The first crusade

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• Christians would often visit holy sites in Christians would often visit holy sites in JerusalemJerusalem

• In 1071, however, the Turkish Muslims In 1071, however, the Turkish Muslims conquered the area and no longer conquered the area and no longer allowed itallowed it

• They also threatened the nearby They also threatened the nearby Byzantine EmpireByzantine Empire

• The Byzantine The Byzantine emperor (Alexius) emperor (Alexius) asked Pope Urban asked Pope Urban II to help him II to help him

• The Pope wanted to The Pope wanted to unite all European unite all European Christians so he Christians so he would have more would have more powerpower

• He made a speech He made a speech that encouraged that encouraged people to fight; this people to fight; this helped launch the helped launch the first crusadefirst crusade.

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• A crusade is a religious war that is A crusade is a religious war that is sanctioned by the Pope.sanctioned by the Pope.

• The word “crusade” comes from the The word “crusade” comes from the Spanish Spanish cruzadecruzade which means “marked which means “marked with the cross”with the cross”

• Crusaders wore Crusaders wore

red crosses on their red crosses on their

chestschestshttps://www.echidnasontheloose.com.au/images/P/templerknight_web.jpg

• Decided to fight to gain more $ and land.Decided to fight to gain more $ and land.

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• wanted to defend Jerusalem, “God’s fief”wanted to defend Jerusalem, “God’s fief”

• excited by the idea of an adventure excited by the idea of an adventure

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• If they joined the If they joined the crusade, they were crusade, they were released from released from feudal obligationsfeudal obligations

• it offered an escape it offered an escape from their difficult from their difficult liveslives

• chance for chance for adventureadventure

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• Citizens who joined were exempted from Citizens who joined were exempted from taxestaxes

• People in debt did not have to pay People in debt did not have to pay interest while awayinterest while away

• Prisoners were freed; Prisoners were freed; those with death sentences those with death sentences were allowed to start a new were allowed to start a new life in conquerored territories life in conquerored territories

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• Peasants grew impatient and formed Peasants grew impatient and formed their own armytheir own army

• Began in spring of 1096Began in spring of 1096

• Attacked people, stole, and burned fieldsAttacked people, stole, and burned fields

• Thought since Jewish people were not Thought since Jewish people were not Christians, they were considered enemies Christians, they were considered enemies and killed themand killed them

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• 1/3 had died by the time they 1/3 had died by the time they reached Constantinoplereached Constantinople

• Byzantine emperor, Alexius, was upset Byzantine emperor, Alexius, was upset that the Pope sent unskilled peasants; he that the Pope sent unskilled peasants; he wanted them out of his territory, so he wanted them out of his territory, so he gave them ships and supplies to fight the gave them ships and supplies to fight the Turks in Asia MinorTurks in Asia Minor

• Turks easily defeated themTurks easily defeated them

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• In 1097, about 30,000 nobles and knights In 1097, about 30,000 nobles and knights set out for Asia Minorset out for Asia Minor

• Defeated the TurksDefeated the Turks

• Continued on to Syria, but many died due Continued on to Syria, but many died due to starvation and the heatto starvation and the heat

• On July 15, 1099, the remaining 12,000 On July 15, 1099, the remaining 12,000 crusaders reached Jerusalemcrusaders reached Jerusalem

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• went over the city wallswent over the city walls

• killed Turks, Jews, and other Christianskilled Turks, Jews, and other Christians

• reports say that there was reports say that there was

so much blood it ran knee-deepso much blood it ran knee-deep

• captured and looted the citycaptured and looted the cityhttp://douglawrence.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/crusades.jpg