1. Lecture 8.4 The Crusades and the Bubonic Plague
World History I
Lecture 8.4
The Crusades and the Bubonic Plague

2. Danger … Death and violence ahead!
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Danger … Death and violence ahead!

3. The Crusades (What are they and how did it start?)
The Crusades are multiple Christian military campaigns that attempted to take control of Holy Land in the Middle East from Muslim occupation
There are ten crusades (nine crusades and the children’s crusade) that occur between 1096 and CE/AD
The crusades start after Pope Urban II speaks at the Council of Clermont (1095 CE/AD) and instructs Christians to go to the aid of the Byzantines to recapture Palestine from the Muslins
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How powerful was the pope … this guy started a holy war!

4. Important events from the Crusades
Crusaders capture Jerusalem during the first crusade in 1099 CE/AD
Crusader states (1099 to CE/AD) are created by Christians to maintain and control conquered territory in the holy land
After Saladin recaptures, but does not sack Jerusalem in 1187 CE/AD, Richard I of England (Richard the Lionheart) leads the third crusade from 1187 to 1192 CE/AD
During the fourth crusade, western crusaders sack Constantinople in CE/AD due to fundamental failures in financing, planning and carrying out their campaign
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Not all crusades were successful!

5. The effect and legacy of the crusades
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The effect of the crusades:
They weaken the power of the Pope and nobles and strengthen the power of kings, who inherit the property of deceased nobles and become leaders in their own right.
They stimulate trade due to a demand for Middle Eastern products, and foster a system that encouraged the use of credit and banks so crusaders could travel safely
The legacy of the crusades:
There is lasting bitterness between the three major religions
The Byzantine Empire grows weak and becomes vulnerable
New knowledge is brought to Europe through Arabic texts captured by Christians.

6. The “Black Death” (Bubonic Plague - 1347 to 1350 CE/AD)
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Social effects of the plague
There is a Significant decline in population (one out of three died within three years)
The plague decimates some areas while leaving other areas unaffected and urban areas recover faster
The Church’s influence declines as clergy die and no one can explain the outbreak
Economic effects of the plague
Since healthy workers are scarce, society becomes socially mobile, which frees towns from feudal obligations
People stop trading to suppress the plague, which causes a shift in trading centers based on the effects of the plague