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

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

“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