The CrusadesThe Crusades

The CrusadesThe Crusades

Mid-1000’s, Islamic Seljuk Turks Mid-1000’s, Islamic Seljuk Turks controlled much of Byzantine Empire controlled much of Byzantine Empire and Middle East (incl. Holy Land)and Middle East (incl. Holy Land)

Byzantine Empire at ascension of Alexios I Komnenos (1081 AD)

Byzantine Empire around 550 AD

The CrusadesThe Crusades

Byzantine Emperor Alexius I asked Byzantine Emperor Alexius I asked Pope Urban II for helpPope Urban II for help

1095 – Council of Clermont1095 – Council of Clermont Promised remission of sinsPromised remission of sins

Fight the enemy Fight the enemy

instead of each otherinstead of each other

““God wills it!”God wills it!”

Council of ClermontCouncil of ClermontSpeech by Pope Urban IISpeech by Pope Urban II

““You have seen for a long time the great disorder in You have seen for a long time the great disorder in the world caused by these crimes. It is so bad in the world caused by these crimes. It is so bad in some of your provinces, I am told, and you are so some of your provinces, I am told, and you are so weak in the administration of justice, that one can weak in the administration of justice, that one can hardly go along the road by day or night without hardly go along the road by day or night without being attacked by robbers; and whether at home or being attacked by robbers; and whether at home or abroad one is in danger of being despoiled either abroad one is in danger of being despoiled either by force or fraud. Therefore it is necessary to by force or fraud. Therefore it is necessary to reenact the truce, as it is commonly called, which reenact the truce, as it is commonly called, which was proclaimed a long time ago by our holy fathers. was proclaimed a long time ago by our holy fathers. I exhort and demand that you, each, try hard to I exhort and demand that you, each, try hard to have the truce kept in your diocese. And if anyone have the truce kept in your diocese. And if anyone shall be led by his cupidity or arrogance to break shall be led by his cupidity or arrogance to break this truce, by the authority of God and with the this truce, by the authority of God and with the sanction of this council he shall be anathematized.”sanction of this council he shall be anathematized.”

Council of ClermontCouncil of ClermontSpeech by Pope Urban IISpeech by Pope Urban II

The clergy and others in attendance agreed to The clergy and others in attendance agreed to the proposition, and the Pope continued:the proposition, and the Pope continued:

““Although, O sons of God, you have promised more firmly than Although, O sons of God, you have promised more firmly than ever to keep the peace among yourselves and to preserve the ever to keep the peace among yourselves and to preserve the rights of the church, there remains still an important work for rights of the church, there remains still an important work for you to do. Freshly quickened by the divine correction, you you to do. Freshly quickened by the divine correction, you must apply the strength of your righteousness to another must apply the strength of your righteousness to another matter which concerns you as well as God. For your brethren matter which concerns you as well as God. For your brethren who live in the east are in urgent need of your help, and you who live in the east are in urgent need of your help, and you must hasten to give them the aid which has often been must hasten to give them the aid which has often been promised them. For, as the most of you have heard, the Turks promised them. For, as the most of you have heard, the Turks and Arabs have attacked them and have conquered the and Arabs have attacked them and have conquered the territory of Romania [the Greek empire] as far west as the territory of Romania [the Greek empire] as far west as the shore of the Mediterranean and the Hellespont, which is shore of the Mediterranean and the Hellespont, which is called the Arm of St. George. called the Arm of St. George.

Council of ClermontCouncil of ClermontSpeech by Pope Urban IISpeech by Pope Urban II

They have occupied more and more of the lands of They have occupied more and more of the lands of those Christians, and have overcome them in those Christians, and have overcome them in seven battles. They have killed and captured many, seven battles. They have killed and captured many, and have destroyed the churches and devastated and have destroyed the churches and devastated the empire. If you permit them to continue thus for the empire. If you permit them to continue thus for awhile with impurity, the faithful of God will be awhile with impurity, the faithful of God will be much more widely attacked by them. On this much more widely attacked by them. On this account I, or rather the Lord, beseech you as account I, or rather the Lord, beseech you as Christ's heralds to publish this everywhere and to Christ's heralds to publish this everywhere and to persuade all people of whatever rank, foot-soldiers persuade all people of whatever rank, foot-soldiers and knights, poor and rich, to carry aid promptly to and knights, poor and rich, to carry aid promptly to those Christians and to destroy that vile race from those Christians and to destroy that vile race from the lands of our friends. I say this to those who are the lands of our friends. I say this to those who are present, it meant also for those who are absent. present, it meant also for those who are absent. Moreover, Christ commands it.”Moreover, Christ commands it.”

Council of ClermontCouncil of ClermontSpeech by Pope Urban IISpeech by Pope Urban II

““All who die by the way, whether by land or by sea, All who die by the way, whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans, shall have or in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins. This I grant them immediate remission of sins. This I grant them through the power of God with which I am through the power of God with which I am invested. O what a disgrace if such a despised invested. O what a disgrace if such a despised and base race, which worships demons, should and base race, which worships demons, should conquer a people which has the faith of conquer a people which has the faith of omnipotent God and is made glorious with the omnipotent God and is made glorious with the name of Christ! With what reproaches will the name of Christ! With what reproaches will the Lord overwhelm us if you do not aid those who, Lord overwhelm us if you do not aid those who, with us, profess the Christian religion! Let those with us, profess the Christian religion! Let those who have been accustomed unjustly to wage who have been accustomed unjustly to wage private warfare against the faithful now go private warfare against the faithful now go against the infidels and end with victory this war against the infidels and end with victory this war which should have been begun long ago. which should have been begun long ago.

Council of ClermontCouncil of ClermontSpeech by Pope Urban IISpeech by Pope Urban II

Let those who for a long time, have been robbers, Let those who for a long time, have been robbers, now become knights. Let those who have been now become knights. Let those who have been fighting against their brothers and relatives now fighting against their brothers and relatives now fight in a proper way against the barbarians. Let fight in a proper way against the barbarians. Let those who have been serving as mercenaries for those who have been serving as mercenaries for small pay now obtain the eternal reward. Let small pay now obtain the eternal reward. Let those who have been wearing themselves out in those who have been wearing themselves out in both body and soul now work for a double honor. both body and soul now work for a double honor. Behold! on this side will be the sorrowful and Behold! on this side will be the sorrowful and poor, on that, the rich; on this side, the enemies poor, on that, the rich; on this side, the enemies of the Lord, on that, his friends. Let those who go of the Lord, on that, his friends. Let those who go not put off the journey, but rent their lands and not put off the journey, but rent their lands and collect money for their expenses; and as soon as collect money for their expenses; and as soon as winter is over and spring comes, let hem eagerly winter is over and spring comes, let hem eagerly set out on the way with God as their guide." set out on the way with God as their guide."

11stst Crusade Crusade

Thousands make the journeyThousands make the journey

Motivations:Motivations:– ReligionReligion– Wealth/land/fameWealth/land/fame– Escape troubles at homeEscape troubles at home– AdventureAdventure– Pope – hoped to reunite E & W churchesPope – hoped to reunite E & W churches

11stst Crusade Crusade

1099 – Christians capture Jerusalem1099 – Christians capture Jerusalem– Massacre Jewish & Muslim residentsMassacre Jewish & Muslim residents

Followed by a series of new crusades Followed by a series of new crusades as Muslims tried to defeat Christian as Muslims tried to defeat Christian kingdomskingdoms

1187 – Jerusalem falls to 1187 – Jerusalem falls to

Salah al-Din (Saladin)Salah al-Din (Saladin)

Effects of CrusadesEffects of Crusades

Legacy of religious hatredLegacy of religious hatred Encouraged/increased tradeEncouraged/increased trade Increased power of monarchs (& Increased power of monarchs (&

popes temporarily)popes temporarily) Cross-cultural contact and learningCross-cultural contact and learning

The ReconquistaThe Reconquista

About 700-1492 AD About 700-1492 AD – Christians fighting to recapture Muslim-Christians fighting to recapture Muslim-

held territories in Spainheld territories in Spain Queen Isabella Queen Isabella determined to create determined to create Christian unityChristian unity

– Forces out or kills all Forces out or kills all non-Christians (Muslims non-Christians (Muslims and Jews especially)and Jews especially)– Has aid of InquisitionHas aid of Inquisition The Spanish Inquisition