Around 1000, the Kingdoms of Western Europe Had One Thing in Common Christianity

THE CRUSADES

 Around 1000, the kingdoms of Western Europe had one thing in common – Christianity.  The Crusades exemplify the church’s great influence over medieval European society.  The Crusades were holy wars against the Muslims and Arabs who controlled the Holy Land (Jerusalem and other sites Jesus preached).  Muslims and Arabs had controlled the Holy Land since the 7th century. They did, however, tolerate Christian pilgrims.  In 1071, a hard-line Muslim group took over the Holy Land and banned Christian pilgrims.  Pope Urban II called on European kings to launch a crusade or holy war to retake the Holy Land in the name of Christianity.

The 1 st Crusade (1096-1099)  Involved up 34 000 knights and peasant soldiers  A success  The Europeans took Muslim territory along the eastern Mediterranean and renamed the area the Christian States.  In 1099, the Crusaders captured the Holy Land and the Holy City (Jerusalem).

The 2 nd Crusade (1147)  A failure: The Crusaders unsuccessfully attempted to win back lands the Muslims had recaptured.

The 3 rd Crusade (1187-1192)  Saladin (a great Muslim leader) captured Jerusalem and 3 European Kings led by Richard the Lionheart of England launched a crusade to retake the Holy City.  Neither side could defeat the other, therefore, they called a truce in 1192. Christians were now allowed to visit Jerusalem.

The 4 th Crusade (1202)  Led by the city of Venice, the crusaders attacked and conquered the city of Constantinople instead of the Holy Land.  Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine empire and Venice’s rival.  This crusade was viewed as an embarrassment to the church because Constantinople was a Christian city.

Results of the Crusades  The Pope and the Roman Catholic Church became highly esteemed thanks to the 1st and 3rd crusades.  Kings actually became more powerful because many of those that might have challenged their authority were killed in the Crusades.  Eastern products were introduced to Europe (ie. Cotton, sugar, spices).