The Crusades

Series of 8 or 9 holy wars fought between Christian states in Europe and Turkish Muslims

Spanned 1095-1270

The Crusades

Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire asked Pope Urban II for help against the Muslim armies

Pope Urban II of the Roman Catholic Church asked his followers to participate and fight

The Crusades

The goal of the Crusades was to take Jerusalem and related holy lands in the Middle East from Muslims

Holy sites had been cut off from access because of Muslimexpansion into the Eastern and Western Roman Empires.

The Crusades

First Crusade or People’s Crusade ended in the capture of Jerusalem

Second Crusade resulted in failure, as European armies fled from the well-prepared Turkish armies’ attacks during the siege of Damascus.

The Crusades

Third Crusade started when Muslims retook Jerusalem

Ended in a truce between King Richard I of England and the Muslim leader, SaladinSaladin allowed Christians to visit the holy sites

The Crusades

Third Crusade contributed to the downfall of feudalism by inspiring revolt

King Richard I financed the Third Crusade with heavy, unfair taxes on his subjects

He sold self-government privileges to towns

His capture after the Third Crusade and ransom payment increased tax rates

The Crusades

The fourth and subsequent crusades diverted focus from reclaiming holy lands

Instead targeted other cities and Muslims

Sources

http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/the-crusades.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crusadeshttp://history-world.org/crusades.htmhttp://

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