The Crusades
Subject Knowledge
Religion in the Middle Ages
In the Middles Ages, religion was a very important part of life. In Britain, almost everybody believed in God and went to Church. They were Christians, and believed that the Pope (in Rome) had been given power by God to be the leader of the Church on earth. In fact, it was not just Britain that was Christian, but the majority of countries in Europe. People were desperate to go to Heaven, and terrified they might end up in Hell! |
Key Word: 'Crusades' means 'wars of the cross' - meaning wars of Christianity
|
Why did the Crusades happen?
For Christians, the most important city in the world was Jerusalem. This was because Jesus had lived and died there. Many Christians wanted to visit Jerusalem. These people were known as 'pilgrims'. However, the people who lived in Jerusalem and 'the Holy Land' (the area around Jerusalem) were Muslim Turks, and believed that only Muslims should be allowed to be there. Some pilgrims who visited the Holy Land complained about being treated badly. Some were even killed! |
What were the Crusades?
The Pope was not happy about this. In 1095, the Pope called for all Christian kings, lords, soldiers and ordinary people to go and fight the Muslim Turks. He promised that anyone who died fighting in 'The Crusades' would go straight to heaven! Thousands of people decided to go. Between 1096 and 1396, there were nine different Crusades against the Muslim Turks! |
Why did people go on the Crusades?
People went on the Crusades for many different reasons. For example...
|
Who won?
The Crusades lasted 300 years! There were a number of victories and defeats for both sides between 1096 and 1396. The First Crusade was seen as a success, since Jerusalem was captured in 1099 and stayed in Christian hands for 88 years! However, most of the other eight crusades were unsuccessful for the Christians. Europe did learn a lot from the Muslim Turks though, including about foods like lemons and sugar, and technology such as mirrors and the magnifying glass!
The Crusades lasted 300 years! There were a number of victories and defeats for both sides between 1096 and 1396. The First Crusade was seen as a success, since Jerusalem was captured in 1099 and stayed in Christian hands for 88 years! However, most of the other eight crusades were unsuccessful for the Christians. Europe did learn a lot from the Muslim Turks though, including about foods like lemons and sugar, and technology such as mirrors and the magnifying glass!
Teaching Ideas
Finding Jerusalem
Find Jerusalem on a map/atlas/using IT resources. How long do you think it would take for people from Britain to get to Jerusalem, and how they might get there? Make a spider diagram or list of different problems you think there might be if thousands of people from Britain and Europe wanted to get to Jerusalem. E.g. very long distances, might run out of food, travelling through unknown countries, might get bored and give up.
Recruitment poster
Design a poster from the Pope encouraging kings, lords, soldier and ordinary people to join the Crusades. Try to think about reasons why they might want to go and include them in your poster. After this activity, decide whether you think religion, money or power was the most important reason people went on the Crusades.
Key Words
Focus on understanding of key words e.g. Crusades, pilgrim, Jerusalem, the Holy Land, the Pope, duty
Find Jerusalem on a map/atlas/using IT resources. How long do you think it would take for people from Britain to get to Jerusalem, and how they might get there? Make a spider diagram or list of different problems you think there might be if thousands of people from Britain and Europe wanted to get to Jerusalem. E.g. very long distances, might run out of food, travelling through unknown countries, might get bored and give up.
Recruitment poster
Design a poster from the Pope encouraging kings, lords, soldier and ordinary people to join the Crusades. Try to think about reasons why they might want to go and include them in your poster. After this activity, decide whether you think religion, money or power was the most important reason people went on the Crusades.
Key Words
Focus on understanding of key words e.g. Crusades, pilgrim, Jerusalem, the Holy Land, the Pope, duty