KQ4: What was life like for Crusaders in Outremer?

• Economy

  to do with finances/money
• Feudal State

  a system of ruling where the king is at the top, nobility/knights in the middle, and the peasants are at the bottom
• Integration 


  mixing of different people who used to be separated
• Massacre


  brutal killing of a large amount of people
• Native

  someone who lived somewhere before it was taken over by a different group
• Outremer

  name given to the four crusader kingdoms
• Pogrom

  attacking of group of people
• Province

  part of country or empire
• Toleration

  putting up with something to keep the peace
• Truce

  peace
• urban 


  city areas
• Establishment of Crusader Kingdoms

  • Consequence of First Crusade.
  • Known as Outremer.
  • Composed of four kingdoms: Edessa, Antioch, Tripoli, Jerusalem.
• Rulers of Crusader Kingdoms

  • Baldwin ruled Edessa.
  • Bohemond ruled Antioch.
  • Raymond ruled Tripoli.
  • Baldwin II became King of Jerusalem after Godfrey's death.
• Byzantine Help and Quarrels:

  • First Crusade successful with Byzantine help.
  • Crusaders quarreled with Byzantium over Antioch.
  • Byzantines wanted Antioch returned
• Oath of Allegiance:

  • Crusaders swore allegiance to Alexius.
  • Felt betrayed by Alexius.
• Alliance Issues:

  • Both Byzantines and crusaders prepared to ally with Muslims against each other.
  • Undermined stability of Crusader kingdoms.
• Strategic Challenges of Outremer:

  • Edessa vulnerable to Muslim attack.
  • Thin and long states required defense by long line of castles.
  • Lack of natural defense against attacks.
• Manpower Shortage:

  • Limited further advances.
  • Many knights returned to Europe after completing pilgrimage.
• Control over Holy Places:

  • Difficult to maintain without permanent settlers.
  • Jerusalem defended by few hundred knights.
• Population Composition:

  • Mainly consisted of Muslims and Jews.
  • Unlikely to be loyal to crusaders after massacre.
• Uncertain Survival:

  • Survival of crusader kingdoms not guaranteed.
• Feudal Organisation:

  • Outremer organized as feudal state.
  • Church played significant role but often had differing ideas from rulers.
• Dependence on Italian City Ports:

  • Relied on cooperation of ports like Genoa for supplies.
• Securing Coastal Cities:

  • Haifa and Acre taken in 1104.
  • Beirut and Sidon in 1110.
  • Tyre in 1124.
• Agriculture and Everyday Life:

  • Basis of Outremer economy.
  • Peasantry life continued as before.
  • Coastal areas fertile, supported diverse crops.
• Urban Development:

  • Ports of Tyre and Acre became economic centers.
  • Established commercial and political links with Italian cities.
• Pilgrim Tourism:

  • Increased after capture of Jerusalem.
  • Spent on goods and donated to Church.
• Economic Products:

  • Fish, vegetables, sugar, oils, wine, spices.
  • Backbone of crusader economy.
• Taxation

  • Various taxes on goods helped maintain administration.
• Religious and Racial Diversity:

  • Included Jews, Zoroastrians, Christians of various denominations, Greek Orthodox, Sunni and Shi'a Muslims.
• Settlement Challenges:

  • Difficulty in controlling diverse population.
  • Massacres occurred initially.
• Interaction and Integration:

  • Eventually, some interaction and integration between Christians, Jews, and Muslims.
  • Periods of truce negotiated for trade.
• Religious Tolerance:

  • Jews and Muslims allowed to visit Jerusalem but not live there.
  • Native Christians had religious freedom.
• Treatment of Jews:

  • Relatively fair compared to Western Europe.
  • No anti-Jewish pogroms.
  • Could practice religion freely.