Church History: The Crusades

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/qa-1497-crusades-important/" target="_blank"><strong>website.</strong></a></p><ul><li><strong>Definition</strong>:<ul><li>Simplified historical overview:<ul><li>300s-600s -- Most of the Holy Land is part of the Eastern (Byzantine) Roman Empire.</li><li>600s -- this territory becomes part of the Caliphate (Islamic).</li><li>1000s-1100s -- Christian warriors and peasants (all strata of society participated) strive to take back the land, establishing Crusader States, along with multiple fortifications.</li><li>1200s -- Christians for the most part give up the dream of reconquering the Holy Land, instead targeting their crusades on fellow Christians and other perceived enemies.</li></ul></li><li>Massive military attempts to recapture "Christian" territory, especially in the Holy Land, from the Muslims.</li><li>Pilgrimage meets (Old Testament) holy war.<ul><li>The journey of faith is a biblical pilgrimage (Hebrews 11).</li><li>Even so, traditionally pilgrims were supposed to travel unarmed.</li></ul></li><li>Up to 100,000 Europeans took part in these efforts.</li><li>Source of word: Latin <i>crux</i>, cross.</li></ul></li><li><strong>How many</strong>?<ul><li>There were four major crusades, though many more took place even after these concluded in the 13th century.<ul><li>First Crusade, 1095-1099</li><li>Second Crusade, 1147-1149 -- Crusader States established</li><li>Third Crusade, 1189-1192 -- setting of the film <i>The Kingdom of Heaven</i></li><li>Fourth Crusade, 1198-1204 -- focused on Constantinople (capital of the [Eastern] Roman Empire), and Orthodox Christians, more than the Muslims</li></ul></li><li>Subsequent crusades<ul><li>E.g. Northern Europe and Spain</li><li>Last Crusade (Venice vs. Ottoman Turks), 1684-1699</li></ul></li></ul></li><li><strong>Motivation</strong>?<ul><li>Various: plunder, glory, peer pressure, family honor, wanderlust, etc.</li><li>Motivation must have been strong, esp. for those who spent a