The Crusades Social Studies

Aim and Do Now Aim: What were the major battles of the Crusades and what did they accomplish? Do Now: Point of View: Imagine your experience as a European when Pope Urban II called for a Crusade to reclaim the Holy Land. What would you have to do? Why? How would you feel? How would you prepare? Or Imagine that you are an Arab Muslim living near Egypt. You have heard of the might of the Turks but fear their aggression might have started an international conflict. How would you feel knowing that Crusaders are coming to take control of your lands?

First Crusade - Map

Major Battles 1098 – Siege of Antioch Antioch laid on a strategic location on the crusaders route to Jerusalem. Supplies, reinforcement, and retreat could all be managed from this city. The walls that surround the city were constructed by Byzantine engineers and provided a formidable defense against those attacking. 1099 – Siege of Jerusalem Jerusalem was considered to be the major prize of the Crusades. It was the holy city for the three Abrahamic faiths, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. In the Siege of Jerusalem, Christian knights scaled the massive walls using ladders and eventually broke in. The Crusaders massacred everyone.