The crusades in the middle ages were a long-lasting series of vigorous wars between Christians and Muslims over the Holy Land, Jerusalem. The crusades lasted for almost two hundred years. They began in 1099 and approximately ended in 1291. (What were the motives, and causes of these gruesome wars?) is the first question one might ask. To properly answer this question, I am about to analyze the first four crusades that had began in 1099 and ended in 1212. “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire” To understand the causes of the crusades, we must have a solid understanding of the Islamic world and Europe backgrounds – respectively. By the tenth century, the Islamic empire under Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad was divided. The Fatimid, Shiite dynasty established a Shiite Caliphate in Egypt, and Cairo was its capital. They had tried to unite the Islamic world under its caliphate and they had become enemies to the Sunni caliphate in Baghdad. As a result, the Islamic world was divided. The Fatimid dynasty used its strategic geographical location to control trade activities. “The Fatimid dynasty prospered and surpassed the Abbasid Caliphate as the dynamic center of Islam… thy played a major role in the regional trade passing from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea and beyond” (295, Spielvogel). They did not care for different religion beliefs and built a strong army. “They were tolarent in matters of religion and created a strong army by using nonnative peoples as mercenaries” (295, Spielvogel). Seljuk Turks were among these people, “the Seljuk Turks were nomadic people from Central Asia who had been converted to Islam and flourished as military mercenaries for the Abbasid caliphate” (295, Spielvogel). The Turks numbers increased and gre... ... middle of paper ... ... incrementally, and the way opened for ‘barbarian’ people to supplant, mimic and finally extinguish Rome’s authority. Between the fifth and seventh centuries, groups like the Visigoths, Avars, and Lombards renewed the map of Europe, leaving a bewildering patchwork of divers. (4, Asbridge). Charlemagne, a Frank decendent, had reunited parted of the empire including: France, Italy, and Germany. He restored law and stability in those regions along with his successor, the Carolingians until Viking invasions which returned unstability and disorder back to the region. By the eleventh century, Europe was divided, unstable, and lawless, especially France. France was divided into two parts with two different languages. “France was even divided linguistically with two distinct languages, Languedor, and Languedoc- prevailing in the north and south respectively” (5, Asbridge).
The Crusades were a bloody time period. They were a military campaign by the pope and the Roman Catholic Church to take back Jerusalem from the Muslims. They lasted from the 11th- 13th century. They were catastrophic and left Europe in ruins. Although the Crusades were such a violent period of time, they had a positive impact in history because of their role in the renaissance and exposing the Western world to the Eastern.
The First Crusade is often cited as one of the most damnable consequences of religious fanaticism. A careful inspection of the circumstances and outcomes, however, will reveal a resultant political restructuring of Europe under the banner of Christendom. The purpose of this investigation is to investigate Pope Urban II’s motives in initiating the First Crusade, with a particular focus on the consolidation of the Western Church’s influence in Europe. Among the primary sources that will be consulted are the letter sent by Patriach Alexios of Constantinople to Urban, and an account of Urban’s speech at Clermont. Relevant excerpts from both of these primary sources, as well as contextual evidence and a wide array of historiography, will be taken
The Crusades took place in the Middle East between 1095 and 1291. They were used to gain a leg up on trading, have more land to show hegemony, and to please the gods. Based upon the documents, the Crusades between 1095 and 1291 were caused primarily by religious devotion rather than by the desire for economic and political gain.
Among some of the largest conflicts in the world stand the Crusades; a brutal conflict that lasted over 200 years and was debatably one of the largest armed religious conflicts in the history of humankind. Since this is so clearly an event of importance, historians have searched vigorously for the true answer as to why the crusades began. Ultimately, because of accusatory views on both the sides of the Christians and of the Muslims, the two groups grew in such hatred of each other that they began to act in deep discrimination of each other. Moreover, Christian motives seemed to be driven mostly by the capture of Jerusalem, the dark ages of Europe and the common-folks desperation for land, wealth, and a spot in heaven. What seems to be continually
Thomas Madden’s Crusades is an exposition of the crusades, which occurred during the Middle Ages. The Crusades were a series of military conflicts of a religious character. They remain a very important movement in human history, and are hard to understand, as they include several themes and they lasted for a long time (about two hundred years, and the author covers a period of about eight centuries in his chronological work). Religion is, of course, the most recurrent theme we think about the Crusades, but is it the only factor to explain them? How does Madden, considered as one of the most foremost historian of the Crusades, expose them in his book? Is his work effective to understand this period of History? Madden has the ambition to relate the Crusades from the Middle Ages to today events, such as the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. For him, it is a recall of what happened in the past, and what can still happen today: making wars for religion. Madden wants to intrigue readers with this concise book so they go further to discover more about the Crusades.
From the eleventh century throughout the thirteenth century there were six wars throughout that time line between the christians and the muslims. These specific wars were known as the crusades caused by the crusaders also known as the christians and muslims. The crusades legacy wasn't a very kind one you see it was kind of bitter legacy they left behind them. Here's two examples why the crusades were all about negative actions. In document 4 it states that the crusades caused severe damage to the the byzantine empire that unit never recovered from that destruction that the crusaders caused. A second reason that caught my eye was in document 6 that they did not care about an other it was kill or be killed that this city was savagely taken and
In 1095 Pope Urban II launched a series of Holy Wars which were called the Crusades. He believed that the Holy Land should be under Christian control. There were 14 Crusades from 1095 to the 1290s’ against the Muslims. Pope Urban II persuaded and promised
In conclusion, the Crusades were a series of wars that lasted over two centuries to gain control over the Holy Land. The First Crusade was the only crusade that was seen as a success. Many cultural, scientific, and commercial exchanges took place as a result of the Crusades and the Crusades had a deep impact on many areas that extended beyond the Holy Land. Eventually, in 1291, the Crusades would finally come to an end but the impact would extend into today’s
The crusades were a bunch of attacks led by the Pope during the middle ages. It started out with Muslims conquering two thirds of Christian lands. In response to this the pope put together 100,000 men to reconquer the lands. The Christians reclaimed a lot of lost land such as, Mesopotamia, Persia, Spain, and more, eventually making small kingdom in them. One of the small kingdoms fell in the hands of the Muslims, and the Christians started the second crusade trying to reclaim the land. The crusade failed resulting in Muslim reign. Many crusades were fought after that, but most of them where not that successful. Even though the Crusades were very bloody and inhuman, I believe that crusades had a major impact in a good way to the world back then and even today.
In the current news, the religious tensions between Christians and Muslim extremists are a recurring topic that sparks conversations between many people. The history behind this religious conflict goes back into the early 7th and 8th centuries during the times of the Byzantine and West European Empires. Although the conflicts between the two religions may have not been profound in the past, they were solidified due to the Crusades. Lasting from 1096 to 1204 CE, the Crusades were a prominent event in history and they had a significant impact on both the Byzantine and Western European Empires. These four expeditions involved the long distance travel across Europe, the loss of many innocent lives and the destruction of cities and important artifacts.The
The Three Crusades There were three Crusades and they all took different routes from western Europe to Palestine. THE FIRST CRUSADE - The first crusade began in A.D. 1095.
The First Crusade from 1095 to 1099 has been seen as a successful crusade. The First Crusaders carefully planned out their attacks to help promote religion throughout the lands. As the First Crusade set the example of what a successful crusade should do, the following crusades failed to maintain control of the Holy Land. Crusades following after the First Crusade weren’t as fortunate with maintaining the Holy Land due united forces of Muslims, lack of organization, and lack of religious focus.
In 1095, the conflict between the Christians and the Muslims started a crusade (a military campaign in defense of Christianity) for the battle of Jerusalem. This crusade involved people of other religions besides Christianity such as the Jews but they did not play a major role during this time. The Crusades lasted almost two decades and consisted of eight different crusades. With all of the events and actions that took during the Crusades, it led too many effects throughout years. There were short term effects and long term effects from the crusades that effected people of all different cultures. Two places which have had many effects from the Crusades are Europe and Islam. The Crusades has had short term and long term effects on power, economic and classical knowledge throughout Europe and Islam.
Wars are started due to different beliefs whether it is religion, ethics, etc. The Crusades were a series of “Holy Wars”. Prior to the Crusades, in 1009 the Arabs rule Jerusalem, a sacred site to both Christians and Muslims. At the same time, El Hakim ordered the burning of the Holy Sepulcher. This brought mistrust with the Muslims. In 1054 the Church split into the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox. Sixteen years later, the Turks conquered Jerusalem and started to attack the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantines sent a letter to the west asking for help. Pope Urban II read it and then called for the first Crusade to take back the Holy Lands. Thousands marched to the Holy Sites and conquered Jerusalem. However, only this Crusade was successful as the other two resulted in failure. The second and third Crusade was called to take back Edessa and Jerusalem which were recaptured by the Muslims. Although some of the Christian reasons were right, their attacks on Muslims were mostly unjustified.
The Crusades were a progression of Holy Wars propelled by the Christian conditions of Europe against the Saracens. The term 'Saracen' was the word used to portray a Muslim amid the season of the Crusades. The Crusades began in 1095 when Pope Claremont lectured the First Crusade at the Council of Claremont. The Pope's proclaiming prompted thousands instantly appending the cross to their pieces of clothing. The name Crusade given to the Holy Wars originated from old French word 'CROIS' signifying 'CROSS'. The Crusades were incredible military undertakings embraced by the Christian countries of Europe for protecting the heavenly places of Palestine from the hands of the Mohammedans.