Introduction to the Crusades

Khan Academy
12 May 201707:23
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe video script provides a historical overview of the period around 1095, following the Great Schism between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches. It highlights the Byzantine Empire's territorial losses to the expanding Islamic territories, leading to Emperor Alexios I seeking aid from Pope Urban II. This request was seized by Pope Urban II as an opportunity to unite Western Europe under a common cause, leading to his famous sermon at Claremont, which called for a crusade to retake the Holy Land from the Muslims. The sermon's impact was profound, sparking the People's Crusade and eventually the First Crusade, which saw a massive mobilization of Western European forces. Despite initial successes, including the bloody conquest of Jerusalem in 1099, the Crusader states faced significant challenges and were ultimately unable to maintain control, leading to the Second and Third Crusades and the eventual recapture of Jerusalem by Saladin in 1187.

Takeaways
  • 📆 The year is 1095, about half a century after the Great Schism between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches.
  • 🏰 The Byzantine Empire is losing territory, with Islam having control over the Middle East, the Holy Land, North Africa, and parts of the Iberian Peninsula for over 400 years.
  • 🌍 The Seljuq Turks are advancing into the Byzantine Empire, taking most of the Anatolian peninsula.
  • 📈 Western Europe is rising during the high Middle Ages, with increased agricultural productivity and population growth.
  • 🤝 Emperor Alexios I of the Byzantine Empire seeks help from Pope Urban II to retake Anatolia from the Muslims.
  • 📢 Pope Urban II sees an opportunity to unite Christians and divert attention from internal struggles, calling for a sermon at Claremont.
  • 💬 The Pope's call to arms includes the promise of remission of sins for those who die in battle, introducing the concept of indulgences.
  • 🏰 Peter the Hermit leads the People's Crusade in 1096, which is considered the first part of the First Crusade, but it ends in failure with a massacre by the Turks.
  • 🏺 The formal First Crusade, organized by the Pope, is successful, and in 1099, Jerusalem is taken from the Muslims with significant bloodshed.
  • 🏰 Crusader Kingdoms are established in the Holy Land, which remain under Western European control for most of the 12th century.
  • 🔄 The Byzantine Empire recaptures parts of the Anatolian peninsula, and the Crusader states are maintained until the middle of the 12th century.
  • 🕍 In 1187, Saladin, a Muslim ruler, retakes Jerusalem, which leads to the instigation of the Third Crusade.
Q & A

  • What significant event occurred roughly half a century before the year 1095?

    -The Great Schism between the Eastern Orthodox Church, centered at Constantinople, and the Roman Catholic Church, or the Latin Church, centered at Rome.

  • Why was the Byzantine Empire losing territory in the 7th century?

    -The expansion of Islam quickly overran much of the territory in the Holy Land that was controlled by the Byzantines.

  • What was the term used to describe the Eastern Roman Empire?

    -Byzantine Empire.

  • Who were the Seljuq Turks and what were they doing to the Byzantine Empire around the year 1095?

    -The Seljuq Turks were a group that continued to invade and take over most of the Anatolian peninsula from the Byzantine Empire.

  • Why did Emperor Alexios I of the Byzantine Empire seek help from Pope Urban II?

    -Emperor Alexios I sought mercenaries from Pope Urban II to help retake some of Anatolia from the Muslims.

  • What was Pope Urban II's response to Emperor Alexios I's request for help?

    -Pope Urban II saw an opportunity to unite Christians and focused on the idea of a crusade, leading to his famous sermon at Claremont.

  • What was the promise made by Pope Urban II to those who participated in the crusade?

    -Pope Urban II promised that those who died on the way to the crusade, by land or sea, or in battle against the pagans, would have immediate remission of sins.

  • Who led the People's Crusade in 1096, which is considered the first part of the First Crusade?

    -Peter the Hermit led the People's Crusade in 1096.

  • What was the outcome of the People's Crusade?

    -The People's Crusade was unsuccessful, with the untrained and ill-equipped followers being massacred by the Turks upon reaching the Anatolian peninsula.

  • What was the significant event that occurred in 1099 during the First Crusade?

    -In 1099, the crusaders were able to take control of Jerusalem from the Muslims.

  • What were the Crusader Kingdoms and how did they come into existence?

    -The Crusader Kingdoms were states established by the western European crusaders who, after taking control of lands in the Holy Land, decided to maintain control and rule over them for most of the 12th century.

  • What event in 1187 led to the instigation of the Third Crusade?

    -The Muslim ruler Saladin's recapture of Jerusalem in 1187 led to the instigation of the Third Crusade.

Outlines
00:00
🏰 The Call for the First Crusade

The first paragraph sets the historical context of the year 1095, a time when the Byzantine Empire was losing territory to the Seljuq Turks. Emperor Alexios I reached out to Pope Urban II for military aid. In response, Pope Urban II delivered a sermon at Claremont, calling for a unified Christian effort to retake the Holy Land from the Muslims. He offered indulgences to those who would participate, promising remission of sins for those who died in the endeavor. This call resonated widely across Western Europe, leading to the spontaneous People's Crusade led by Peter the Hermit in 1096, which unfortunately ended in disaster with a massacre by the Turks.

05:00
🗡 The Success and Aftermath of the First Crusade

The second paragraph describes the Pope's successful organization of the First Crusade, which exceeded all expectations and led to the capture of Jerusalem in 1099. The Crusaders, initially aiming to assist the Byzantines, ended up establishing their own Crusader Kingdoms in the Holy Land, which they maintained control over for much of the 12th century. The paragraph also highlights the brutality of the Crusaders' conquests, including the massacres in Antioch and Jerusalem. However, by the middle of the century, the Muslims had reclaimed some cities, leading to the Second Crusade. The paragraph concludes with the significant event of Saladin's recapture of Jerusalem in 1187, which set the stage for the Third Crusade.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Great Schism
The Great Schism refers to the split that occurred in the Christian Church in 1054, dividing it into the Eastern Orthodox Church, centered at Constantinople, and the Roman Catholic Church, centered at Rome. This division had significant religious, political, and cultural impacts that are pivotal to the historical context of the video.
💡Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, is depicted in the video as a significant power that was losing territory to Islamic expansion. It is central to the narrative as it seeks help from the Pope to retake lost lands, which sets the stage for the Crusades.
💡Seljuq Turks
The Seljuq Turks are mentioned as the force that continues to invade and take over the Anatolian peninsula from the Byzantine Empire. Their actions contribute to the Byzantine Empire's call for assistance, which Pope Urban II uses as a catalyst for the Crusades.
💡Pope Urban II
Pope Urban II is a key figure in the video, known for his sermon at Claremont in 1095, which called for the First Crusade. His speech is a turning point in the narrative, as it galvanizes Western Europe to action and leads to the mobilization of the Crusader armies.
💡Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated by the Roman Catholic Church to regain control of the Holy Land from Muslim control. In the video, the Crusades are the central theme, illustrating the complex interplay of religious fervor, political ambition, and military conquest.
💡People's Crusade
The People's Crusade, led by Peter the Hermit in 1096, is highlighted as the first movement of the First Crusade. It represents the spontaneous response to Pope Urban II's call and is significant for its lack of organization and tragic outcome, which contrasts with the later, more formal Crusader efforts.
💡Indulgences
Indulgences are a concept within the Catholic Church where sins could be forgiven in exchange for certain actions, such as participating in the Crusades. In the video, Pope Urban II uses the promise of indulgences to motivate people to join the Crusades, which is a key factor in the mass mobilization that follows.
💡Crusader Kingdoms
The Crusader Kingdoms were the territories established in the Levant by the Crusaders following the successful First Crusade. These states are depicted in the video as the tangible outcome of the Crusades, representing the Crusaders' hold on the Holy Land until they were gradually retaken by Muslim forces.
💡Saladin
Saladin was a Muslim ruler who is shown to have recaptured Jerusalem in 1187, an event that instigated the Third Crusade. His successful campaign is a critical moment in the video, as it signifies a turning point in the Crusades and the beginning of the end for the Crusader Kingdoms.
💡Holy Land
The Holy Land, referring to the region of Palestine, is central to the video's narrative as the primary objective of the Crusades. It is the territory over which the religious and political struggle unfolds, and its control is the ultimate goal of the Crusader armies.
💡Jerusalem
Jerusalem is a focal point in the video, representing both the religious and strategic importance of the Holy Land. Its capture by the Crusaders in 1099 and subsequent loss to Saladin in 1187 are pivotal events that mark the beginning and partial end of Crusader control in the region.
Highlights

In the year 1095, the Byzantine Empire was losing territory to the Seljuq Turks and sought help from Pope Urban II

Pope Urban II saw an opportunity to reunite the Christian church and called for a crusade to retake the Holy Land from the Muslims

He promised remission of sins for those who died in battle, introducing the concept of indulgences

News of Pope Urban II's call to crusade spread throughout Western Europe, inspiring the People's Crusade led by Peter the Hermit in 1096

The People's Crusade was largely unsuccessful, with many untrained peasants being massacred by the Turks

Pope Urban II eventually organized a more formal First Crusade, which far surpassed his and the Byzantine emperor's expectations

The First Crusade involved around 100,000 soldiers from Western Europe, taking various routes by land and sea

In 1099, the crusaders captured Jerusalem and Antioch, with most accounts describing a bloody and brutal conquest

The crusaders established Crusader states in the Holy Land, which they controlled for most of the 12th century

The Byzantine Empire was able to reconquer parts of the Anatolian peninsula by 1135

The Crusader states were an interesting development, as the Western European crusaders initially aimed to retake land for the Byzantines

However, once they captured the land, they kept it and established their own kingdoms rather than returning it to Byzantine control

The Muslims were able to recapture some key cities in the mid-12th century, leading to the Second Crusade

In 1187, the Muslim ruler Saladin recaptured Jerusalem, which triggered the Third Crusade

The Crusades had a significant impact on the region, with control of the Holy Land changing hands multiple times

The events of the Crusades also had lasting effects on relations between Christians and Muslims

The Crusades are a complex and controversial period in history, with many different perspectives and interpretations

Transcripts

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Crusades HistoryByzantine EmpirePope Urban IIPeople's CrusadeHoly LandMuslim ControlChristian SolidarityMiddle AgesJerusalem ConquestCrusader KingdomsSaladinReligious Conflict