The Crusades 1096 AD Beginsbut lasts for over

The Crusades

1096 AD • Begins—but lasts for over 200 years • Christians battled Muslims for control of lands in the Middle East • Ultimately, this shows Medieval Europeans that the world was larger than they ever dreamed—which sped up changes in European society

1050 AD • Western Europe was in a period of isolation (while most others were thriving) • Islamic civilization stretched from Spain to India—and began spreading even farther

1050 AD: In the Americas • Maya were clearing areas of the rainforest to build cities with temples • Native Americans were building in South America • American civilizations remained relatively isolated from others

Byzantine Empire • Formerly the eastern Roman empire • By 1071, Seljuk Turks invaded the empire and overran most of the Byzantine lands in Asia Minor (Turkey)

Seljuk Turks • Extended power over the Holy Land (Jerusalem) and other places where Christians believed Jesus lived and preached • Palestine • Ultimately, this prevented Christian pilgrims from traveling to the Holy Land

Call for Help • Byzantine emperor, Alexius I, asked Pope Urban II for Christian knights to help fight Muslim Turks • Even though popes/emperors were rivals—he agreed

Call to War: 1095 • Council of Clermont—Urban called bishops and nobles into action • Crusaders would be granted “…remission for all sins. ”

“God Wills It” • Was chanted by the assembly • By 1096, thousands of knights were on their way to the Holy Land • Ordinary men and women went too

Why? • Salvation • Escape troubles at home • Adventure • Treasure/wealth ……. . but few returned

Motives of the Pope: • Increase power • Heal the split in the Church (east/west) • Hoped that Christians would fight Muslims instead of each other

The First Crusade • Only crusade that came close to success • Christians capture Jerusalem in 1099 (long & bloody campaign) • Killed Muslims and Jews in the city

Crusader States • Crusaders conquered land divided it into 4 states • Muslims sought to destroy these states • Thus, Europeans launched new crusades

A Losing Battle • Over 200 years fighting (off and on) • 1187—Jerusalem fell to the Muslims (led by Saladin) • 3 rd Crusade = Europeans failed to retake Jerusalem – But, Saladin did reopen the Holy City to Christian pilgrims

Other Crusades • Europeans mounted crusades against other Muslim lands (esp. North Africa) • Crusaders defeated

4 th Crusade • Crusaders fought other Christians—looted the Byzantine Empire

“Children’s Crusade” • Boy has a vision to convert Muslims to Christianity in the Holy Land • Gains following of about 30, 000 children • Leads toward the Mediterranean Sea

“Children’s Crusade” • Many died • Sold into slavery • Killed • Disease/exhaustion • LEGEND?

Impact • Legacy of religious hatred • Increased speed of changes for European society • Economy expanded • Increased the power of monarchs (who collected taxes to pay for the crusades) • Gained a view of a “larger” world

Marco Polo • 1271—set out for China • Stayed in China for many years • Returned to Venice & wrote a book • Many doubt he was ever in China ~ Government run mail service? ? ~ black stones to heat homes? ?

Crusades Map