Essay structure

Essay structure P – Point to be made E – Evidence/example to illustrate E – Explanation – keep your comments relevant. L – Link to the question at all times

Assess the reasons why the First Crusade was launched Essay plan Assess the reasons why the First Crusade was launched

P - Urban II Evidence – Political ambition, investiture crisis Spiritual ambition – rule the Christian world, liberate Jerusalem,

Explanation - Urban II Investiture Crisis – incentive to expand political power over other secular rulers. Ambitious man. He can raise an army. However Religion – Muslims are threat to christianity and he wants to protect xians. Religious zeal is imp factor = remission of sins Adhemar chosen to lead = relig reason not political. God wills it. Vigorous speech at Clermont – no mention of letter from Alexius.

P – Turkish Threat Evidence – Manzikert. Stories. Nicaea

Explanation – Turkish Threat 1071 after battle of M = Turks move across Asia Minor over next 20 years. Advance within 100 miles of Con. Control Anatolia. Stories of destruction = infidels, evil,destroy churches = threat to xianity. Pilgrimages will be dangerous. However = another 300 years before take Con = limit to threat with hindsight!!!! More concerned with Fatimids etc

P – Religious War Evidence Spanish Reconquista

Explanation – Religious War Spanish xians under Alphonso, El Cid and King of Castile push Moors out. Raymond – religious man Success for xians = motivation to succeed elsewhere v Muslims. Showed could win. Now go to Holy land and repeat – strong rel reasons. God supported them!!!!!! Or they would have lost in Spain.

P - Alexius Evidence Letter from Alexius Erdmann

Explanation - Alexius Fears for his political and religious position Turks very close and he needs some military help – succour for Byzantine Empire Sends letter to Urban – not Kings of Europe Erdmann’s view here and however to assess strength of this factor.

P – Escape from degradation of the west and personal gain Evidence Disease, famine, justice, land, booty, treasure

Explanation – Escape…. Conditions for the poor were extreme and chance to escape justice, hunger and disease. Rewards as well as spiritual (R of S) also East was very wealthy = land of ‘milk and honey’ Penitential war Bohemond “ an uncontrollable lust for money”

P – Stop fighting in Europe Evidence Disinherited younger brothers = Baldwin, Godfrey. Also Bohemond. Fulcher of Chartres

Explanation – Stop fighting in Europe Europe peaceful relatively and thus less land to fight over. Thus knights fight between themselves. Crusade can be a diversion and knights can fight in Holy Land = great rewards for men like Bohemond – Antioch, Baldwin – Edessa. Urban does not have these men to watch in Europe!!!!!! – His personal gain again.

P - Omens Evidence Comets, visions, cows, other miracle things

Explanation - Omens In period of spiritual and God, ordinary folk did believe… Signs from God – comets with tails going eastwards Knights in the sky riding east Babies with extra limbs Markings

Summary – Why was First Crusade launched? Alexius Religious War Stop Knights fighting Escape degradation Omens Urban Turkish Threat