The Crusades

The Crusades: A series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims

Major Events

Around 630 CE, the Muslim Empire began taking over parts of the (Christian) Byzantine Empire

In 637 CE, Caliph Umar Captures Jerusalem for the Muslim Empire. It remains in the control of Muslims for the new few hundred years

Jerusalem was an important pilgrimage sight for Christians; but it was difficult for them to travel to Jerusalem while it was under Muslim control

(1) In 1095, Pope Urban makes a speech calling for Europeans to take back the Holy Land (Jerusalem)

Knights and Peasants were eager to fight to take back Jerusalem for the Christian world (would help them get in to heaven)

(2)1099 the Europeans recapture Jerusalem

Crusade States

• (3) Europeans create the "Crusader States" which were like mini-kingdoms in the new territories gained during the Crusades
• Kingdom of Jerusalem
• Antioch
• County of Tripoli
• Edessa

4 more Crusades will occur over the next 300 years

These wars are fought in Europe, the Middle East, as well as Egypt

The second Crusade was fairly uneventful

Third Crusade

• Showdown between Saladin, the first Saltan of Egypt and Syria vs. Richard the Lionhearted
• Saladin defeats the Europeans
• (4) Saladin reclaims Jerusalem for the Muslims

Fourth Crusade

• Called by the Pope in 1198
• (5)Western Europeans sacked Constantinople (part of the Byzantine Empire) instead

Effects of the Crusades

(1) Weakened Pope's and noble's power; strengthened Monarch's power

(2) Stimulated trade throughout the Mediterranean area and the Middle East (**helps spread ideas, technology, education, etc.)

(3) Left a legacy of bitterness among Christians, Jews, and Muslims

(4) Weakened the Byzantine Empire

In 1453 Constantinople falls to the Ottoman Turks

The Ottoman's rename the city Istanbul; and make it the capital of the Empire until it falls in 1918 (it's still a major city in Turkey today)