Knights Templar | World History | Khan Academy

Khan Academy
25 May 201709:24
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe video script delves into the historical significance of the Knights Templar, who emerged during the High Middle Ages as a protective force for Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. Initially a small group of knights led by Hughes de Payens, they were recognized by the Pope and grew into a powerful financial institution. The Knights Templar developed a pioneering financial system that allowed pilgrims to deposit money in one location and withdraw it elsewhere, a precursor to modern banking. They also provided loans to influential figures and facilitated major transactions. Despite their military and financial prowess, the order faced a dramatic downfall when King Philip IV of France, indebted to the Templars, arrested and tortured them, leading to the execution of many, including their leader Jacques de Molay, in 1314. The Knights Templar's legacy endures as a foundational influence on modern international banking.

Takeaways
  • 📜 The Crusades catalyzed the start of the Knights Templar, which many historians consider to be the first international financial institution.
  • 🕰️ The Knights Templar originated during the High Middle Ages, with their establishment coinciding with the First Crusade in the late 11th century.
  • 🛡️ Initially, the Knights Templar were a small group of knights led by Hughes de Payens, focused on protecting Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land.
  • ⛪️ They were given a headquarters on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, which influenced their name, 'Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon'.
  • 📈 The Knights Templar grew rapidly, receiving recognition from the Pope and substantial donations, which allowed them to expand their operations.
  • 💰 They developed an early form of banking, allowing deposit and withdrawal of funds across different locations, which was revolutionary for the time.
  • 🔑 Despite being known as warriors, only about 10% of the Knights Templar were actual soldiers, with the rest involved in financial and support roles.
  • 🧘 The Templars were also significant lenders, often providing loans to kings and nobility, and acted as brokers in major transactions.
  • 🌍 Their financial network and services laid the groundwork for modern international banking, despite the lack of modern infrastructure.
  • 🔥 The fall of the Knights Templar is marked by the arrest and execution of their leader, Jacques de Molay, on Friday the 13th, 1307, orchestrated by King Philip IV of France.
  • 🚨 The Templars' downfall was tied to the French king's financial troubles, leading to their arrest and the seizure of their assets as a solution to the king's debt.
Q & A

  • What is the historical context of the Knights Templar's formation?

    -The Knights Templar were formed during the High Middle Ages in response to the need for protection of Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land, particularly Jerusalem, which was under control of Western European Christians after the First Crusade.

  • Who led the initial group of Knights that would become the Knights Templar?

    -The initial group of Knights was led by Hughes de Payens, who approached King Baldwin II of Jerusalem with the idea of protecting pilgrims.

  • Why were the Knights Templar given the name 'Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon'?

    -The name reflects their original mission and their headquarters' location on the Temple Mount, which was believed to be the site of the original Temple of Solomon. The term 'Poor Fellow-Soldiers' signifies their vow of poverty.

  • How did the Knights Templar become a significant financial institution?

    -They were recognized by the Pope, which led to donations and an influx of volunteers. They developed a financial system that allowed pilgrims to deposit money in one location and withdraw it in another, and they also provided loans to powerful individuals like kings and nobility.

  • What was the Knights Templar's role during the Crusades?

    -While primarily known for their protective role for pilgrims and their participation in battles, only about 10% of the Knights Templar were actual soldiers. The rest were involved in creating infrastructure and managing the financial enterprise of the order.

  • How did the Knights Templar facilitate the movement of wealth for pilgrims?

    -They offered a service where pilgrims could deposit their money at a Templar temple in their home city, receive a note of credit, and then withdraw their money at a Templar location in Jerusalem.

  • What challenges did the Knights Templar face in creating an early form of international banking?

    -The Knights Templar had to establish trust and authentication methods for their notes of credit without the modern infrastructure of telecommunications and data servers that we have today.

  • Why did the influence of the Knights Templar decline in the 13th century?

    -The decline was due to the loss of Jerusalem in 1244 and the waning of the crusader mentality. Additionally, the Templars' significant financial power made them a target for rulers like King Philip IV of France, who was in debt to them.

  • What event is considered the end of the Knights Templar?

    -The arrest and execution of the Knights Templar, including Grand Master Jacques de Molay, on Friday the 13th, 1307, is considered the end of the Knights Templar.

  • What is the legacy of the Knights Templar in the context of modern history?

    -The Knights Templar laid the foundation for modern international banking through their financial innovations, despite their military and religious origins.

  • How did King Philip IV of France attempt to solve his debt problem with the Knights Templar?

    -King Philip IV arrested the Knights Templar, including their leader, to avoid repaying his debts and to seize their assets.

  • What is the significance of the Knights Templar's symbol?

    -The symbol of the Knights Templar, two knights riding on a single horse, was meant to represent their vow of poverty and humility.

Outlines
00:00
🏰 The Birth of the Knights Templar

This paragraph discusses the historical context of the Crusades during the high middle ages, focusing on how the establishment of Crusader States, including the Kingdom of Jerusalem, led to the creation of the Knights Templar. The Knights Templar were initially a small group of knights who sought to protect Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. They were given a headquarters on the Temple Mount and were soon recognized by the Pope, leading to an influx of donations and volunteers. The Knights Templar became known as 'Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon,' often shortened to Knights Templar. They developed a symbol of two knights on a single horse, signifying their humility, but they quickly became wealthy and influential.

05:02
💰 The Knights Templar: Pioneers of International Banking

The second paragraph delves into the Knights Templar's evolution into an international financial institution. They developed a system allowing pilgrims to deposit money in one location and withdraw it in another, a precursor to modern banking. This system required a significant amount of trust and a robust mechanism for authentication, which remains somewhat of a historical mystery. The Templars also provided loans, often to powerful individuals like kings and nobility, and acted as brokers in significant transactions. However, with the fall of Jerusalem in 1244 and the waning interest in the Crusades, the Knights Templar's original purpose diminished. By the early 14th century, King Philip IV of France, indebted to the Templars, arrested them, including the Grand Master Jacques de Molay, on Friday the 13th, 1307. After retracting forced confessions, many Templars, including de Molay, were executed in 1314. Despite their end, the Knights Templar laid the groundwork for modern international banking and remain a subject of fascination and legend.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims during the Middle Ages, with the primary goal of reclaiming the Holy Land, especially Jerusalem, from Muslim control. In the video, the Crusades are significant as they catalyzed the formation of the Knights Templar, who played a crucial role in protecting Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land.
💡Knights Templar
The Knights Templar, officially known as the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, were a medieval Christian military order that protected pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land during the Crusades. They later evolved into an influential financial institution, providing banking services such as deposits, withdrawals, and loans, which laid the foundation for modern international banking.
💡Pilgrims
Pilgrims were religious travelers, often from Europe, who journeyed to the Holy Land, particularly Jerusalem, to visit holy sites. The journey was fraught with danger, as many were robbed or worse. The Knights Templar were established to protect these pilgrims, which was a key part of their original mission and contributed to their reputation and growth.
💡Kingdom of Jerusalem
The Kingdom of Jerusalem was one of the Crusader States established after the First Crusade. It was a Crusader Kingdom that included Jerusalem and was ruled by a Christian monarch. The establishment of the Kingdom of Jerusalem is significant as it provided a base for the Crusaders and later served as the headquarters for the Knights Templar.
💡Pope Urban II
Pope Urban II was the Pope who initiated the First Crusade with a call to arms to help the Byzantines reclaim land from the Muslims. His actions set in motion the events that led to the creation of the Crusader States and, subsequently, the formation of the Knights Templar.
💡Crusader Kingdoms
Crusader Kingdoms refers to the states established in the Levant during and after the Crusades by Western European Christians. These kingdoms, including the Kingdom of Jerusalem, were significant as they represented Western European control over the Holy Land and were the context in which the Knights Templar operated.
💡Hughes de Payens
Hughes de Payens was a knight who led a small group of knights to King Baldwin II of Jerusalem with the proposal to protect Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. His initiative led to the establishment of the Knights Templar, making him a key figure in their origin story.
💡Financial Enterprise
The Knights Templar developed a significant financial enterprise, providing services such as deposits, withdrawals, and loans. This system allowed pilgrims to deposit their money in one location and withdraw it in another, without the need to carry physical wealth, which was both heavy and dangerous. This financial innovation is considered one of the Knights Templar's most significant contributions to the development of modern banking.
💡Notes of Credit
Notes of credit were documents issued by the Knights Templar to pilgrims who deposited their money with the order. These notes served as a form of credit and allowed the pilgrims to access their funds in different locations, such as when they reached Jerusalem. The use of notes of credit was an innovative financial practice that contributed to the Knights Templar's role as an early international financial institution.
💡Philip IV of France
Philip IV of France, also known as Philip the Fair, was a king who incurred significant debt, much of which was financed by the Knights Templar. His actions against the order, including the arrest and execution of the Grand Master Jacques de Molay and other leading Templars, marked the end of the Knights Templar and are a significant part of their history.
💡Jacques de Molay
Jacques de Molay was the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar. He was arrested by Philip IV of France, along with other leading Templars, on charges that included heresy. After retracting forced confessions, de Molay and several Templars were executed by burning at the stake in Paris in 1314, an event that is often considered the end of the Knights Templar.
Highlights

The Crusades helped catalyze the start of the Knights Templar, considered by many historians to be the first international financial institution.

The first Crusade, initiated by Pope Urban II, resulted in the establishment of Crusader States, including the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

The Knights Templar were founded in 1119 by a small group of knights led by Hughes de Payens to protect pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem.

The Knights Templar were given a headquarters on the Temple Mount in 1120, leading to their name, which translates to 'Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon'.

Despite their name suggesting poverty, the Knights Templar quickly became wealthy due to recognition by the Pope and donations from people.

Only about 10% of the Knights Templar were actual soldiers; the rest developed a complex infrastructure to support their goals.

The Knights Templar developed a financial enterprise, allowing pilgrims to deposit money in one location and withdraw it in another, a novel concept at the time.

The Knights Templar's financial system was a precursor to modern banking, enabling services like deposit, withdrawal, and loans to powerful individuals.

The Templars' financial network required a significant amount of trust and a robust system for authenticating credit notes across different locations.

The fall of Jerusalem in 1244 to the Muslims diminished the original purpose of the Knights Templar, although they remained a significant financial institution.

By the end of the 13th century, the Crusader movement began to decline, and the Knights Templar's influence started to wane.

King Philip IV of France, indebted to the Knights Templar, arrested many members of the order, including the Grand Master Jacques de Molay, on Friday the 13th, 1307.

The arrested Knights Templar were tortured into confessing to various charges, which they later retracted.

Jacques de Molay and other leading Knights Templar who refused to retract their confessions were executed by burning at the stake in 1314, marking the end of the Knights Templar.

The Knights Templar continue to be a subject of fascination and are associated with many legends, one of which is their secret continuation after the official end.

Their most significant historical contribution, often overlooked, is laying the foundation for modern international banking.

Transcripts

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CrusadesKnights TemplarFinancial HistoryMedieval EuropePilgrimageHoly LandJerusalemPope Urban IIBankersPhilip the FourthJacques de Molay