1. Notes compiled by grade 8
Crusades
Notes compiled by grade 8

2. What was the purpose of the Crusades?
When were the Crusades? What does Crusader mean?
Take back the city of Jerusalem, the Holy Lands.
Protect the Christian religion
To kick out the “infidels”
8 in total
Crusaders : vowed to take the cross
Crusaders could be knights or peasants.

3. What were the motives of Europeans?
How did Crusaders get to the Holy land?
To take back holy land
Both sides have religious reasons to want control of the city of Jerusalem.
Go on Crusade, you don’t have to work and you don’t have to pay rent!
You are guaranteed to go to Heaven.
Adventure!
Walked, horseback, boats
First to Constantinople, then down to the Holy Lands

4. What were the Crusader States?
Do you think the Westerners were successful?
7 crusader states
Castles on the border to protect from invaders in the East.
Holy land divided.
Kings “ruled” the states, as they were set up like Feudal states from Europe
Really long and narrow, hard to defend the borders (500 x 50 miles)
Yes, (1st Crusade) organized and were able to take over the Holy Land and Jerusalem.
Sustainable success? No, they control a small portion of land, threats all along their borders.

5. The 2nd Crusade A major fail. Crusaders fought against themselves
Those who reached the holy land were at odds with those who were already there.
Arguments between established Westerners and the new Crusaders resulted in instability and the ability of the Muslim forces to continue conquering

6. Who was Saladin? Military leader of the Muslim forces
Rose to power as a general of the Syrian army, was given control over the Egyptian governament
Was able to unite the many small Islamic groups surrounding the crusader states.
Supreme leader of Egypt and Syria in 1171
Crushed Crusader forces in the valley between the “Horns of Hattin” in July of 1187.
Retook Jerusalem.

7. The Crusade of Kings
Richard of England, Fredrick of Germany, Philip II of France; Three Kings = Third Crusade = Crusade of Kings.
Called for by Pope Gregory VIII to challenge Saladin
Fredrick died on the way (drowned swimming)
Philip started a siege on Acre in April 1191 and Richard joined in June.
Acre was captured, Philip went home. Richard waited for peace negotiations to occur, but they were taking too long, so Richard killed all Muslims in the city walls.

8. “Peace in the East”
Richard and Saladin never officially meet, but they set up a peace treaty in 1192 that is meant to last five years.
The treaty allows both sides to keep the lands they hold, and allows for safe passage of pilgrims to the holy places.
Supposedly, Richard only agreed to buy time to collect more money and men and renew the fight (he dies on his return to the West)
Saladin respected Richard and his military abilities that if he had to lose Jerusalem, he would rather Richard have it than anyone else.

9. The Forth Crusade 1198, Pope Innocent III calls another Crusade.
Crusaders take the sea voyage to the holy lands, and take loans from Venetian bankers to supply ships and supplies. The price of the loan, a share in “riches” brought back.
The real price – Crusaders pillage Constantinople of its riches to pay off the debt to the bankers.
Sack of Constantinople – Crusaders steal, desecrate, and burn the city and its property, shipping the bounty back to Venice to pay off the debt.

10. Results of the Crusades
Failures
Successes
Contact with the East brings back classical texts to the west and fuels a renewed interest in the literature and art – a “rebirth” of knowledge
European cities, especially in Italy, begin to flourish and become more powerful because of trade and opportunitites. Many relics, art, and goods are brought back to the home cities.
Technology; better ships, better navigation, better maps. This leads to the exploration of other parts of the world.
Want of protecting the holy land is replaced by want of wealth
Holy land remains in Muslim control.
People lost respect for Crusaders after their abuses of innocent people (4th Crusade)
Jews were persecuted in the east and west.