1. The High Middle Ages in Europe
The Crusades
The High Middle Ages in Europe

2. The Holy Land Late 1000s: Seljuk Turks gain control of the Holy Land
Sunni Muslim dynasty that ruled parts of Central Asia and the Middle East from the 11th to 14th centuries
Holy Land: Christians’ name for Jerusalem and the area around it
Turks also attacked the Byzantine Empire

3. A Cry for Help
The Byzantine emperor, Alexius I, calls Pope Urban II for help
1095: Pope calls for a meeting of church leaders and feudal lords
Motivated by religious and political reasons
“With earnest prayer I, or rather the Lord, exhort you as heralds of Christ to urge men of all ranks, knights as well as foot soldiers, rich and poor, to hasten to exterminate this vile race from our lands…”
Promised that the expedition would count as penance for their sins
Begins the Crusades: military missions to take the Holy Lands from the Muslims
Over 10,000 Europeans joined the mission

4. The Horrors Killing was without regard to age, sex, or religion
Oriental Christians also killed because Crusaders could not distinguish them from Muslims
“Some of our men cut off the heads of their enemies; others shot them with arrows, so that they fell from the towers; others tortured them longer by casting them into the flames. Piles of heads, hands, and feet were to be seen in the streets of the city. In the Temple and Porch of Solomon, men rode in blood up to their knees and bridle reins.”-Raymond d’Aguilers (chronicler)

5. The First Crusade Lasted from 1096 to 1099
French and Italian lords led armies to recapture Jerusalem after a series of violent battles
The Crusader army killed around 40,000 unarmed civilians, or 80% of the city’s population

6. Later Crusades Later Crusades were less successful
By the end of the Crusades in 1291, Muslims had regained control of the Holy Land

7. Effects of the Crusades in Europe
Use of crossbows in warfare
Advances in trade between Italian cities and the Holy Land
Increase in the power of kings because of the number of nobles who died fighting

8. Group Work Work in assigned groups of 2-3 students
Work in your group to read through the short Crusade description I provide to you.
Discuss as a class: the importance of nursery rhymes in history and their use as a safe means of political commentary.
In your group, write a nursery rhyme with themes and characters that allude to stories about the historical people of the Crusades.
You will present your topic and rhyme to the class.
You will be evaluated according to the provided rubric.