The Crusades
The Crusades This site exists primarily for teaching a college course on the Crusades. The entire site is open to the public except for the discussion areas.
Crusades The Crusades were expeditions undertaken, in fulfilment of a solemn vow, to deliver the Holy Places from Mohammedan tyranny. The origin of the word may be traced to the cross made of cloth and worn as a badge on the outer garment of those who took part in these enterprises.
The Crusades The Internet Medieval Resource page.
The Crusades: A View From Jordan We, in Mr. Barnwell's 6th grade class in Amman, Jordan have been studying the Middle Ages during May of 1998. We've gone on field trips to crusader castles in Jordan, researched the causes and history of the crusades, and written fictional journal entries.
The Crusades Information Page The Crusades are generally accepted as being initiated as a consequence of Pope Urban II's preaching tour from July 1095 to September 1096 and the proclaination of a crusade at the Council of Clermont in November 1095. However, one can see precursors for the First Crusade in the Reconquista, or even in the dream of emperor Justinian I (527-565) to reunite the Roman Empire, in that they intended to extend the boarders of Christendom, or regain what had been lost. I do not intend here to recount the chronology of the Crusades, as this has been adequately done elsewhere, both on the internet and in book form. What I do want to pursue are issues such as why the First Crusade had such a large amount of popular support. In other link pages I will discuss other aspects of the Crusades, especially my own interest in the Knights Hospitallers.
The Crusades It is one of the ironies of history that the demise of the Byzantine Empire was accelerated not by invasions of infidels from the east, or barbarians from the north, but by fellow Christians from the west. The First Crusade set out from France in 1095 � the first of several crusades over the next two centuries � to liberate the Holy Land from the Muslims, the adherents of Islam who had burst out of the Arabian peninsula in the 7th century. The crusaders were a rough lot, driven by greed as much as religious fervor. Not content with merely liberating Palestine, where they had to keep fighting off the Muslims, they set about conquering the now weak Byzantine Empire.
THE KNIGHTS HOSPITALLER Being an unofficial guide to the chivalric Hospitaller Orders, especially the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, from the First Crusade to the present era.
Crusades A collection of links from About.com
The Christian Crusades Positively Impacted the East and the West Even though countless numbers of people died during the Christian Crusades, there were many positive effects for both the East and the West. After the Crusades halted, various trade routes opened up between Eastern and Western cities. Also, the Muslims developed new military strategies and techniques during the fights with the Europeans, and they united themselves against one cause, producing a stronger religious nation (Encyclop�dia Britannica, 1993). Numerous effects of the Christian Crusades in the Middle East had a positive outcome.
The Church and The Crusaders The year was 1095 CE, William the Conqueror had united England under one crown 30 years earlier. The French had been dividing properties amongst their sons for generations, causing bloodshed between brothers over small pieces of real estate. In reaction, Pope Urban II expanded "The Truce of God", which outlawed fighting from Sunday to Wednesday, and banned fighting involving priests, monks, women, laborers and merchants on any day of the week. Italy was a collection of city-states, constantly being overrun by invading hoards, the latest of which were the Normans, who had just started to become "civilized".
The Knights Templar The Knights Templar were without a doubt the single most influential and powerful of the religious military orders that sprang up as a result of the crusades. Although younger than their rivals "The Order of the Hospital," as a monastic institution, the Templars were the first to add a military face to monasticism.
Learning About the Crusades The Crusades were important events that impacted life in both Christian Europe and its Muslim neighbors in the east. These Holy wars changed the structure of society, culture, politics and many other aspects of life in the times of the Crusades. Through studying the intricacies of the Crusades and peering into this world long gone, a better understanding of today's situations and problems can be understood and possibly linked back to this time. For this journey, read the following links, review the historical background, and take note to the changes and results that these wars had. From this quest, we hope to further your own understanding of the material in an enjoyable journey through the times of the Crusades.