The Crusades

Definition a military expedition undertaken by European Christians to regain the Holy Land from Muslims In 1095, Pope Urban II called them to action after being asked for help by Byzantine Emperor Alexius I. “God wills it!”

Motives Peasants: promised salvation…escaped manor life…adventure Knights: use their fighting skills…chance to gain land and wealth in the East Lords: chance to gain land and wealth in the East…political power Pope: free Holy Land from the Muslims…help Christians in Byzantine Empire to defend their territory from the Seljuk Turks…heal the schism between the churches Cities: expand their trading markets

Major crusades First Crusade: Peasants’ Crusade…land route…captured Jerusalem in 1099…massacred Muslims and Jews…set up feudal states Second Crusade: Land route…attempted to reinforce feudal states…made it as far as Turkey…spent more time fighting each other than Muslims…Jerusalem was lost to Muslims led by Saladin Third Crusade: Kings’ Crusade…water route….French, English, and German kings…attempted to regain Jerusalem…disaster….King Frederick of Germany drowned in a river…failed to recapture Jerusalem but it was opened to Christian pilgrims Fourth Crusade: water route…purpose was to gather works of art, jewels, and gold to pay off debts incurred on previous crusades…crusaders ransacked towns and sent their treasures home to be sold for cash

Spanish Reconquista and Inquisition Other crusades North Africa Children’s Crusade of 1212 Spanish Reconquista and Inquisition

Impact/outcomes Legacy of hatred Atrocities in the name of religion Hatred toward Jews in Europe Muslim groups unified New goods brought back to Europe Trade increased and expanded Increased power of monarchs Churches still split Exploration of the world Pope’s power declined Feudalism declines Holy Land not held by Christians