Introduction The Middle Ages were a very critical time in European History. After the fall of Rome, until the Renaissance, everything was considered to be “dark”. There were no major scientific discoveries and no outstanding art or music was produced. During such times a series of what some call “Holy Wars” erupted throughout the Middle East. These wars are known as the Crusades. The Crusades are perhaps the most misunderstood events in the history of the European world. This is due mostly in part to the ignorance many people hold regarding the Crusades. When there are United States Presidents constantly apologizing for the Crusades or Radical Islamic apologists who blame the Western World for initiating the problems that exist in the Middle …show more content…
Pope Urban II called the First Crusade in 1095 in --what is said to have been one of the most influential speeches-- at an assembly in Clermont, France. Promises of “taking up the cross” included: chances to travel and make money, an opportunity for young sons to acquire land, and instant forgiveness of sins if killed in battle. The response was tremendous. The Crusaders' who decided to drop everything and “take up the cross” were expressing acts of piety, self-sacrifice, and love for God. The Crusaders knew how were sinful they were. As a result, their eagerness to potentially leave their family to suffer hardships for the cause of the Crusade was a self-reproachful act of charity and love. The First Crusade was relatively successful in that the Crusaders were able to establish several states in the Middle East along with the recapture of Jerusalem. Second Crusade …show more content…
German Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, King Philip Augustus, and King Richard the Lionheart were the ones to see it through. Unfortunately, Frederick drowned in Cilicia and King Philip returned after the capture of Acre. However, Richard the Lionheart pushed forward until 1192, when peace was made with Saladin. Richard the Lionheart was able to negotiate a three-year truce with Saladin. This truce enabled Christians to make pilgrimages to Jerusalem although it remained under Muslim rule. Fourth Crusade (1201-1204) Pope Innocent III called for the Third Crusade against the Egyptians for control of Jerusalem. Due to a lack of funds, the Crusaders agreed to help Venetians capture the Byzantine port, Zara. Long story short, the Crusaders were diverted from course, because they lacked proper leadership, and ended up capturing Constantinople in a Civil War. In other words, these soldiers became puppets for another political leader that used them for his purpose. They inevitably weakened the cause of the original Crusades and the Byzantine Empire by fighting their fellow believers in Christ. The Children’s Crusade of
The First Crusade was propelled in 1095 by Pope Urban II to recover control of the sacred city of Jerusalem and the Christian Holy Land from Muslims.
Richard the Lionheart is the only King to stay and take Jerusalem. Even though Richard has a strange relationship with Saladin, he still fails to retake the city. After reaching a truce in 1192, Saladin gets to keep control of Jerusalem, but has to allow the Christians to visit the city. After the Third Crusade, there was never enough will power to do much to retake the city.
Contrary to many commonly held notions about the first crusade, in his book, The First Crusade and the Idea of Crusading, Jonathan Riley-Smith sets out to explain how the idea of crusading thought evolved in the first crusade. In his book, Riley-Smith sets out five main arguments to show how these ideas of crusading evolved. Firstly, he argues that Pope Urban’s original message was conventional, secondly that a more positive reaction was drawn from the laity (due to the ideas surrounding Jerusalem), thirdly, that the original message of crusading had changed because of the horrible experiences of the first crusaders, fourth, that due to these experiences the crusaders developed their own concept of what a crusade was, and lastly, that these ideas were refined by (religious) writers and turned into an acceptable form of theology. Riley-Smith makes excellent points about the crusade; however, before one can delve directly into his argument, one must first understand the background surrounding the rise of the first crusade.
The Crusaders purpose was to fight against non-Christians, and convert non-Christians into Christians. Examples of Non-Christians were Muslims and Jews. Although crusades were warriors, they had limit warfare meaning crusades couldn’t cause blood shed on holy days or weekends.
with the intent of widespread entertainment, elements of comedy and other aspects of entertaining film can, at times, cloud the message and content of the documentary. An anti-war advocate, Terry Jones’ presentation of matter so closely related to strong personal sentiments can also introduce a degree of bias in the presentation and approach taken to analyzing the events detailed in the series. However, the documentary incorporates the input and analysis of several highly-regarded medieval historians, including Jonathan Riley-Smith, Suheil Zakkar, Fikret Isiltan, David Lazenby, and Christopher Tyerman. This group of historians, all highly esteemed individuals in the field, are able to offer a balanced and likely unbiased account of what they believe to be true about the
In 1095 Pope urban II call all Christians to take part in what would become the world’s greatest Holy War in all of history. Urban’s called Christians to take up arms and help fight to take the Holy Land of Jerusalem back from the accursed Muslims. During this time of war the whole world changed. Land boundaries shifted, men gained and lost and gained power again, and bonds were forged and broken. The Crusades had a great impact on the world that will last forever. There were many major social, political, religious and economic changes that occurred during the crusades. But first, a brief history to give backbone to these reasons.
In 1198 the recently elected Pope Innocent III began preaching for another Crusade that would attempt to regain control of the Holy Land, as the Third Crusade left Saladin, a Muslim leader, in control of Jerusalem. Innocent III began preparing for war, and formed an agreement with the Venetians, stating that the Crusaders would pay the Venetians for transportation to the Holy Land. Innocent III overestimated his forces, and needed less supplies than he requested, however, Venice still wanted the full agreed upon amount to be paid. The men tried to pull their money together to pay the entire amount, however they still were well short of the required sum. As a pope, Innocent III did not have the power, wealth, and men that the kings had. At the beginning of the 1200’s the papacy had far less influence than the kings. As the Crusaders were unable to pay, they instead formed an agreement which stated that the Crusaders would help the Venetians take over the Christian city of Zara in order to gain its wealth and supplies, however, “The barons and nobles among the crusaders agreed to what the doge proposed. But no one in the army knew this plan, except the leaders.” (7) This secret arrangement led to dissonance among the Crusaders when word got out, as many people, including Innocent III, despised the idea of harming a fellow Christian in any way. The city o...
The Crusades were the first tactical mission by Western Christianity in order to recapture the Muslim conquered Holy Lands. Several people have been accredited with the launch of the crusades including Peter the Hermit however it is now understood that this responsibility rested primarily with Pope Urban II . The main goal of the Crusades was the results of an appeal from Alexius II, who had pleaded for Western Volunteers help with the prevention of any further invasions. The Pope’s actions are viewed as him answering the pleas of help of another in need, fulfilling his Christian right. However, from reading the documents it is apparent that Pope Urban had ulterior motives for encouraging engagement in the war against the Turks. The documents and supporting arguments now highlight that the Pope not only sought to recruit soldiers to help but also to challenge those who had harmed the Christians community and annihilate the Muslims. He put forth the idea that failure to recapture this lands would anger God and that by participating, God would redeem them of their previous sins.in a time of deep devoutness, it is clear this would have been a huge enticement for men to engage in the battle. Whether his motives were clear or not to his people, Pope Urban’s speeches claiming that “Deus vult!” (God wills it) encouraged many Christians to participate and take the cross.
First of all, we can underline how Madden emphasizes the fact that the Crusades were driven by religious reasons: “A crusade army was a curious mix of rich and poor, saints and sinners, motivated by every kind of pious and selfish desire, yet it could not have come into being without the pious idealism that led men to risk all to liberate the lands of Christ” (Madden, 13). The First Crusade occurred after Pope Urban II preached a sermon to liberate Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Madden expresses regrets about what he calls a “mistaken view”, that says that “religion was not an impetus but a diversion” (11). He definitely assumes a point of view that is diffe...
This was not the only way that the Third Crusade affected history, for example, the island of Cyprus remained in Latin hands, and was used as an ideal starting off point for future crusades, and Saladin and Richard signed a treaty to reestablish the Kingdom of Jerusalem, allowing Christians to visit Jerusalem as pilgrims. The Third Crusade also affected society, as it gave the coast from Jaffa to Christians, handed Ascalon back to Saladin after Richard’s men demolished the fortifications that they had painstakingly built, and allowed pilgrims to have access to the Holy Land. Saladin and Richard also signed a three-year peace treaty. On his return trip, Richard shipwrecked and was held for ransom by Leopold of
The First Crusade was established in 1095 in a council of the Church in Clermont. Alexius I Commenus, emperor of Byzantium, wanted to control Asia Minor and Northern Syria after losing to the Turks. He needed more Western troops and looked towards Pope
In 1095, Pope Urban II called the first crusade. Happening between 1096 and 1099, the first crusade was both a military expedition and a mass movement of people with the simple goal of reclaiming the Holy Lands taken by the Muslims in their conquests of the Levant. The crusade ended with the capture of Jerusalem in July 1099. However, there has been much debate about whether the First Crusade can be considered an ‘armed pilgrimage’ or whether it has to be considered as a holy war. This view is complicated due to the ways in which the Crusade was presented and how the penitential nature of it changed throughout the course of the Crusade.
A main cause of the Crusades was the treatment of Christian pilgrims. They were robbed, beaten, and then sold. The main group of Turks, the Seljuk Turks, were threatening and growing in power. The Byzantine Emperor, Alexus I, began to become worried and sent out an urgent plea to Pope Urban II, in Rome. He requested for Christian knights to help him fight the Turks. Pope Urban II did agree to his appeal although Byzantine Emperors and Roman Popes were longtime rivals. He also did agree with Alexus I, in fearing that the Turks were expanding. Pope Urban encouraged French and German Bishops and Nobles to also take part in this. “ An accused race has violently invaded the lands of those Christians and had depopulated them by pillage and fire.” This is when Pope Urban II called for a crusade to free the Holy Land. Urban did agree to this having some of his own motives in mind. He was hoping his power would grow in ...
To rid of aggressive knights, to earn money, and to receive fame, were purposes which spurred every crusade. However, the Children’s Crusade had only the desire of saving the Holy Land (Beck, et al 346-344). The kids would chant "Lord God, exalt Christianity. Lord God, restore to us the true cross" (Alchin). True faith of these children is evident. By the chant, the children put their lives in god’s hands. Children involved in the Children’s Crusade never made it back; they earned no fame. The children were not kings, nobles, or knights, so they had no support. As powerful leaders kings, nobles, and knights were able to get the support of the Church and people, one feat the children could not achieve. The Children's...
In order for the crusades to begin, the Christians needed to gather an army to travel and fight the forces of Muslims. With all the power being held by monarchies at this time, the church needed to be cleaver in order to gain troops to put their lives on the line. To gain the support of these warriors and dedication of men, Pope Urban II (1088-1099) challenged those morals of men by telling them to grab their weapons and join the holy war to recover the land of Jerusalem. It was not the challenge that convinced men to take part in this war. The promise of “immediate remission of sins” attracted the men to stand up for their religion and beliefs while at the same time, promising them a trip to heaven when life comes to an end. With this statement, men instantly prepared for battle which in a very short period of time gave the church power which has been held by the monarchies. Men of rich and poor prepared for battle, some wearing ...