The Crusades

The Crusades was a series of eight wars waged between Christians and Muslims in a
battle to take over holy sites in Jerusalem which were sacred to both. The contests took
place between 1096 and 1291. The wars were violent but brought the European Christians
to a place of prominence in the Middle East.
By 1100 A. D., Europe was far behind the two important civilizations in the east: the
Islamic and the Byzantine. In 1095, Alexius I of the Byzantine Empire asked the Pope of the
Catholic Church in the west to send soldiers to assist him against the Turks who were
invading the Byzantine Empire. The Pope's request to the Council of Clermont in France
was regarded positively. Both soldiers and ordinary citizens wanted to help. They all wore
the Christian cross on their clothing or uniforms. Several orders of religious knights were
established, including the Knights Templar and the Hospitallers. They prepared to defend
the Holy Land and protect travelers.
Four armies of crusaders from different European countries set out in August 1096. This
was the First Crusade. They traveled to Constantinople where the emperor demanded they
pledged loyalty to him. Most refused. However, the Byzantine forces joined the Crusaders
and besieged the city of Jerusalem. It surrendered in May 1099. The Crusaders killed
hundreds of men, women and children.
Many Crusaders left for home, but those who stayed set up four states in the conquered
territory. The Muslims began to gain strength against the Crusaders in 1130. After the fall of
one of the states, Christians in the west organized a Second Crusade in 1147. The army
was led by Louis VII of France and Conrad III of Germany. They failed in their attempt to
capture Damascus in Syria. The Turks took over Damascus.
The Crusaders also failed to conquer Egypt, but the Turkish forces seized Cairo in 1169.
Because of that defeat, a Third Crusade was led by King Richard I of England and Philip II
of France. Richard captured Jaffa and went onto Jerusalem. In September 1192, he signed
a treaty with Saladin, the Turkish leader, to set up a Kingdom of Jerusalem. The Fourth
Crusade had as its goal the overthrow of the government at Constantinople. This was
accomplished in April 1204.
The era of the Crusades resulted in a movement east for Christianity and western
civilization. The Pope's power increased. The Crusades brought great wealth to the Catholic
Church. Transportation and trade increased throughout Europe because, like any war, the
need for supplies and transportation was great. Shipbuilding increased. The desire to travel
grew. People wanted to learn more about the lands east of them. The Muslims had bitter
memories of the Crusades. They believed that the Christians were violent and immoral
because they had killed so many non-Christians. The bitterness lasted for many years.
1. What is the thesis of the text?
2. What was the goal/purpose of the text? Was it clear?
3. What is the tone of the text?
4. Summarize the text into one exact paragraph (3-5sentences).