The Crusades
The Big Idea
•The pope called on Christian
Crusaders to invade the Holy
Land.
• Despite some initial success,
the later Crusades failed.
• The Crusades changed Europe
forever.
The Crusades Begin
• Christian and Muslim
cultures fought over
control of the holy land.
• These wars were called
Crusades
- were a series of wars
between Christians and
Muslims
Muslims Turks
•Took control of Palestine and
Jerusalem, part of the Holy Land
•Attacked Christian pilgrims
•Began to raid the Byzantine
Empire
•Byzantine emperor asked the
Pope for help
A Call to Arms
•Pope Urban II called on
Christians to help retake holy
land
•Told Kings stop fighting each
other and unite
•1000s of men joined Popes army
•Pope had approved the killing of
all Muslims
•Sewed crosses onto clothing
• The word crusade comes from the
Latin word for “marked with a
cross.”
•Armies set out to Constantinople
First Crusade
•Many died on the way
•Successful, recaptured
Jerusalem and other cities
•Divided land into four crusader
states
Later Crusades Fail
• Muslims began retaking land
• European Kings planned more
crusades, but they failed
• Poorly planned
• By 1291, Muslim armies had retaken
the Holy Land
Fourth Crusade
•Forgot crusade objective
•Led by French knights
•Needed money
•Agreed to attack Christian
cities, and Constantinople for
payment
•Weakened Byzantine empire
Effects of the Crusades
• Trade increased between Europe and Asia
• Sparked the interest to travel new lands
• Kings and nobles increased their power
because many had died
• Rising Christian hatred of Jews
• Jews began to distrust Christians
• Christian & Muslim relationship changed,
each viewed each other as a threat
Activities
• Clip: Crusades
• Worksheet: The medieval Church in
pictographs
• Crusaders map
• Worksheet DBQ: Jews and the
crusades
• Video the crusades
• Bumper sticker for your horse
• Read from book
Activity:
•Pretend you are Christian
knight on your way to a
crusade. Make a bumper
sticker for your horse