The Crusades A Brief Overview. The Crusades As Western European economies grew (Europe was beginning...

The CrusadesThe CrusadesA Brief OverviewA Brief Overview

The CrusadesThe Crusades As Western European economies grew As Western European economies grew

(Europe was beginning to emerge from (Europe was beginning to emerge from the “Dark Ages”), merchants, travelers, the “Dark Ages”), merchants, travelers, diplomats, and missionaries brought diplomats, and missionaries brought European society into more intensive European society into more intensive contact with more distant peoples and contact with more distant peoples and with Eurasian commercial networks.with Eurasian commercial networks.

By the end of the post-Classical period By the end of the post-Classical period (c. 1500), Europeans had direct, though (c. 1500), Europeans had direct, though limited, contact with India and China. limited, contact with India and China.

The CrusadesThe Crusades Nothing revealed European Nothing revealed European

expansiveness, and the religious expansiveness, and the religious passions propelling it, more than the passions propelling it, more than the CrusadesCrusades, a series of “holy wars” that , a series of “holy wars” that captured the imagination of Western captured the imagination of Western Christendom for more than two hundred Christendom for more than two hundred years, beginning in 1095years, beginning in 1095..

The CrusadesThe Crusades The growth and expansion of Islam into areas The growth and expansion of Islam into areas

the Christian world considered “sacred” the Christian world considered “sacred” because they were associated with the life of because they were associated with the life of Jesus (even though these areas had been Jesus (even though these areas had been under Muslim control for centuries) caused under Muslim control for centuries) caused the Catholic Church to propose the Islamic the Catholic Church to propose the Islamic idea of idea of jihadjihad..

By translating the Islamic idea of a “holy By translating the Islamic idea of a “holy warrior” into Christian terms, the medieval warrior” into Christian terms, the medieval Church created the crusader, the “knight for Church created the crusader, the “knight for Christ.” Christ.”

The CrusadesThe Crusades ““Christ leading the Crusaders” (14Christ leading the Crusaders” (14thth

century)century)

The CrusadesThe Crusades By 1000 CE (or so) all the By 1000 CE (or so) all the

barbarians/pagans in Europe were barbarians/pagans in Europe were checked and mostly Christianized.checked and mostly Christianized.

The only threat to (Christian) Europe’s The only threat to (Christian) Europe’s east (and south) was from Islam.east (and south) was from Islam.

The CrusadesThe Crusades Even though the power of Islam in Spain Even though the power of Islam in Spain

was declining, the Christian struggle was declining, the Christian struggle with Islam there would continue until the with Islam there would continue until the end of the fifteenth century (the climax end of the fifteenth century (the climax of the of the ReconquestaReconquesta came in 1492 when came in 1492 when the last Muslim capital of Spain, the last Muslim capital of Spain, Granada, fell to the Catholic armies of Granada, fell to the Catholic armies of Ferdinand and Isabella).Ferdinand and Isabella).

The CrusadesThe Crusades

In European thinking In European thinking and practice, the and practice, the Crusades were wars Crusades were wars undertaken at God’s undertaken at God’s command and command and authorized by the authorized by the pope as the Vicar of pope as the Vicar of Christ on earth.Christ on earth.

Pope Urban II, who Pope Urban II, who called for the called for the Crusades in 1095Crusades in 1095..


Participants were Participants were required to swear a required to swear a vow and in return vow and in return were given an were given an indulgence, which indulgence, which removed the removed the penalties for any penalties for any confessed sins.confessed sins.

The Council of The Council of Clermont.Clermont.

The CrusadesThe Crusades This struggle with Islam gave European This struggle with Islam gave European

men a sense of unity and religious men a sense of unity and religious fervor.fervor.

Christianity bound European warriors Christianity bound European warriors together in a great moral and spiritual together in a great moral and spiritual adventure but it also promoted the adventure but it also promoted the predatory appetites of the military class predatory appetites of the military class (knights) as they could kill the pagans (knights) as they could kill the pagans with clear consciences.with clear consciences.

The CrusadesThe Crusades The Muslims, in the eyes of the The Muslims, in the eyes of the

Europeans, were infidels who had by Europeans, were infidels who had by conquest installed themselves in conquest installed themselves in Christianity’s most sacred shrines. The Christianity’s most sacred shrines. The Pope called them “the wicked race.”Pope called them “the wicked race.”


Crusaders were also offered various Crusaders were also offered various material benefits as an incentive, material benefits as an incentive, such as immunity from lawsuits and such as immunity from lawsuits and freedom from the repayment of debt.freedom from the repayment of debt.

The idea of automatic entrance into The idea of automatic entrance into Heaven while attacking Islam also Heaven while attacking Islam also had great appeal (and if killed, you had great appeal (and if killed, you became a hero and Christian martyr).became a hero and Christian martyr).

The CrusadesThe Crusades Even though Jerusalem had fallen to the Even though Jerusalem had fallen to the

conquering Arabs in 637, their initial conquering Arabs in 637, their initial tolerance had allowed Christians to tolerance had allowed Christians to make pilgrimages to the holy shrines of make pilgrimages to the holy shrines of their faith. their faith.

But that began to change after the Turks But that began to change after the Turks soundly defeated the Byzantines soundly defeated the Byzantines (Greeks) in 1071.(Greeks) in 1071.

The CrusadesThe Crusades So the attraction of winning spoils So the attraction of winning spoils

from the wealthy Arab lands added to from the wealthy Arab lands added to the inducement, as did the thirst for the inducement, as did the thirst for excitement among the West’s feudal excitement among the West’s feudal warriors.warriors.

The CrusadesThe Crusades Three great armies (one from France, Three great armies (one from France,

Germany, and Italy), with tens of Germany, and Italy), with tens of thousands of crusaders assembled in thousands of crusaders assembled in Constantinople in 1097, much to the Constantinople in 1097, much to the distress of the Byzantine government.distress of the Byzantine government.


Within Europe, the amazing support Within Europe, the amazing support for the Crusades reflected an for the Crusades reflected an understanding of them “as providing understanding of them “as providing security against mortal enemies security against mortal enemies threatening the spiritual health of all threatening the spiritual health of all Christendom and Christians.”Christendom and Christians.”

Crusading drew upon both Christian Crusading drew upon both Christian piety and the warrior values of the piety and the warrior values of the elite, with little sense of contradiction elite, with little sense of contradiction between the two.between the two.

The CrusadesThe Crusades The European armies were not an The European armies were not an

organized military force but a series of organized military force but a series of separate militias, each following a separate militias, each following a different commander and often speaking different commander and often speaking different languages.different languages.

The CrusadesThe Crusades One militia, not commissioned by the One militia, not commissioned by the

pope, consisted of commoners led by pope, consisted of commoners led by Peter the Hermit of Amiens called the Peter the Hermit of Amiens called the “People’s (or Peasants) Crusade.”“People’s (or Peasants) Crusade.”


An estimated 100,000 ordinary An estimated 100,000 ordinary people (not knights) took part in the people (not knights) took part in the “People’s Crusade.”“People’s Crusade.”

On its way to the Holy Land, the band On its way to the Holy Land, the band made a deliberate detour to attack made a deliberate detour to attack and murder Jews living peacefully in and murder Jews living peacefully in Germany, because they were now Germany, because they were now also perceived as infidelsalso perceived as infidels.


This was the first This was the first organized violence organized violence against Jewish against Jewish communities in communities in Europe.Europe.

Some historians Some historians refer to this as “the refer to this as “the first Holocaust.”first Holocaust.”


Supplies were always problematic Supplies were always problematic and about 25% of Peter’s followers and about 25% of Peter’s followers died en route.died en route.

Most of the rest of the participants in Most of the rest of the participants in the “People’s Crusade” were the “People’s Crusade” were slaughtered once they entered Seljuk slaughtered once they entered Seljuk (Turkish)-controlled Asia Minor.(Turkish)-controlled Asia Minor.


After seizing Antioch After seizing Antioch (1098) and killing (1098) and killing every Turk in the city, every Turk in the city, the crusaders went on the crusaders went on to take Jerusalem in to take Jerusalem in 1099.1099.

The initial conquest of The initial conquest of the Holy Land was the Holy Land was facilitated by Muslim facilitated by Muslim disunity.disunity.

The CrusadesThe Crusades The seizure of Jerusalem in 1099 was The seizure of Jerusalem in 1099 was

accompanied by the slaughter of accompanied by the slaughter of thousands of Muslims, Jews, and thousands of Muslims, Jews, and Orthodox Christians as the Crusaders Orthodox Christians as the Crusaders made their way through streets made their way through streets “littered with corpses and ankle deep in “littered with corpses and ankle deep in blood to the Sepulcher of Christ.”blood to the Sepulcher of Christ.”


The “Christian” The “Christian” Europeans then Europeans then slaughtered all slaughtered all prisoners, prisoners, including including innocent innocent women and women and children.children.

The CrusadesThe Crusades Crusaders believed that Angels and Crusaders believed that Angels and

Saints intervened on their behalf as Saints intervened on their behalf as they fought.they fought.


The victorious Europeans established The victorious Europeans established feudal “Crusader States” where fiefs feudal “Crusader States” where fiefs were granted to vassals. were granted to vassals.

Most Europeans returned home, but Most Europeans returned home, but those that stayed learned to coexist those that stayed learned to coexist and trade with the indigenous and trade with the indigenous Muslims.Muslims.

A new militaristic Christian group, the A new militaristic Christian group, the Knights TemplarKnights Templar, emerged (named , emerged (named after the part of Jerusalem near the after the part of Jerusalem near the Temple where they lived). Temple where they lived).


The missions of the The missions of the Knights Templar Knights Templar included protecting the included protecting the pilgrimage routes from pilgrimage routes from Palestine to Jerusalem, Palestine to Jerusalem, manning town garrisons manning town garrisons of the crusader states, of the crusader states, and transporting money and transporting money from Europe to the Holy from Europe to the Holy Land (which made Land (which made them very wealthy).them very wealthy).

The CrusadesThe Crusades Led or supported by an Led or supported by an

assortment of kings, assortment of kings, popes, bishops, monks, popes, bishops, monks, lords, and merchants, lords, and merchants, the Crusades the Crusades demonstrated a demonstrated a growing European growing European capacity for capacity for organization, finance, organization, finance, transportation, and transportation, and recruitment, without recruitment, without any centralized any centralized direction.direction.

The CrusadesThe Crusades The fall of the city of The fall of the city of

Edessa in 1144 to the Edessa in 1144 to the Turks launched the Turks launched the ineffectual (and short ineffectual (and short lived) Second Crusade lived) Second Crusade (1147-48).(1147-48).

European leaders chose to European leaders chose to fight the Turks in fight the Turks in Damascus, but after five Damascus, but after five days they gave up, ending days they gave up, ending the Second Crusade.the Second Crusade.


For nearly a For nearly a century, Western century, Western knights ruled the knights ruled the “kingdom of “kingdom of Jerusalem,” Jerusalem,” eventually losing it eventually losing it to the great Muslim to the great Muslim general Saladin general Saladin during the Third during the Third Crusade in 1187.Crusade in 1187.


A lack of any clear A lack of any clear or coordinated plan or coordinated plan kept the English, kept the English, French, and French, and German groups German groups from working from working together, and all together, and all were badly beaten were badly beaten by the Turkish by the Turkish armies under armies under Saladin.Saladin.

The CrusadesThe Crusades Several later Crusades tried to win Several later Crusades tried to win

back the Holy Land, but they were all back the Holy Land, but they were all failures.failures.


The Third Crusade The Third Crusade (1189-1192) led to the (1189-1192) led to the death of the German death of the German emperor Barbarossa-emperor Barbarossa-he drowned in the he drowned in the River Saleph on his River Saleph on his way to Antioch—while way to Antioch—while the kings of England the kings of England and France led troops and France led troops against the Muslims.against the Muslims.

The CrusadesThe Crusades But the kings of England and France But the kings of England and France

quarreled and the Crusaders failed to quarreled and the Crusaders failed to recapture Jerusalem.recapture Jerusalem.

Here King Richard I and Saladin are Here King Richard I and Saladin are locked in an imaginary battle.locked in an imaginary battle.

The CrusadesThe Crusades The Europeans eventually surrendered, The Europeans eventually surrendered,

but Saladin was so impressed with King but Saladin was so impressed with King Richard I that he was able to produce a Richard I that he was able to produce a brief truce with the Muslims to allow brief truce with the Muslims to allow Christian pilgrims to visit Jerusalem Christian pilgrims to visit Jerusalem without fear of reprisal.without fear of reprisal.

The CrusadesThe Crusades On his way home to England, King On his way home to England, King

Richard I (the Lionhearted) was Richard I (the Lionhearted) was captured and held for ransom in captured and held for ransom in Austria.Austria.


The fourth Crusade (1202-1204) was The fourth Crusade (1202-1204) was manipulated by the merchants in manipulated by the merchants in Venice, who turned it into an attack on Venice, who turned it into an attack on their commercial rivals in their commercial rivals in Constantinople, causing the city to be Constantinople, causing the city to be sacked (1204 CE). sacked (1204 CE).

This further weakened the already weak This further weakened the already weak Byzantine Empire, leaving them more Byzantine Empire, leaving them more vulnerable to Turkish (Muslim) conquest vulnerable to Turkish (Muslim) conquest (which finally happened in 1453).(which finally happened in 1453).

The CrusadesThe Crusades The Bronze (actually copper) Horses of The Bronze (actually copper) Horses of

St. Marks Cathedral in Venice, which St. Marks Cathedral in Venice, which were stolen from Constantinople by the were stolen from Constantinople by the crusaders and carried back to Venice.crusaders and carried back to Venice.

The CrusadesThe Crusades An interesting, but little known crusade was An interesting, but little known crusade was

the the Children’s CrusadeChildren’s Crusade.. In 1212, after the Fourth Crusade ended in In 1212, after the Fourth Crusade ended in

disaster, children from France and Germany disaster, children from France and Germany set off on their own crusade to the Holy set off on their own crusade to the Holy Lands.Lands.

They were convinced that they would be They were convinced that they would be protected by God, and that because of this protected by God, and that because of this protection, they would get to the Holy Lands protection, they would get to the Holy Lands and take back Jerusalem for the Christians.and take back Jerusalem for the Christians.

The CrusadesThe Crusades The Children's Crusade was never officially a The Children's Crusade was never officially a

crusade since it was never blessed by the crusade since it was never blessed by the Pope. Pope.

It is believed that the Church hoped that the It is believed that the Church hoped that the actions of the children would shame kings actions of the children would shame kings and emperors into getting a proper crusade and emperors into getting a proper crusade and going back to capture Jerusalem.and going back to capture Jerusalem.

But it ended in complete disaster, as many But it ended in complete disaster, as many children died of exhaustion and exposure children died of exhaustion and exposure before they even left Europe.before they even left Europe.


Those who boarded ships never Those who boarded ships never returned. Some believe the ships returned. Some believe the ships sank in the Mediterranean and all sank in the Mediterranean and all aboard were drowned.aboard were drowned.

Others believe that pirates captured Others believe that pirates captured the ships and sold the children into the ships and sold the children into slavery.slavery.

No one really knows what happened No one really knows what happened to the children.to the children.

The CrusadesThe Crusades Several more crusades set out in the Several more crusades set out in the

thirteenth century, but the idea of thirteenth century, but the idea of recapturing the Holy Lands was recapturing the Holy Lands was essentially dead.essentially dead.

The CrusadesThe Crusades The Crusades had little lasting impact, The Crusades had little lasting impact,

either politically or religiously, on the either politically or religiously, on the Middle East.Middle East.

European power wasn’t strong enough European power wasn’t strong enough to induce much conversion and the to induce much conversion and the small European foothold came back small European foothold came back under Muslim control by 1300.under Muslim control by 1300.


Before the Crusades, the split Before the Crusades, the split between Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims between Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims was far more serious than the rift was far more serious than the rift between Muslims and Christians.between Muslims and Christians.

The Mongol invasions of the 13The Mongol invasions of the 13thth century would be much more century would be much more significant in Islamic history than the significant in Islamic history than the temporary incursions of European temporary incursions of European Christians. Christians.


But interaction with the Islamic world But interaction with the Islamic world had very significant long-term had very significant long-term consequences for Europe.consequences for Europe.

Spain, Sicily, and the Baltic region Spain, Sicily, and the Baltic region were brought permanently into the were brought permanently into the world of Western Christendom.world of Western Christendom.

Tens of thousands of Tens of thousands of EuropeansEuropeans came came in contact with the Islamic world, in contact with the Islamic world, where they where they picked up a taste for picked up a taste for Asian luxury goodsAsian luxury goods..


Trade expansion would lead to urban Trade expansion would lead to urban growth, especially along the great trade growth, especially along the great trade routes from Genoa or Venice and along routes from Genoa or Venice and along the Rhine River to Bruges (in today’s the Rhine River to Bruges (in today’s Belgium).Belgium).

Christian missionaries and travelers Christian missionaries and travelers began exploring further east, eventually began exploring further east, eventually opening up Asian trade routes to opening up Asian trade routes to European discovery and increasing European discovery and increasing European curiosity about other cultures.European curiosity about other cultures.

The CrusadesThe Crusades The Crusades were also an episode in

the history of taste. Europeans came in contact with cane Europeans came in contact with cane

sugarsugar (which they went crazy over) and (which they went crazy over) and they learned the techniques for they learned the techniques for plantation sugar production using slave plantation sugar production using slave labor (consequences later???).labor (consequences later???).

Lemons and melons, black pepper, Lemons and melons, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cotton, muslin cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cotton, muslin and damask fabrics, glass mirrors, chess, and damask fabrics, glass mirrors, chess, paper, and even the rosary made the paper, and even the rosary made the journey from east to west.journey from east to west.


Muslim scholarship, and the Greek learning Muslim scholarship, and the Greek learning it was based on, flowed back into Europeit was based on, flowed back into Europe, , largely through Spain, Italy, and Sicily.largely through Spain, Italy, and Sicily.

European military technology took a giant European military technology took a giant leap forward because of advanced leap forward because of advanced techniques in fortification and castle techniques in fortification and castle building learned from both the Muslims and building learned from both the Muslims and the Greeks.the Greeks.

And European governments increased in And European governments increased in scope and ambition because of the scope and ambition because of the experience of raising taxes to pay for the experience of raising taxes to pay for the Crusades. Crusades.


But the rift between Eastern But the rift between Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism deepened further (especially after deepened further (especially after the sacking of Constantinople) and the sacking of Constantinople) and remains to this day a fundamental remains to this day a fundamental divide in the Christian world.divide in the Christian world.

Christian anti-Semitism was evident Christian anti-Semitism was evident as Crusaders massacred Jews in as Crusaders massacred Jews in several European cities on their way several European cities on their way to Jerusalem. to Jerusalem.


European empire building, especially in European empire building, especially in the Americas, continued the crusading the Americas, continued the crusading notion that “God wills it.”notion that “God wills it.”

And over the last two centuries, as the And over the last two centuries, as the worlds of Europe and Islam have worlds of Europe and Islam have increasingly collided, both sides have increasingly collided, both sides have found many occasions where images of found many occasions where images of the Crusades, however distorted, have the Crusades, however distorted, have been politically or ideologically useful.been politically or ideologically useful.

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