The Crusades1095-1204 CE

The Crusades:“Rid the Holy Land of the

“Infidel”

• Late 1000’s, holy land captured by Seljuk Turks (Muslim rulers of Asia Minor and Palestine)– Made travel unsafe, chaos

• 1095-Byzantine Emperor requested aid from pope – Constantinople was threatened and Christian pilgrims were persecuted

A. The First Crusade 1. 1095- Pope Urban II called for volunteer army to take Jerusalem from Turks

2. Knights and peasants promised salvation if they died a martyr’s death

3. 1099-Jerusalem taken and a Crusader state established in Palestine and Syria

13 different attempts 1096- 1291

B. Second Crusade 1147-1149Failure

C. The Kings Crusade (3rd):1189-1192

1. Richard I (Lionheart) only king to reach holy land. England in chaos during his absence.

2. Saladin led Muslims in capturing and defending Jerusalem; Saladin didn’t surrender the city, but allowed Christian pilgrims safe passage.

300,000 Dead!!

Other Crusades

– Other crusades launched with limited success

– 1212-“Children’s Crusade” –most died or were enslaved

Results of Crusades

1.Military Results:

Europeans learned to use:

the crossbow

carrier pigeons

siege technique

catapults

gunpowder

2. Political Results: -strengthened the central power of the

kings-weakened the power of the nobles

WEAKENED

FEUDALISM

3. Economic results• Strengthened trade• Encouraged the growth of cities • Italian cities led the way, especially Venice

and Genoa• Increased technological knowledge from

contacts with the Muslim World– Better ships– Better weapons– Magnetic compass

4. Broadened learning and the worldoutlook of Europe

• Knowledge of Muslim medicine

• Knowledge of Muslim science and technologies

• Reintroduced to Classical learning

• Desire for products of trade increased need to know the world

5. Results continued

• Decrease in Pope’s prestige

• Seljuk Turks (later the Ottoman Turks) provided barrier between Europe and the invading Mongols

• Increase in religious intolerance among Christians, Jews, Muslims

• Legacy of bitterness and hatred