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Click on the red cross to the right to hear Why The Crusades Began |
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The Crusades, were military expeditions undertaken by European Christians to regain the Holy Land from the Muslims, occurring during the period between 1096 and 1270. There were a series of eight holy wars and those who fought were called crusaders, because they vowed to "take up the cross." It was the custom of European Christians to travel to holy places to worship. People who made these journeys were known as pilgrims, and their journeys were called pilgrimages. Men and women usually made pilgrimages because they thought that God would be pleased and would forgive their sinful act. Some of the most religious pilgrims traveled hundreds of miles to Palestine-the Holy Land, where Jesus had lived. They believed that their greatest sins would be forgiven if they could worship in the Holy City of Jerusalem. Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem and Muslims believed Muhammad had ascended into heaven on his night flights to visit Allah.
In 1071, the Seljuk Turks, a group of Muslims, living east of the Caspian Sea swept down on the Holy Land, took Palestine, and the Holy City of Jerusalem from the Arabs. Arabs are nomadic Muslims living in Saudi Arabia. The Seljuk Turks hated the Christians pilgrims, people who traveled to a sacred place or shrine, who traveled to their new land. They treated them cruelly, and many of the pilgrims were beaten, robbed, and some were killed. It became dangerous for Christians to visit the Holy Land. On November 27, 1095, Pope Urban II addressed clergy and laypersons in Clermont France. His speech ignited and stimulated the people to such force that at the end of his speech the people shouted in response, "Deus Vult! Deus Vult!" "God wills it! God wills." From then on, the men began preparing for war and these words "Deus Vult," became their war cry. The men pinned pieces of red cloth to their shirts in the shape of the cross. The Red Cross would later be a symbol of many of the crusader knights.
Pope Urban II had two motives for urging the western Europeans to go to war. First, the Christians in the Byzantine Empire needed help defending their territories from the Seljuk Turks. Second, to free the Holy Land from the Muslim infidels, people who did not believe in Christianity, they were terrorizing Christians pilgrims while visiting the Holy Land. The people of Western Europe went on the crusades for several reasons. First, religious leaders promised spiritual rewards for those who risked their lives for the holy cause. They were promised remission of all sins, and to those who died immediate entry into heaven. Also, the peasants went to escape manor life, the nobles recognized the opportutnity to gain land and wealth. Not to mention, it was an adventure for all.
Additional learning resource: http://www.jesuschristsavior.net/Crusades.html BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR THE CURRENT
Internet Websites: “The Crusades” THE HISTORY CHANNEL and BIOGRAPHY license ©2004 A&E Television Networks. All rights reserved. <http://www.thehistorychannel.co.uk/site/features/the_crusades-1php> “Crusades Battles” All About God <http://www.allaboutgod.com/crusades.htm>
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Third Crusade | Fourth Crusade | Childrens' Crusade | Impact of the Crusades | Definitions | Interactives |