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Historical Biography
WHO: Pope Urban II
WHAT: Was responsible for leading the first crusade which by definition is a Christian Holy War. Urban wanted to help the Byzantine emperor, Alexis I Commenus to drive Muslim Turks out of Palestine. Palestine was part of the Holy Land because it was the place where Jesus Christ was born. Because Christians felt that Muslims were infidels, they wanted them driven out. This began a tradition that continued long after the middle ages and included Jews and Arabs.
WHERE: The first Crusade took place in Palestine (present day Israel and Syria) and later involved many European countries such as France, Turkey and Spain
WHEN: Started in 1095 and continued to the late thirteenth century.
WHY: To keep Christianity the power in the Holy Lands. They wanted this domination over Muslims and Jews.
HOW: By aligning with and gaining support of European kings to wage battles in the holy lands and drive out infidels or non-Christians.
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Historical Importance
This was the beginning of the Holy Wars that continued into the late thirteenth century. Crusades actually reduced the violence in Western Europe because the focus was put on the crusades. The papacy gained power as the Christian defender. Italy, Venice and Genoese peoples became more prosperous as a result of transporting crusaders and their supplies. One of the most important effects of the Crusades was to bring about cultural influence on Europeans such as foods, goods and scientific knowledge.
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Important Terms / Definitions
Infidels- An unbeliever with respect to a particular religion, especially Christianity or Islam.
Holy Land- The biblical region of Palestine
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Muslim- A member of the Nation of Islam
Christian- One who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or follows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
Jew- An adherent of Judaism as a religion or culture |
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Timeline of Events
1095-1099 Pope Urban II launched first crusade to drive Muslim Turks out of Palestine.
1147-1149 Bernard of Clairveaux recruited King Louis of France and Conrad III of Germany to lead a second crusade in Turkey. This was organized to help the Christians to recover lands which they lost to the Turks, but it ended in failure
1189-1182- was organized after Saladin, the Sultan of Egypt, recaptured Jerusalem. This is the Crusade in which King Richard the Lionhearted was involved in. It was a failure.
1202-1204- Began with the capture of Constantinople, which at the time was occupied by Greek-speaking Eastern Orthodox Christians, who did not recognize the authority of the Roman Pope.
1212- The Childrens Crusade sent thousands of children for the Holy Land, where they were captured by Muslims only to be sold as slaves or to die of hunger or disease.
1217- The Fifth Crusade, 1217-21, was aimed at Egypt, but failed.
13th century- 4 more Crusades failed to reverse the Muslim gains. In 1291 the last Crusader stronghold at Acco fell
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Question 1: