The Crusades

     During the late 1000s, the Seljug Turks, a Muslin people from Central Asia, gained control of Palenstine-know among Christians as "the Holy Land." The Byzantine emperor called on Pope Urban 11.The Crusades is a series of military expeditions to regain the Holy Land. At least 10,000 Europeans took up the cause. The sewed a cross of cloth on their clothes and were called crusaders. Some went to save there soul, knights hoped to gain land and wealth, and some merchants saw a chance to make money.
   The First Crusade lasted from 1096-1099. French and Italian lords led several armies of crusaders from europe-constantinople. The crusaders also marched down the the coast toward Palenstine and their main target- the holy city of Jerusalem. Thr crusaders' capture of Jerusalem brought much of the Holy Land under European control. As a result, Euroopean customs and institutions were put into place in parts of southwest Asis and the Holy Land.
     For almost 100 years, European Christians held onto Palenstine. Little by little, the Turks won back therir lost lands. Popes adn Europeans rulers tried to stop them during three more major crusades.
In 1147 the second Crusades began. In 1187 the Muslim leader Saladin gained control of Jerusalem. Three European rulers then led seperate armies into the third Crusades. Pope Innocent 111 gathered a group of French knights for the Fourth Crusades. In 1212 the short-lived and unfortunate Children's Crusades took place.
     The goal of the Crusades was to take the Holy Land from the Turks. All the Crusades except the first failed to reach that goal. By the end of the Crusades, the Muslims again controlled Palenstine.
     During the Crusades the weapon of choice for many European soliders was the crossbow.It requires far less skill to use than the regular bow. It was a deadly  weapon that was capable of penetrating chain mail and plate armor.From the Byzantines and Muslims, Europeans discovered new ways to wage  war- undermin walls and use catapults. From the Muslims, they may have learned about gunpower.
     To raise money to go on crusade some lords had sold their land. without land they had no power in the feudal syatem. WITH FEWER LORDS THE POWERE OF EUROPEAN KINGS GREW STRONGER. All these changes helped bring an end to feudalism.
     Between 1096-1291, thousands of crusaders traveled through the Holy Land. They exchanged ideas with crusaders from other parts of Europe. They also gained knowledge from the Byzantines and Muslims whom they met. Change in trade took place. Ships from Italian cities carried crusaders to the Holy Land.