in creating any long-standing changes of territory in the Middle East.

Negative Impacts of the Crusades 1) Constantinople was eventually captured by the Turks in This marked the end of the Byzantine empire.

Negative Impacts of the Crusades Constantinople was renamed Istanbul, and became the capital of the Muslim Ottoman empire.

Negative Impacts of the Crusades 2) Unsuccessful Crusades weakened the power and authority of the pope and increased the power of European kings (like Richard).

Negative Impacts of the Crusades 3) The death of many nobles and knights in battle weakened feudalism in Europe.

Negative Impacts of the Crusades 4) Increased hostility between Christian, Muslim and Jewish groups, which lasts until today.

Positive Impacts of the Crusades 1) Christians were exposed to scholarly works created by Muslim scholars and Greek and Roman records they preserved.

Positive Impacts of the Crusades 2) Christians brought back many technological and cultural advances which helped Europe advance. – Compass – Astrolabe – Lateen sail – Arabic numerals

3) Europeans were exposed to Asian trade goods which stimulated the creation of new trade routes.

4) Cities in Northern Italy grew as both centers of trade routes and banking centers. – This gave rise to the Renaissance

Eventually the desire to gain Asian trade goods, combined with newly acquired technology and knowledge, caused Europeans to begin the Age of Exploration.