The Quest for the Holy Land

• Definition: series of 8 military expeditions from Europe to the Middle East

• Dates: 1096-1270• Crusader: to take up the

cross

The Quest for the Holy Land

• Motivation: to recapture the Holy Land from the Muslims

• Holy Land: an ancient region of southwest Asia on the east coast of the Mediterranean

• Jews: Torah establishes claim to the Holy Land• Site of King Solomon’s Temple

Claims to the Holy Land

• Muslims: • Site of Muhammad’s journey into heaven• Site of the Dome of the Rock

Claims to the Holy Land

• Christians: Site of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection• Site of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Claims to the Holy Land

Pope Urban II called for crusade against Turks

Indulgences as incentive

Battles in the Holy Land

Eight Crusades

The First Crusade: Pope Urban II“God Wills It!”

• Wanted to protect Christianity from expansion by Muslim Turks

The First Crusade: Pope Urban II“God Wills It!”

• Wanted to unite all of Europe’s Christians and increase his personal power as pope

The First Crusade: Pope Urban II“God Wills It!”

• Promised immediate salvation to anyone who died

Knights

• Commanded to defend Jerusalem, the “Fief of God”

Knights

• Crusades offered hope of adventure and wealth.

Nobles & Peasants

• Peasants who went on crusades were released from feudal obligations

Nobles & Peasants

• Escape from drudgery & hope of adventure.

• Promised salvation for anyone who died.

Nobles & Peasants

• Nobles hoped to add to their personal fortunes and strengthen to power of monarchs

Peter the Hermit

• A poor man who attracted peasant followers with his preaching

Peter the Hermit

• Also attracted artisans, beggars, thieves, con men and tricksters

The First Crusade

• Four armies traveled to Constantinople, Antioch, and Jerusalem.

Results

The First Crusade

• Captured Antioch and Jerusalem

• Massacred many Muslims and Jews

Results

The First Crusade

• Much of the army died from disease

• Some Europeans returned home, while others established crusader states

Results

The Third (or Kings’) Crusade

• Saladin was a devout Muslim and military leader

• He went to war when the crusaders broke a treaty by attacking a Muslim caravan

Muslim Forces

The Third (or Kings’) Crusade

• Battle at the Horns of Hattin triggered the third crusade.

• Surrounded the Christian army and set fire

• Muslims recaptured Jerusalem in October 1187

Muslim Forces

The Third (or Kings’) Crusade

• Called the Kings’ Crusade because the military leaders were monarchs

• Philip king of France

Christian Forces

The Third (or Kings’) Crusade

• Frederick Barbarossa king of Germany, drowned on his way to Constantinople

• Richard I king of England, nicknamed the lion heart

Christian Forces

Results of the Third Crusade

• Philip and Richard captured Acre.

• Richard grew impatient and ordered the execution of all of the city’s Muslims

Results of the Third Crusade

• Richard and Saladin fought in many battles but Richard never regained Jerusalem

Results of the Third Crusade

• Treaty of 1192: Crusaders control cities north of Jaffra.

• Pilgrims can safely visit Jerusalem

The Impact of the Crusades• Trade Expands: Europeans

want to have the luxuries they saw in the Middle East. The demand for silk and spices grew.

• Feudalism Weakened: Knights left their fiefs to fight and serfs were freed. Lords were killed or went bankrupt.• Exchange of Ideas: Military technology, poetry and music, use of money, languages, architecture• Muslims remain in control of Jerusalem until WWI

The Impact of the Crusades• Trade Expands: Europeans want to have the

luxuries they saw in the Middle East. • The demand for silk and spices grew.

The Impact of the Crusades• Feudalism Weakened: Knights left their fiefs to fight and serfs were freed. • Lords were killed or went bankrupt.

The Impact of the Crusades•Muslims remain in control of Jerusalem until WWI