Chapter 12: Crusades and Culture in the Middle Ages

The Crusades

The Early Crusades Crusades began with the Byzantine emperor Alexius I who asked for help against fighting the Seljuk Turks Seljuk Turks- Muslims who had taken control of Asia Minor (the Middle East) Rallied European warriors and sent them to Jerusalem and the Holy Land Council of Clermont-1095- Pope Urban II asked Christians to take up their weapons and join in a holy war Pope said all who die will have immediate forgiveness of sins

The Crusades 11th and 12th centuries- European Christians carried out a series of military expeditions to regain the Holy Land from the Muslims A crusade- latin term meaning “cross” The Crusades- a series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims over the Holy Land (Jerusalem)

Main Goal of the Crusades Christians wanted to be able to visit the Holy Land of Jerusalem 2 other reasons: Pope Urban II may have tried to unite Eastern and Western branches of Christianity For glory of winning the battles

1st Crusade The purpose was to regain the Holy Lands and capture Jerusalem Symbol: a cross on a shield Pope Urban II promises eternal life and forgiveness of all the sins of those who fight in the battles Difficulty: there was little food and water around the city for the Crusaders Result: Christians won control over Jerusalem but a few weeks after the battle, Muslim forces to challenge their claim

2nd Crusade Purpose: trying to gain control over Edessa (a city in the land that was Mesopotamia which is close to the Holy Land) The Muslims were able to conquer Edessa from the Christians Result: The Christian Crusaders were unsuccessful in taking back the city

3rd Crusade Purpose: Saladin (leader of the Muslims) had control over Jerusalem 3 powerful European kings: Richard the Lionheart of England Philip II of France Frederick I (Holy Roman Empire) King who fought against Saladin: Richard the Lionheart Results: Jerusalem remained in the hands of the Muslims. Christian piligrime were allowed to visit holy sites

Effects of the Crusades Political: Crusades lessened the power of the Pope and increased the power of Europe’s kings Economic: Increased trade around Europe and the Middle East Social: Allowed for greater cultural diffusion and promoted travel Religious: Increased tensions between Muslim and Christian groups

Crusades Impact Widespread attacks on the Jews Jews became the subject of libels, attacks and expulsions Led to the breakdown of feudalism Kings strengthened their power Trade provided a new source of wealth Cultural diffusion began again Nation-states emerged including Spain, England, and France

Medieval Christianity

Papal Monarchy Catholic Church reached its height of its political power in the 13th century under Pope Innocent III The Church became a dominant and forceful presence in Europe Pope gained control of territories in central Italy known as the Papal States Church was involved in the feudal system Chief officials of the church, such as bishops and abbots, held their offices as grants from nobles

Reform of the Papacy Secular rulers usually chose nominees to church offices; known as lay investiture Pope Gregory VII fought this practice The pope believed that people should be only chosen by God to reform the Church Pope Gregory VII came into conflict with Henry IV- Holy Roman Emperor who believed the kings should appoint church officials 1075- Pope Gregory issued a decree forbidding secular rulers from giving away church jobs Decree called Concordat of Worms

The Church Supreme Under Pope Innocent III (13th century)- Catholic Church reached its height of political power Pope Innocent III believed in papal supremacy Pope Innocent III used the interdict- forbade giving sacraments of the Church to the people Goal: Cause the people under interdiction who were deprived of the comforts of religion to exert pressure against their ruler so the Church would have more power

Franciscans and Dominicans Founded by Francis of Assisi Imprisoned during local war- had a series of dramatic spiritual experiences Abandoned all worldly good to live and preach in poverty Followers took vows of absolute poverty Undertook missionary work Dominicans: Founded by a Spanish priest Dominic de Guzman Wanted to defend the church teachings from heresy- denial of basic Church doctrines

The Inquisition Church called a court to deal with heretics, known as the Inquisition Those who confessed to heresy performed public penance and received punishment such as flogging

Religion in the High Middle Ages Catholic Church of the High Middle Ages was a crucial part of ordinary people’s lives from birth to death Sacraments were central to the religion Ordinary people venerated saints Many also prayed to relics- bones or other objects connected with saints Many believed it was necessary to go on a pilgrimage to the city of Jerusalem

Culture of the Middle Ages

Architecture 11th and 12th centuries witnessed a dramatic building of church in Europe Cathedrals were primarily built in the Romanesque style Cathedrals had a long, round, and arched vault ceiling made of ceiling Extremely heavy; couldn’t add in windows- very dark on the inside Gothic style- appeared in the 12th centuries Ribbed vaults, pointed arches Could make them taller Flying buttress Stained glass windows

Romanesque

Gothic

Flying Buttress

Universities First university appeared in Bologna, Italy Students were only men University of Paris was the first northern European university; then Oxford opened By 1500- Europe had 80 universities Students began their studies with grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music, astronomy Students earned a doctor of law, medicine, or theology Scholasticism- a medieval philosophical and theological system that tried to reconcile faith and reason Thomas Aquinas- Summa Theologica

Vernacular Literature Latin was the universal language of medieval civilization 12th century- new literature was being written in the vernacular- language of everyday speech in a particular region