1. Essay structure

2. 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

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

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

5. 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.

6. P – Turkish Threat
Evidence – Manzikert. Stories. Nicaea

7. 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

8. P – Religious War
Evidence
Spanish Reconquista

9. 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.

10. P - Alexius
Evidence
Letter from Alexius
Erdmann

11. 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.

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

13. 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”

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

15. 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.

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

17. 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

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