KQ2: What factors led to birth of Crusades

• Byzantine

  name given to the East Roman Empire
• Church of the Holy Sepulchre

  site where Jesus rose from the dead
• Council of Clermont


  place where Pope Urban II gave his speech
• Fervour/Zeal

  religious enthusiasm
• Heathen


  A Christian word for “unbeliever“
• Imperial

  an Empire
• Infidel


  Christian word for “non believer“
• Militant Christianity


  Christians fighting
• Papal Indulgence

  full or partial forgiveness of sins
• Penance

  to confess to a priest and be forgiven
• Pilgrimage

  name given to a religious journey
• Pious

  to be very religious
• Salvation 


  to save yourself from hell
• Seljuk Turks


  a Turkish Muslim
• Seljuk Turks

  • Muslim invaders who occupied Byzantine Empire.
  • Threatened pilgrimage to Holy Land.
• Battle of Manzikert (1071):

  • Byzantines defeated by Seljuks.
  • Resulted in closure of Holy Places
• Intolerance

  • Seljuks not tolerant of Christians and Jews.
  • Closed Holy Places to Christian pilgrims.
• Impact

  • Wake-up call for Christian East.
  • Threatened idea of Christendom.
  • Byzantine Empire appeared to disintegrate.
• Emperor Alexius Comnenus:

  • Byzantine Emperor in 1081.
  • Appealed to Pope Urban II for help against Seljuks.
• Appeal for Assistance:

  • Asked for 300 knights.
  • Aimed to strengthen Byzantine Empire.
• Western Response:

  • West focused on freeing Holy Places.
  • Less concern for supporting Byzantines specifically.
• Pope Urban II:

  • Enthusiastic follower of Gregory VII's reforms.
  • Faced problems: Investiture Contest, rival pope, Eastern Christendom under siege.
• Motivation for Crusade:

  • Uniting Christendom under his authority.
  • Response to Investiture Contest.
• Political Significance:

  • Shifted role of directing defense of Christianity from Holy Roman Emperor to Pope.
• Launch of First Crusade:

  • Announced at Council of Clermont, November 27th, 1095.
  • No surviving transcripts of speech, but accounts from witnesses.
• Effect of Urban's Call:

  • Immediate response fueled by religious zeal.
  • Further stirred by popular preachers
• Religious Motives of Knights:

  • Main motive for First Crusade was religious.
  • Aim was to free Holy Places, especially Jerusalem.
• Pilgrimage Tradition:

  • Long tradition of pilgrimage to Holy Sepulchre.
  • Capture of Jerusalem by Seljuks in 1065 horrified Christians.
• Papal Indulgence:


  • Offered by Pope for participants.
  • Guaranteed passage to heaven despite sins.
  • Increased participation rates.
• Militant Christianity:

  • Arming of pilgrimage led to idea of militant Christianity.
  • Appealed to knightly class.
• Crusading Ideal:

  • Battle for Church against unbelievers.
  • Growth of Crusading ideal.
• Economic Pressures

  • Economic misery in parts of France in 11th century.
  • Desire for new life in new land.
• Eastern Trade and Tales:

  • Tales of wealth in the East.
  • Encouraged participation for piety's reward.
• Primogeniture

  • First born son inherits.
  • Many younger sons participated in hope of building territories.
• Social Factors:

  • Desire for upward mobility.
  • Opportunity to establish wealth and power.