KQ4: What was life like for Crusaders in Outremer?

Cards (34)

  • 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.