LECTURE 7: CASTLES, CATHEDRALS, CRUSADES
THE CRUSADES
The armed pilgrimiages of those signed by the cross. Called by popes,
first Urban II, st. berndard, stirred up lots of enthusiasm for
fighting. Lay movements though, not clergy that went to liberate the
holy land.
Byzantine Empire had always wanted christians to come hand help on the
anatolian frontier, especially after the Seljuk Turks arrived and
fought and won at Manzikert in 1071. Byzantines turned for mercenaries
to the pope after that.
In the Islamic world, caliphate was beginning to crack into smaller
parts, and conflict occurred. Whole Islamic world troubled by the
Seljuk Turks, and caused difficulties. Also they were particularly
hostile to Christian pilgrims traveling to the holy land. Abuse
occurred too. Stories inflamed Europe.
In Spain, very near, the Muslim - Christian battle for civilization
was now playing out too.
The Chivalric Ideal, to struggle against God's enemies. The Younger
Sons situation.
Pope went to france and said it was time for Christian soldiers from
the west to march to the east, and liberate the holy land from the
infadel. through southern europe, the balkans, the byzantine empire
(much to the surprise and distress of the emperor, who wanted
mercenaries for his army and got armed pilgrims going to Jerusalem
instead!), and finally down to the Holy Land. A long, long trip.
200 years this went on, most were french, royal participation in 2nd
and 3rd, but mostly an aristocratic phenemenon. eventually, the simply
wore out. "Could they be successful in the long run?" putting outposts
in the islamic world... not a long term solution.
The novelty of the crusades was that it was the first instance in
European history of the vast mobilization of lay people.
This period would be succeeded by the Renaissance.
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