1. Thou Shall Not Kill (Unless on a Crusade!) 1066–1500
Lesson Objective:
to understand why the crusades took place.
Keywords:
Crusade - a war fought for a religious cause; also called a Holy War or War of the Cross
Holy Land - modern day Jerusalem

2. Essential Questions: Why did the crusades happen?
What inspires people to fight?

3. Why is Jerusalem so important?
You might have seen or read news about violence in the Middle East.
There has been conflict (fighting) and violence in the region called the Holy Land for a long time.
Part of the reason is that it is an important religious place for three different religions; Islam, Judaism and Christianity.

4. Islam – Jerusalem is the home of a very important mosque (a Muslim place of worship). It is where the founder of the faith, the Prophet Muhammad stayed. Muslims believe in the teaching of the Prophet Muhammad and read the Koran.
Christianity – The hill of Calvary in Jerusalem was
the place where Jesus Christ died. From the fourth
century, Christian pilgrims from all over the world
came to visit Jerusalem. Christians believe that
Jesus Christ is the son of God and read the bible.
Judaism – In AD 70, the Romans destroyed the most important temple of the Jewish faith that had been built by King David. But Jerusalem is still one of the holiest cities for Jewish people. Jewish people believe in one God and read the Torah.

5. Why did the crusades take place?

6. In 1095, Pope Urban II preached a sermon asking people to go on a crusade. His plan was to take the Holy Land away from the Turks. His words inspired kings, knights, soldiers and an army of children to leave Europe to fight.

7. Why does Pope Urban II want people to go on crusades?
Urban's speech
“Jerusalem is the navel of the world. This royal city is now held captive by her enemies and is enslaved by a people which does not acknowledge God.”
“All men going there who die, whether on the journey or while fighting the pagans [non-Christians], will immediately be forgiven their sins” extracts from Pope Urban’s speech.
Why does Pope Urban II want people to go on crusades?

8. What happened during the crusades?
The First Crusade ran from 1097 to Its leaders included Robert of Normandy and Godfrey of Bouillon. Jerusalem was stormed (soldiers try to take over the city) successfully in 1099 and a Christian kingdom set up.
The Second Crusade ran from 1147 to 1149 and was led by Louis VII of France and the Holy Roman Emperor, Conrad III. The two quarrelled (fought) and the barons (rulers) of the Kingdom of Jerusalem made an alliance with the Muslim leader, Damascus.

9. How do you think the English felt about Richard I?
How was England involved in the crusades?
King Richard I spent all but six months of his reign away fighting in the crusades. The English were heavily taxed to pay for his campaigns (his battles). Richard and his army fought several successful battles during the Third Crusade against the Turks. He aimed to recapture Jerusalem, but he couldn’t do so. However, the crusaders did gain the coast and pilgrimages (religious trips) to Jerusalem were allowed.
How do you think the English felt about Richard I?
Richard’s shield had lions on it because he was known as Richard the “Lionheart.”

10. What does this information suggest about the success of the crusades?
The last crusades
The Fourth Crusade, from 1202 to 1204, was originally intended to attack Egypt, which was the centre of Muslim power. Instead, the crusaders attacked Constantinople (capital of the Byzantium Empire). Pope Innocent III was horrified and freed the crusaders from their vow to proceed to the Holy Land.
The Children’s Crusade happened in 1212, when about 10,000 children from France, Germany and the Netherlands went to recapture Jerusalem. They were motivated by religious devotion. They did not reach their goal and most either died on the trip or were sold into slavery.
What does this information suggest about the success of the crusades?

11. The end of the crusades
The enthusiasm for the crusades died down in the fourteenth century, mainly due to the Black Death and the Hundred Years War.
The Turks grew in power under the Ottomans, and all attempts in this area were simply trying to keep the Turks from expanding into Europe.

12. What did people gain from the crusades?
The crusaders brought back new ideas about building. They learned how to make their castles stronger and how to make better weapons. They brought back rugs which they hung on walls as well as putting them on the floors. This made life in castles much less cold and damp (a little wet).
Trade between Europe and the Middle East increased and sugar, rice, apricots and cotton were brought to England for the first time.
European scholars gained access to Classical Greek and Roman teachings that had survived because of Arabic scholars.

13. **Essential Questions** Why did the crusades happen?
1. What does the word Crusade mean? 2. Where did most Crusades take place? 3. Write down the names of the three main religions who wanted Jerusalem. Next to each, write down why Jerusalem was important to them.
**Essential Questions**
Why did the crusades happen?
Why do people fight?

15. Assignment: Write a letter pretending to be a crusader
Assignment: Write a letter pretending to be a crusader. You may work with a partner.
Dear ………
I am writing from Jerusalem. I’m here fighting a crusade against the …….
You need to include:
Your job (knight, poor person, churchmen)
Who you are fighting
Why you went on a crusade
Weapons you used
What you have learned & seen