The Crusades Dbq

The Crusades began late into the eleventh century. “Their objectives were to check the spread of Islam, to retake control of the Holy Land in the eastern Mediterranean, to conquer pagan areas, and to recapture formerly Christian territories;”(Madden) Eventually a militia was formed by western Europeans in order to rebel against the slaughtering they have endured from the muslim expansion. The spread of Islam was starting to concern those of other religions, and the Christians wanted to do something in order to fend off its rapid growth. At this point the holy land along with other Christian lands have been taken from them, their mission was to reclaim their land, and end the massive spread of Islam. What encouraged a large amount of men to

fight for them was the sins they possessed being lifted. Any able bodied man that wanted to get paid for defending his way of life, his religion his own people, and on top of all of that get a “Get into Heaven free!” card would most likely take up the opportunity. The Knights of the Templar acquired their name from the original nine knights that resided within the Temple of Solomon. They soon grew to be more than a mere nine due to one knight that had stepped before King Baldwin in an attempt to persuade him that they need to form a new military to protect travelers, and how they required the funds to do so effectively. Baldwin accepted the knights request thus strengthening their cause. The original nine had grew until they had gained a massive following to set out, and complete their goals.
The knights after the first crusade carried out by Muslims had fought back in an act of rebellion against the Muslim wars in order to defend those that didn’t want to adhere to their way of life. ”Europeans received news of territorial losses to the Muslims, they forgot the military orders' heroism and concluded that these defeats were God's punishment for sin.”(Nicholson) Although their goals were out of self interest they did lots of good for the world indirectly. They established a great trade route throughout western Europe. People could place their wealth in one bank, have the next bank receive documentation, and then pick up their money once they got to another bank. Some historians believe this to be a prototype of what modern day banking is. On top of this they also were stomping down the spread of Islam, and the Muslim expansion. They helped people from all walks of life, not just their own. Their mission was moral as they did not fire the first shot, and they were called upon originally by Pope Urban II once the Jerusalem was taken in the Muslim conquest. From the Templar’s perspective what they perceived to be their holy land has just been stolen from them by who they believe to be unfaithful, and immoral. They couldn’t let them have their way, and sit back doing nothing watching the world around them get taken right out from underneath their feet. Near the end of the eleventh century two thirds of ancient Christian territory had been conquered by the Muslims. This included mainly Syria, Anatolia Egypt Palestine, and they were not going to just back down. The Muslims had kicked the hornet's nest.
The Templar’s sought their goal to reclaim their lost lands.”Gregory VII’s idea that popes were responsible for the right order in the world, which could only be obtained through righteous Christian violence directed by the papacy, forms the basis for the Crusades.”(Abels) They made attempts to start Christian states within Syria, and Palestine, but alas they led to failure, and did not last.

Meanwhile all around Europe the population was growing at an alarming rate as well as the economy putting everyone at an advantage, but while at the same time fighting all these wars. They had the men, the resources, and a massive amount of wealth due to their services as well as all of their donation money to expand their militia, and destroy anyone that could be harmful to the Christian faith. Although all their efforts, and sieges whether successful or not ultimately were undone by others, and to this day the Holy Land belongs primarily to the Jewish people. The Templar’s did not liberate all territories they wanted, but their influence their religion had on western Europe, and all around the world is really something they probably would have wanted

more.
The Templar’s used any kind of weapon a typical knight would use, but typically it was a sword, and shield.

“The knights, equipped like the heavy cavalry of the Middle Ages;

the serjeants, who formed the light cavalry;”(Moeller) Primarily they were equipped much like the heavy cavalry in the middle ages. They acquired these weapons from the trade routes they had formed throughout western Europe, and were provided by the state from the king as they were a state funded militia. Their armor would sometimes vary, but typically it was steel or chainmail that they wore into battle.

Recruiting men when it came to the Knights of the Templar was interesting as they would use their religion as a way to persuade those of their faith to fight for their cause as they told them it was noble, and just as long as you fought for your beliefs it wasn’t sinful.”Recapture formerly Christian territories; they were seen by many of their participants as a means of redemption and expiation for sins.”(Madden) In fact they thought killing “infidels” was the complete opposite, and that you would go to Heaven guaranteed if you defend your faith. Of course people that would receive a paycheck, as well as a bypass to paradise when they die would take that opportunity any day. They were very devoted to their religion aswell, which is part of what made them such amazing knights. They were fighting for something greater, something that they believed in. One oath they took was that they were not allowed to flee

from battle unless it were three to one. You were supposed to die fighting which didn’t even bother most people as they were going to a Heavenly paradise guaranteed so they either get to fight for their faith, and culture, or die, and get to go to a wonderful paradise. Living life as a Christian western European around the twelfth century, joining the Templar’s was the most amazing job you could ask for.
Every single goal the Templar’s wanted to achieve was not undertaken unfortunately. ”Marshal claimed to have defeated some 500 knights without a loss during his long career on the tournament circuit in England and France.”(Zabecki) The Templar’s eventually would die out due to Philip the IV of France. The year 1304 Friday the thirteenth Philip was in a lot of debt to the knights, and took advantage of the controversy surrounding the order at the time to accuse them of crimes they had not commited, and then torture them until they would falsely admit to them. He finished them off by either torturing them to death, or burned them at the stake. Although they faced a tragic end the Templar’s influence will forever be cemented into history, and their beliefs still hold onto modern day society with their faith Christianity still persisting within churches all across the globe.