Crusades Essay, Research Paper
The Crusades
After the death of Charlemagne, king of the Franks, in 814 and the following collapse of his empire, Christian Europe was under attack and on the defensive. The Magyars, nomadic people from Asia, ravaged eastern and central Europe until the 10th century. Around 800, several centuries of Viking raids disrupted life in northern Europe and even threatened Mediterranean cities. Nevertheless, the greatest threat came from the forces of Islam, very militant and victorious in the centuries following the death of their leader, Muhammad, in 632. By the eighth century Islamic forces had conquered North Africa, the eastern shores of the Mediterranean, and most of Spain. Islamic armies established bases in Italy, greatly reduced the size of the Byzantine Empire, and besieged the capital, Constantinople. In the 11th century the balance of power began to swing toward the West. For the first time in many years, the popes were able to effectively unite European popular support behind them, a factor that contributed greatly to the popular appeal to the first Crusades.
Moreover, Europe?s population was growing, its urban life was beginning to revive, and both long distance and local trade were gradually increasing. European human and economic resources could now support new ventures on the scale of the Crusades.
It was against this background that Pope Urban II called for a great Christian expedition to free Jerusalem from the Seljuk Turks through a speech he delivered at Clermont in France. The pope was spurred by his position as the spiritual head of Western Europe, the temporary absence of strong rulers in Germany or France who could either oppose or take over the effort, and by a call for help from the Byzantine Empire. These factors were unquestionable causes, and at the same time, useful justifications for the pope?s call for a Crusade. In any case, Urban?s speech appealed to thousands of people of all classes. It happened to be the right message at the right time.
The First Crusade was successful in its aim for freeing Jerusalem. Ii also established a Western Christian military presence in the Near East that lasted for almost 200 years. It was the main event of its day. It attracted no European kings and few major nobles, drawing mainly lesser nobleman and their followers. They came primarily mainly from the lands of the French culture and language, which is why the Westerners in Outremer were referred to as Franks.
The Crusaders faced many obstacles. They had no obvious or widely accepted leader, no agreement about relations with the churchmen who went with them, no definition of the pope?s role, and no agreement with the Byzantine emperor on whether they were his allies, servants, rivals, or perhaps enemies. These concerns divided the Crusaders into factions that did not always get along well with one another.
Different leaders followed different routes to Constantinople, where they were all to meet. AS the Crusaders marched East, they were joined by thousands of men and even women, ranging form petty knights and their families, to peasants seeking freedom from their ties to the manor. A vast amount of people with all sorts of motives and contributions joined the march. They followed local lords or well-known nobles or drifted eastward on their own, walking to a port town in Constantinople. Not many knew what to expect. They knew little about the, Byzantine Empire or its religion, which did not recognize the pope, used Greek rather that Latin, and had very different forms of art and architecture. They knew even less about the Islam or Muslim life. For some the First Crusade became an excuse to unleash savage attacks in the name of Christianity on Jewish communities along the Rhine River.
They wanted to maintain their privileged position and to enjoy the lives of European nobles in a new environment. As they settled, they gradually lost interest in any papal efforts at raising new military expeditions. They never reached any real compromise with the Byzantine emperor regarding reconquered territory that had once been his, Although the two groups of Christians had a common enemy, this was not a sufficient motive for a cooperation between worlds with so little mutual regard.
Second Crusade
The end of a possible Christian military barrier against Islam sparked the second crusade. The news of the fall of Edessa, a town on the Euphrates, echoed throughout Europe and Pope Eugenius III called the Second Crusade. The emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Conrad III and France?s King Louis VII joined the Second Crusade. Conrad made the mistake of choosing the land route form Constantinople to the Holy Land and his army was massacred at Dorylaeum in Asia Minor. This Crusade resulted in many Western casualties and no gains in Outremer, a town in France. In fact, the only military gains during this period were made in what is now Portugal, where the English troops, which had turned aside from the Second Crusade, helped free the city of Lisbon.
After the failure of the Second Crusade, it was not easy to see where the future developments would lead. New groups of soldiers such as the famous knights of St. John of Jerusalem called the Hospitalers, and the Poor Knights of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, called the Templars were professional soldiers willing to spend long periods in the East. The orders of Crusading knights tried to meditate between the Church?s concern and to more worldy interests of princes who saw the East as an extension of their own ambitions and administrative plans. After the Second Crusade, these orders steadily began to gain popularity and support. As the crusading movement became players
Другие работы по теме:
Hypocrisy In The ChurchYoung Goodman Brown Essay
, Research Paper People use one major excuse for their refusal of embracing Christianity in the Church:hypocrisy. This something that has been present in the Church since “Day One.” People use many of the misdeeds done in the of Christ as evidence, such as Crusades, the Inquistion, witch trails, and many other horrible acts.
Romeo An Juliet Essay Research Paper hi
Romeo An Juliet Essay, Research Paper hi i need an essay about a character in romeo and juliet that demonsrtated maturity. in a well developed multi pagraph essay and say why you think the character’s maturity was greater than the other characters in the play.
The Rennisance Essay Research Paper The Renaissance
The Rennisance Essay, Research Paper The Renaissance, which began in Italy in 1300s, was one of the largest periods of growth and development in Western Europe. The increase in trade caused an abundance in wealth that resulted in the focusing on the arts. Such things as literature, paintings, sculptures and many more works are known to have blossomed from the period known as the Renaissance.
The Fuedal System Essay Research Paper Feudalism
The Fuedal System Essay, Research Paper Feudalism is defined in the dictionary as ?A political and economic system of medieval Europe by which a landowner granted land to a vassal in exchange for
Oh Really Essay Research Paper Oh Reallyyou
Oh Really? Essay, Research Paper Oh Really, you think i am a lark, the dogs they run and bark, but when i say to them, shut up shut up shut up, you say to be nice to them,
Urban And The Council Of Clermont Essay
, Research Paper There are many accounts of that day in November, 1095. Some were written by monks, others by bishops, and even a few by warriors themselves. Historians are constantly asking, “What exactly did Pope Urban II say at the council of Clermont to persuade Christians to set forth on such a difficult venture as the Crusades?” One man, an early 12th century cleric named Fulcher of Chartres wrote perhaps the best historical chronicle of the events at Clermont and the speech of Urban II.Fulcher begins his account with a prologue that states how blessed the journeymen of the Crusades were to take up such a conquest.
Nativism Essay Research Paper Nativism is a
Nativism Essay, Research Paper Nativism is a dangerous idea. It keeps people from bring free and deprives them of there god given rights secured by the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
Shane Essay Research Paper Sometimes I need
Shane Essay, Research Paper Sometimes, I need you more than I need air And sometimes I miss you more than I will forever, never forget the times that we have shaared. The are priceless
Crusades Essay Research Paper The Crusades were
Crusades Essay, Research Paper The Crusades were Europe’s version for “holy wars” during the Middle Ages. The official First Crusade began in 1096-1099. The First Crusade conquered a strip of land along the eastern
The Crusades Essay Research Paper Crusades Essay
The Crusades Essay, Research Paper Crusades Essay During the years 1095 to 1204, there was a series of campaigns led by the Christians to rid the Holy Land from the Muslims. The Holy Land was the area around Modern Day Jerusalem and Israel, which both Christians and Muslims considered to be rightfully theirs.
The Knight Essay Research Paper The Knight
The Knight Essay, Research Paper The Knight and the nun are two completely different people the knight is some one who wants people to think well of them so he dose things to make people thinks will of him where as the nun wants people to think well of her so she became a nun but in reality she is not living up to her vows.
Ivanhoe Essay Research Paper The title of
Ivanhoe Essay, Research Paper The title of my book is Ivanhoe, it was written by Sir Walter Scott. Scott was Scottish born author who died in 1832. He was on of the formost authors of works about chivalry.
Poem She Sat Essay Research Paper She
Poem: She Sat Essay, Research Paper She sat… helpless in her room praying to whatever god there may be to let her call to him. could god ignore such a painful cry?
The Eoropean Renaissance Essay Research Paper The
The Eoropean Renaissance Essay, Research Paper The Renaissance, which began in Italy in 1300s, was one of the largest periods of growth and development in Western Europe. There were many factors leading to the Renaissance. First was the development of Scholasticism. This was an attempt to mix Christian beliefs with non-Christian philosophy.
Four Reasons Why The Renaissance Started In
Italy Essay, Research Paper Four Reasons Why the Renaissance started in Italy Italy stood across the route of the Crusades and Italian ships carried the Crusaders to the Holy Land-at a profit. Later, the merchants of Venice and Genoa transported a rich commerce to and from the Middle East (Moslem and Byzantine Civilizations) and nothern Europe.
Brief Look At The Renaissance Essay Research
Paper Brief Look at the Renaissance The Renaissance, which began in Italy in 1300s, was one of the largest periods of growth and development in Western Europe. The increase in trade
Revolutions Essay Research Paper Revolution can be
Revolutions Essay, Research Paper Revolution can be defined as radical or rapid change. Revolutions, whether called by that name or not have greatly changed the world. Three revolutions prior to 1700 were the Enlightenment, the Crusades, and the Renaissance.
The Crusades Essay Research Paper Crusades were
The Crusades Essay, Research Paper Crusades were Christian military expeditions organized mainly to recapture Palestine during the Middle Ages. Palestine, also called the Holy Land, was important to Christians because it was the region where Jesus Christ had lived. Palestine lay along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, and Muslims had taken control of it from Christians.
Early Chrisitanity Essay Research Paper Cultural Values
Early Chrisitanity Essay, Research Paper Cultural Values Of Early Christianity Early Christianity was started with Jesus Christ’s idea on reforming the Jewish faith. He wanted to introduce a loving god. This signifies that an important value wanted to be loved and accepted by god and vice versa. Before this the only views of god was that he was vengeful and ruthless.
Ode To Boys Essay Research Paper We
Ode To Boys Essay, Research Paper We like them But do they like us The ones we do never fuss They don’t stop in And we wonder why We stress, we bitch We sometimes cry
Ivanhoe Essay Research Paper In the book
Ivanhoe Essay, Research Paper In the book Ivanhoe, by Sir Walter Scott, a knight named Ivanhoe devotes his life to keeping to the codes of chivalry. The general setting is in England, where the way of life is medieval. Respect and loyalty are two of the character traits that Ivanhoe has. These are two very important traits because without them, what kind of person would he be?
Ivanhoe Essay Research Paper Character Analysis of
Ivanhoe Essay, Research Paper Character Analysis of Wilfred of Ivanhoe Wilfred of Ivanhoe, a heroic English prince, through out the story undergoes many mental and physical changes. His respect, bravery and loyalness lead him to strive for success. By following in his fathers footsteps, Ivanhoe tremendously matures through out the novel.
Ivanhoe Strengths Essay Research Paper The greatest
Ivanhoe Strengths Essay, Research Paper The greatest strengths of Ivanhoe were the themes of the novel. All the characters in Ivanhoe were in some way affected by the major theme of the hatred between the
The Crusades 2 Essay Research Paper The
The Crusades 2 Essay, Research Paper The crusades, a series of campaigns that were initially launched by Pope Urban II in 1096 were one of the bloodiest and most ineffective militaristic missions in history. The death toll can not be accurately counted but it is estimated in the millions. It started simply as a plea for help by the emperor of Byzantium to the Roman Catholic Church, but turned into a huge migration.
Christian Crusades Essay Research Paper Later Crusades
Christian Crusades Essay, Research Paper Later Crusades Essay. After the first Christian Crusade that begun in 1095 there were eight classified crusades that generally aimed towards the area of Sirya and Palestne that lasted untill the 1270 s. Yet after much humiliation and the repeated defeat of the Crusaders in the Lavant, most of the Eropean powers understood the fact that the Holy Land was unnatainable.
Crusades Essay Research Paper Crusades and the
Crusades Essay, Research Paper Crusades and the Church At the time of the Crusades, the official church had become corrupt and politically motivated. It should be noted, too, that crusaders did not take vows to “go on crusade.” The very term crusade, in English or in any other language, is a much later invention.
The Crusades Essay Research Paper The CrusadesThe
The Crusades Essay, Research Paper The Crusades The Crusades were military expeditions planned and carried out by western European Christians. The crusades started around 1095. The purpose of these crusades was to overtake and gain control of the Holy Land from the Muslims. The Holy Land was Jerusalem and the Christians believed that gaining control of it was their fate.
Ivanhoe Essay Research Paper Sean Pendergast
Ivanhoe Essay, Research Paper Sean Pendergast The story of Ivanhoe takes place during the Middle Ages in England with the year being 1194 A.D. It is about the adventures Ivanhoe encounters upon returning from the crusades with his friend and king, King Richard the Lion Heart. Ivanhoe has been disowned by his father because of this, and is forbidden to marry his true love, Lady Rowena.
The Crusades Essay Research Paper In the
The Crusades Essay, Research Paper In the beginning of the thirteenth century most people were Roman Catholic. The church was the center of life and it was very important to them to pilgrimage to the Holy Lands.