Crusades 1095-1292
Crusade = Western Christian military effort to regain Holy Land from the Muslim Turks ≈
1095-1292.
“Deus Vult” – God wills it! War cry of First Crusade.
1. Causes
 Turkish attacks on Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire
 Turkish violence toward Christian pilgrims
 Christian desire to regain Holy Land
http://www.sacredsites.com/middle_east/saudi_arabia/mecca.html
2. Motives of Crusaders
 Deus Vult
 Glory
 Adventure
 Personal gain
3. Events of significance
 ≈ 6-8 Formal Crusades intended for Holy Land (only first succeeds)
 1st Crusade sets up feudal kingdoms/principalities in Holy Land
o Gradually Crusaders lose grip on the lands gained in first Crusade
o Each new Crusade was in response to land lost again after the first one
rd
 3 Crusade attempted to retake Jerusalem after its conquest by Saladin
 4th Crusade captured Constantinople from the Byzantines and was held for 50 years in
early 1200s
4. Crusades as reflection of Medieval World
 Power of Church and Pope
 Religious devotion of people of W. Europe
 Nobles = fighters
 Warlike nature of society and people
 Sibling (love-hate-need) relation of East and West
5. Major effects of Crusades in West
 Improved technology – ships, maps, weapons, use of compass, etc.
 Increased use of currency leads to trade, cities, wealth, leisure
 Increased trade leads to rise of Italian city-states, global exploration, New World
 Feudalism declines, kings grow stronger
o Nobles die, kings often get land
o Currency allows for paid armies = kings don’t need nobles
 Broadened worldview through exposure to Byzantine and Arab world
Crusades 1095-1292
Crusade = Western Christian military effort to regain Holy Land from the Muslim Turks ≈
1095-1292.
“Deus Vult” – God wills it! War cry of First Crusade.
1. Causes



2. Motives of Crusaders




3. Events of significance
 ≈ 6-8 Formal Crusades intended for Holy Land
 1st Crusade sets up feudal kingdoms/principalities in Holy Land
o
o

 4th Crusade captured Constantinople from the Byzantines and was held for 50 years in
early 1200s
5. Crusades as reflection of Medieval World
 Power of Church and Pope
 Religious devotion of people of W. Europe
 Nobles = fighters
 Warlike nature of society and people
 Sibling (love-hate-need) relation of East and West
5. Major effects of Crusades in West
 Improved technology – ships, maps, weapons, use of compass, etc.

 Increased trade leads to rise of Italian
 Feudalism declines, kings grow stronger
o
o Currency allows for paid armies =
 Broadened worldview through exposure to