Understanding the
Jan 02, 2016
Understanding the
A long series or Wars between Christians and Muslims between 1096-1204
Fought over control of Jerusalem (the Holy Land)
Understanding the world of the 11th century
During the 8th century the Islamic Empire had expanded to include much of the Middle East and North Africa
Moors Invade Europe, 711
Contact with the Eastern world did not cease altogether; particularly in Spain and Italy
Spanish Reconquista: 711-1492
Muslim expansion in the East threatened the borders and stability of the Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Emperor asked Pope Urban II to help him against the Muslims (one Catholic leader to another)
Urban responded to Byzantium’s request with a rousing speech in France in 1095
He called for the defeat of the Turks, returning the Holy Land to the Christians
Urban’s speech helped launch the first of several Crusades
The Pope hoped to unite the divided Christian faith under the banner of the Latin Church More power for him
Italian city-states hoped for commercial gains
The Byzantine Empire was in severe decline
Christian pilgrims visiting Jerusalem began experiencing increased harassment and danger
Muslim Turks captured Jerusalemfrom the Byzantine
Empire
Muslims stoppedChristians from
Visiting Holy Land
Christian pilgrimswere attacked
Byzantine Empirefeared attack on Constantinople
Feudal Lords
Knights
Peasants
Religious (promise of salvation)
Adventure and Glory
Profit and Power
The word “crusade” comes from the Spanish cruzade which means “marked with the cross”
Crusaders wore red crosses on their chests to symbolize their purpose
By the late 11th century, the Islamic empire was suffering from it’s own internal struggles – prioritized internal threats over the external threat from Europe
Crusaders take advantage of Muslim disunity to carve out a Christian (Feudal) Kingdom in the Middle East centered on Jerusalem
Most of the Crusaders returned to Europe after freeing Jerusalem, creating a manpower shortage
Moslem refugees retreated to Baghdad and demanded a force retake Jerusalem
Muslim counterattacks began in 1144, led by Zengi (reconquered Edessa)
Such developments would spur the Second Crusade
Eastern Mediterranean in 11c-12c
This time the Muslims were ready Eventually the Crusaders joined forces and lay siege
to Damascus, but were soundly defeated While the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem continued to
be torn by internal strife, its Muslim enemies were moving toward unity
Muslim ruler of Egypt who expanded his rule across Syria, and eventually Jerusalem
He declared a holy war against the Christians and captured Jerusalem in 1187
Saladin: one of the few Crusade personalities generally described favorably by both
Eastern and Western sources
The Crusade to reconquer Jerusalem
Led by three European Kings Frederick Barbarossa (HRE) Richard the Lionheart
(England) Philip Augustus (France)
The Crusade was a failure Frederick Barbarossa
drowned before reaching the Holy Land
Philip Augustus became ill and went home
Richard I fails to capture Jerusalem and gets himself captured on his way home
Richard had possessed superior brilliance, courage, and knowledge of the military art, but Saladin’s moderation, patience, and justice had carried the day
The relative unity and fidelity of the Moslems had once again triumphed over the Christians’ divisions and disloyalties
Perhaps the only Christian victory – permission for Christians to visit the Holy Land
death of Saladin renewed hope for another Crusade
Venice promised financial support to Crusaders, in return for their capture of the rival port city of Zara
1204:Crusaders captured and looted Constantinople – they never made it to the Holy Land
Byzantine Empire never recovered; significantly weakened until its capture by the Turks two centuries later
Failures Jerusalem was in Muslim hands The Muslim powers became more intolerant of
religious diversity The influence of the Catholic Church and the
the pope declined - due to nationalistic ambitions and widening schism between Eastern Orthodox and Rome
Indigenous eastern Christians were caught in the middle between Crusaders and Moslems (most sided with Muslims)
Successes Serfs used the Crusades to leave their
lands and many found new opportunities Trade and exploration were enhanced
Feudalism declines because Feudal lords die or spend too much money on military.
Increased Travel – Europeans want to travel more
Increased Trade – Europeans want product from the East such as sugar, cotton, silk, spices, etc.
Exchange of Technology– Ships, Maps, Explorers
Exchange of Ideas – Aristotle, Astronomy, Science, Mathematics
Crusades inspired attacks on “infidels” in Europe
Jewish Communities in Europe were vulnerable to attack
Sicily – conquered by Muslims in the 9th century, regained by Christians warriors in 1090s
Spain- in 1060s small Christian states began attacking Muslim lands; conquest wasn’t completed until 1492
After the successful Reconquista, the devoutly Christian rulers of Spain and Portugal were eager to dominate the Islamic states in North Africa and to convert non-Christians
The desire to spread Christianity would be one of the motives for the European explorations ….
1492 was the year of both the completion of the Reconquista and Columbus’ voyage to the
New World