End of Feudalism
Crusade
The Crusades were fought over control of Palestine, or Holy Land, a region of Southwest Asia. The Muslims did not bother Christians who visited the region. In the late 1000s, a group of Turkish Muslims had attacked Europeans in the Holy Land, which was no longer safe for Christians. The Turks began to raid the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine Emperor was fearing an attack on Constantinople, asked Pope Urban II of the Roman Catholic Church for help.
The first Crusades were peasants, not soldiers. In 1096s, peasant Crusaders attacked Jews in Germany, they blamed the Jews for Jesus's death. Before they even reached the Holy Land, Turkish troops killed most of these untrained, poorly equipped peasants. The nobles and knights reached Jerusalem in 1099, they found the Muslim army disorganized and unready to fight. After about month of fighting, the Crusaders took Jerusalem. After the Europeans took Jerusalem, they set up four small kingdoms in the Holy Land and created lord and vassal systems like they had known at home. They also began to trade with people back in Europe.
The second and third Crusades began when French and German kings set off in 1147 to retake land from the Muslims. This Second Crusade was a terrible failure. Poor planning and heavy losses on the journey to the Holy Land led to the Christians' total defeat. Ashamed, the Crusaders returned to Europe in less than a year. The Third Crusade began after the Muslims retook Jerusalem in 1189. Then the rulers of England, France, and the Holy Roman Empire went to fight for the Holy Land, but problems soon came up. The German King died and the French King was left. King Richard I of England was the only one to stay in the Holy Land. King Richard's opponent was Saladin (who was the leader of the Muslim forces). He was a brilliant leader; even crusaders respected his kindness toward fallen enemies. In that way Muslims liked Richard's bravery. Richard and Saladin fought for many months. Richard conquered a couple towns and won protection for the Christian pilgrims. Even though Jerusalem was still controlled by Muslims.
In 1201 French knights arrived in Venice ready to sail to the Holy Land to begin a Fourth Crusade. The knights agreed the Venetians asked them to conquer Zara , a rival trade city. The knights attacked Constantinople and carried off many treasures. The city that had been threatened by Muslims before the Crusades had been sacked by Christians. Other Crusades followed, but none were successful. By 1291 the Muslim armies had taken back all of the Holy Land, and the Crusades had ended. For many years battle, the Holy Land still under Muslim control.
The first Crusades were peasants, not soldiers. In 1096s, peasant Crusaders attacked Jews in Germany, they blamed the Jews for Jesus's death. Before they even reached the Holy Land, Turkish troops killed most of these untrained, poorly equipped peasants. The nobles and knights reached Jerusalem in 1099, they found the Muslim army disorganized and unready to fight. After about month of fighting, the Crusaders took Jerusalem. After the Europeans took Jerusalem, they set up four small kingdoms in the Holy Land and created lord and vassal systems like they had known at home. They also began to trade with people back in Europe.
The second and third Crusades began when French and German kings set off in 1147 to retake land from the Muslims. This Second Crusade was a terrible failure. Poor planning and heavy losses on the journey to the Holy Land led to the Christians' total defeat. Ashamed, the Crusaders returned to Europe in less than a year. The Third Crusade began after the Muslims retook Jerusalem in 1189. Then the rulers of England, France, and the Holy Roman Empire went to fight for the Holy Land, but problems soon came up. The German King died and the French King was left. King Richard I of England was the only one to stay in the Holy Land. King Richard's opponent was Saladin (who was the leader of the Muslim forces). He was a brilliant leader; even crusaders respected his kindness toward fallen enemies. In that way Muslims liked Richard's bravery. Richard and Saladin fought for many months. Richard conquered a couple towns and won protection for the Christian pilgrims. Even though Jerusalem was still controlled by Muslims.
In 1201 French knights arrived in Venice ready to sail to the Holy Land to begin a Fourth Crusade. The knights agreed the Venetians asked them to conquer Zara , a rival trade city. The knights attacked Constantinople and carried off many treasures. The city that had been threatened by Muslims before the Crusades had been sacked by Christians. Other Crusades followed, but none were successful. By 1291 the Muslim armies had taken back all of the Holy Land, and the Crusades had ended. For many years battle, the Holy Land still under Muslim control.
