Social Studies 8

Understanding the Crusades

Outline
Part One: Collecting the Information
http://historyunits.wix.com/the-crusades#!crusaders/c1pz
http://westernreservepublicmedia.org/middleages/crusade_intro.htm
1. Why was it so important for people in the Middle Ages to ensure that the
Church was kept happy?
2. Explain why primogeniture could be a problem for some families.
3. Review the map of Christendom in 1096. How did Pope Urban II take
advantage of the split between the eastern and western Christians?
http://historyunits.wix.com/the-crusades

CAUSE & EFFECT: the start of the Crusades

Jerusalem had been under Muslim control since 637CE, when it was
absorbed into the growing Islamic Empire. After this time, Christian
pilgrims and merchants had peacefully lived with Muslims in the region
for centuries. Then, in the mid 11th century, things changed.

In 1050, a more militant Islamic group, the Seljuk Turks, took control of
Jerusalem. This new Islamic regime threatened not only Christian
traders and pilgrims in the region but also in the city of Constantinople,
capital of the Christian Byzantine Empire. This growing threat caused
the Byzantine emperor to send a plea for support to Pope Urban II in
1096. This request, in turn, motivated the Pope's response. The effect,
or consequence of his response, was the start of the First Crusade.

Brothers, I speak as a messenger from God. Your fellow Christians in

the east desperately need help. The Saracens have attacked them
and have pushed deep into Christian land. They are killing great
numbers of Christians. They are destroying churches and land. In the
name of God, I beg you all to drive out these foul creatures.

Your own land has too many people. There is not much wealth here.
The soil hardly grows enough to support you. Set out for Jerusalem.

Take that land from the wicked infidel and make it your own. If you
die on the journey or if you are killed in a battle against these
Saracens all your sins will be forgiven at once. God Himself has given
me the power to tell you this.

Some of you have spent too much time fighting against your fellow
Christians. But now you must fight the Saracens. Let bandits become
soldiers. Soldiers who have been fighting for money must now fight
for heavenly riches.
Pope
Urban II

http://historyunits.wix.com/the-crusades#!crusaders/c1pz
Who Were the Crusaders?
4. Who joined the crusades?
5. Why?
6. How were the Crusades a benefit to Europe
http://westernreservepublicmedia.org/middleages/crusade_people.htm
7. How did the commoners finance their crusade?
8. How successful was the Peoples Crusade? Explain.
http://westernreservepublicmedia.org/middleages/crusade_first.htm
9. What are some the reasons that the Christian Crusaders were able to defeat
the Turks?
10. Why did the Crusaders continue to fight the Muslims, even after being told they
could share Jerusalem?
http://westernreservepublicmedia.org/middleages/crusade_after.htm
11. How did the Crusaders amass wealth?
http://westernreservepublicmedia.org/middleages/crusade_second.htm
12. Explain how the second Crusade backfired on the Christians.
http://westernreservepublicmedia.org/middleages/crusade_third.htm
13. Explain why Richard the Lionheart was a successful Crusader, but not such an
effective king.
http://westernreservepublicmedia.org/middleages/crusade_fourth.htm
14. How was the fourth Crusade very different from the previous ones?
http://medievaleurope.mrdonn.org/effects_of_the_crusades.html

Summary
List the positive and negative consequences of the Crusades for Europeans.
How did the Crusades help to end the feudal age?
Commentary/Analysis
Many historians today think that the Crusades were not justified. Why might they
think this way? Is it always fair to criticize an event that occurred hundreds of
years ago? Explain.