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124 Crusades Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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The Crusades, a series of religious wars fought between the 11th and 13th centuries, have left an indelible mark on history. These conflicts pitted Christians against Muslims in the quest for control over the Holy Land, resulting in significant political, social, and cultural ramifications. If you're tasked with writing an essay on this fascinating period, here are 124 topic ideas and examples to inspire your research and analysis.

• The motives behind the First Crusade: Exploring the religious, economic, and political factors that led to the call for the First Crusade.
• The role of Pope Urban II in launching the First Crusade: Analyzing his speech at the Council of Clermont and its impact on Christian Europe.
• The impact of the Crusades on European society: Examining the social changes brought about by the Crusades, including the rise of the middle class.
• The Crusader states: Investigating the establishment and challenges faced by the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
• Crusader military tactics and strategies: Analyzing the methods employed by the Crusaders in battle.
• The role of women during the Crusades: Exploring the diverse roles women played in both Europe and the Holy Land during the Crusades.
• The impact of the Crusades on the Byzantine Empire: Assessing the consequences of the Crusades on the already weakened empire.
• The Children's Crusade: Investigating the historical accuracy and significance of this unique event.
• The Third Crusade: Analyzing the leadership and contributions of Richard the Lionheart, Philip II, and Frederick Barbarossa.
• The impact of the Crusades on the Muslim world: Examining the effects of the Crusades on the political and cultural landscape of the Muslim states.
• The Albigensian Crusade: Exploring the motivations and consequences of the Crusade against the Cathars in southern France.
• The Fourth Crusade: Investigating the diversion of the Crusade towards Constantinople and its long-term repercussions.
• The impact of the Crusades on trade and commerce: Analyzing how the Crusades influenced European economies and global trade routes.
• The Reconquista and the Crusades: Comparing and contrasting the Christian campaigns to reclaim Iberia and the Holy Land.
• The Knights Templar: Examining the rise, power, and eventual downfall of this influential military order during the Crusades.
• The impact of Crusader castles: Assessing the architectural and strategic significance of Crusader fortifications in the Holy Land.
• The Crusades and religious tolerance: Analyzing the attitudes of Crusaders towards Jews, Muslims, and other religious groups.
• The impact of the Crusades on European art and architecture: Exploring the Crusades' influence on Gothic architecture and religious art.
• The Crusades and the rise of anti-Semitism: Investigating the origins and consequences of anti-Jewish sentiments during and after the Crusades.
• The impact of the Crusades on the Italian city-states: Assessing the economic and political changes experienced by Italian cities due to their involvement in the Crusades.
• The Crusades and the rise of nationalism: Analyzing the connection between Crusading ideology and the emergence of national identities.
• The role of Saladin in the Crusades: Examining the military and political achievements of the Muslim commander.
• The impact of the Crusades on the development of Western medicine: Exploring the medical knowledge and practices brought back from the East.
• The Crusades and the decline of feudalism: Investigating the effects of the Crusades on the feudal system in Europe.
• The role of women in the Crusader states: Analyzing the power and influence wielded by noblewomen in the Crusader territories.
• The legacy of the Crusades in the Middle East: Assessing the enduring impact of the Crusades on contemporary Middle Eastern politics and perceptions.
• The Crusades and the spread of chivalry: Exploring how the Crusades contributed to the rise of chivalric ideals in medieval Europe.
• The impact of the Crusades on the development of Western literature: Analyzing the influence of Crusading narratives on medieval literature.
• The Crusades and the decline of the Byzantine Empire: Investigating the role of the Crusades in the eventual fall of Constantinople.
• The impact of the Crusades on the status of women in medieval society: Assessing whether the Crusades brought about any advancements in women's rights.
• The role of religion in the Crusades: Analyzing the religious fervor and motivations of Crusaders on both sides.
• The Crusades and the spread of Eastern knowledge: Exploring the transmission of scientific, philosophical, and mathematical ideas from the Islamic world to Europe.
• The impact of the Crusades on the development of European universities: Investigating the influence of Crusader encounters with Muslim centers of learning.
• The role of mercenaries in the Crusades: Analyzing the importance of professional soldiers in Crusading armies.
• The Crusades and the development of vernacular languages: Assessing the role of Crusading narratives in the growth of national languages in Europe.
• The impact of the Crusades on the Papacy: Exploring the political and religious authority gained by the Pope due to the Crusades.
• The Crusades and the decline of the Carolingian Empire: Investigating the connection between Crusading fervor and the disintegration of Charlemagne's empire.
• The impact of the Crusades on the concept of holy war: Assessing how Crusading ideology shaped future notions of religious warfare.
• The role of pilgrimage in the Crusades: Analyzing the spiritual motivations behind Crusaders' journeys to the Holy Land.
• The Crusades and the development of naval technology: Exploring the advancements in shipbuilding and maritime warfare brought about by the Crusades.
• The impact of the Crusades on the status of serfs and peasants in Europe: Investigating whether the Crusades led to any improvements in the lives of the lower classes.
• The Crusades and the decline of the Byzantine military: Assessing the consequences of the Crusades on the military capabilities of the Byzantine Empire.
• The role of the Teutonic Knights in the Baltic Crusades: Analyzing the motivations and achievements of this military order.
• The impact of the Crusades on the environment: Exploring the ecological consequences of Crusader activities in the Holy Land.
• The Crusades and the spread of European cuisine: Investigating the introduction of new foods and cooking techniques from the East.
• The role of propaganda in the Crusades: Analyzing the use of religious imagery and rhetoric to mobilize support for the Crusades.
• The impact of the Crusades on the concept of knighthood: Assessing the influence of Crusading ideals on the medieval code of chivalry.
• The Crusades and the development of siege warfare: Exploring the advancements in military technology and tactics during Crusader sieges.
• The role of pilgrimage in the Christian-Muslim encounters of the Crusades: Investigating the encounters and interactions between pilgrims of different faiths.
• The impact of the Crusades on the development of Western music: Assessing the influence of Eastern musical traditions on medieval European compositions.
• The Crusades and the rise of the Inquisition: Analyzing the connection between Crusading fervor and the persecution of heretics.
• The impact of the Crusades on the perception of Islam in the West: Exploring how the Crusades shaped Western attitudes towards Islam.
• The Crusades and the development of cartography: Investigating the influence of Crusader maps on the growth of geographical knowledge.
• The role of mercenaries in the Middle Eastern campaigns of the Crusades: Analyzing the motivations and contributions of non-European soldiers.
• The impact of the Crusades on the development of European courtly love: Assessing the influence of Eastern romantic ideals on medieval European literature.
• The Crusades and the spread of epidemic diseases: Exploring the transmission of diseases between Europe and the Middle East during the Crusades.
• The role of children in the Crusades: Investigating the participation of young individuals in Crusading activities.
• The impact of the Crusades on the concept of holy relics: Analyzing the acquisition and veneration of relics during the Crusades.
• The Crusades and the decline of the Fatimid Caliphate: Assessing the consequences of Crusader campaigns on the power of the Shiite caliphate.
• The role of the Hospitallers in the Crusader states: Analyzing the medical and charitable activities of this military order.
• The impact of the Crusades on the development of military architecture: Exploring the innovations in fortification design during the Crusades.
• The Crusades and the spread of European fashion: Investigating the introduction of Eastern clothing styles and fabrics to Europe.
• The role of trade guilds in financing the Crusades: Analyzing the economic contributions of European merchants to the Crusading effort.
• The impact of the Crusades on the status of Jews in Europe: Assessing the consequences of Crusader violence and persecution on Jewish communities.
• The Crusades and the decline of the Ayyubid Dynasty: Exploring the political and military challenges faced by Saladin's successors.
• The role of religion in the interactions between Crusaders and local populations: Investigating the religious dynamics between Christians and Muslims during the Crusades.
• The impact of the Crusades on the development of European fashion: Analyzing the adoption of Eastern clothing styles and accessories by European elites.
• The Crusades and the spread of European literacy: Assessing the role of Crusader encounters with Arabic manuscripts in the growth of literacy in Europe.
• The role of pilgrimage in the Crusades against heretics: Exploring the use of religious pilgrimage as a tool against dissenting Christian groups.
• The impact of the Crusades on the perception of women in medieval society: Investigating whether the Crusades challenged or reinforced traditional gender roles.
• The Crusades and the rise of anti-Muslim sentiment in Europe: Analyzing the long-term consequences of Crusader encounters with the Muslim world.
• The impact of the Crusades on the development of Western theater: Assessing the influence of Eastern dramatic traditions on medieval European theater.
• The Crusades and the spread of European technology: Exploring the introduction of Eastern inventions and engineering techniques to Europe.
• The role of the Knights Hospitaller in the Crusader states: Investigating the military, medical, and charitable activities of this military order.
• The impact of the Crusades on the concept of pilgrimage in medieval Europe: Analyzing how Crusading experiences shaped the perception of pilgrimage.
• The Crusades and the decline of the Abbasid Caliphate: Assessing the consequences of Crusader incursions on the power of the Sunni caliphate.
• The role of the Templars in the Crusader states: Exploring the military, economic, and political influence of this powerful order.
• The impact of the Crusades on the development of Western education: Investigating the introduction of Eastern educational methods and curricula to Europe.
• The Crusades and the spread of European scientific knowledge: Analyzing the transmission of mathematical, astronomical, and medical ideas from the Islamic world.
• The Crusades and the decline of the Seljuk Empire: Assessing the consequences of Crusader conquests on the power of the Turkish dynasty.
• The role of the Knights of St. John in the Crusader states: Investigating the military, medical, and hospitaller activities of this order.
• The impact of the Crusades on the concept of knighthood in the Muslim world: Analyzing how Crusader encounters influenced the ideals of Muslim knights.
• The Crusades and the decline of the Mamluk Sultanate: Assessing the consequences of Crusader campaigns on the power of the Egyptian dynasty.
• The role of the Teutonic Knights in the Crusader states: Exploring the military, economic

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Home — Essay Samples — Religion — Christianity — Crusades

Essays on Crusades

Writing an essay on the Crusades is an essential exercise for understanding a critical period in history that spans the 11th to the 15th centuries, involving a series of religious and military campaigns in the Middle East. These events significantly influenced the Christian and Muslim worlds, shaping their relations, cultures, and geopolitical landscapes. Below, I outline the importance of writing such an essay and provide a guide on how to compose and structure it correctly.

Importance of Writing an Essay on the Crusades

The Crusades are a fundamental topic in historical studies due to their profound impact on the development of Western and Islamic civilizations. Writing an essay on this subject offers several benefits:

• Understanding Historical Context: It helps students grasp the complexities of medieval politics, religion, and social dynamics. The Crusades were not just military campaigns but also a reflection of the era's religious fervor, economic motives, and the concept of chivalry.
• Exploring Cultural Interactions: The Crusades led to significant interactions between Christian and Muslim societies, influencing art, science, and literature. An essay can explore these exchanges and their long-term effects on both cultures.
• Developing Critical Thinking: Analyzing the causes, events, and consequences of the Crusades encourages critical thinking about historical narratives, bias, and the interpretation of events.
• Enhancing Research Skills: Writing about the Crusades requires comprehensive research, including primary and secondary sources, fostering skills in evaluating and synthesizing information.

How to Write and Structure an Essay on the Crusades

To write an effective essay on the Crusades, follow these steps for correct composition and structure:

Introduction

• Thesis Statement: Begin with a clear thesis statement that outlines the main argument or perspective of your essay on the Crusades.
• Background Information: Provide a brief overview of the Crusades, including their origin, purpose, and key events.

Body Paragraphs

Each paragraph should focus on a single idea that supports your thesis. Structure them as follows:

• Topic Sentence: Start with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea of the paragraph.
• Evidence and Analysis: Include specific examples, historical facts, and scholarly interpretations. Analyze how these support your main argument.
• Transition: Conclude the paragraph with a sentence that smoothly transitions to the next point.
• Summary of Arguments: Briefly summarize the key points made in your essay, reinforcing how they support your thesis.
• Reflection: Offer a reflection on the significance of the Crusades in history and their relevance to contemporary issues or historical understanding.

Ensure you include a references section at the end of your essay, listing all the sources you consulted. This not only credits original authors but also strengthens your essay’s credibility.

• Be Objective: Strive for an unbiased presentation of historical facts and interpretations.
• Engage with Various Perspectives: Include diverse viewpoints to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Crusades.
• Proofread: Always review your essay for grammatical errors and ensure that your argument flows logically.
• Writing an essay on the Crusades is a valuable academic endeavor that enriches your knowledge of history, hones your analytical skills, and improves your ability to articulate complex ideas. By following these guidelines, you can craft a thoughtful and informative essay that captures the essence and impact of the Crusades.

Best Crusades Essay Topics

• The role of women in the Crusades
• The impact of the Crusades on trade and commerce
• The portrayal of the Crusades in modern media
• The influence of the Crusades on European art and architecture
• The legacy of the Crusades in the Middle East
• The religious motivations behind the Crusades
• The impact of the Crusades on the Byzantine Empire
• The role of propaganda in the Crusades
• The impact of the Crusades on religious tolerance
• The Crusades and the rise of the Knights Templar
• The Crusades and the development of medieval warfare
• The impact of the Crusades on European politics
• The Crusades and the spread of Christianity
• The Crusades and the rise of anti-Semitism
• The impact of the Crusades on Muslim-Christian relations
• The Crusades and the concept of holy war
• The Crusades and the role of pilgrimage
• The portrayal of Saladin in Crusades literature
• The Crusades and the development of international law
• The Crusades and the impact on global exploration and trade routes

Crusades Essay Topics Prompts

• Imagine you are a knight participating in the Crusades. Describe your motivations and experiences.
• Write a letter from a Muslim perspective, reflecting on the impact of the Crusades on your community.
• Create a fictional account of a pilgrimage during the time of the Crusades, exploring the challenges and opportunities faced.
• Design a museum exhibit on the Crusades, highlighting key artifacts and their significance.
• Write a persuasive essay arguing for the most influential figure of the Crusades and their impact on history.

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Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History Essays

The crusades (1095–1291).

Reliquary Cross

Keystone from a Vaulted Ceiling

Sword Pommel with the Arms of Pierre de Dreux (ca. 1187–1250), Duke of Brittany and Earl of Richmond

King Louis IX Carrying the Crown of Thorns

Pyxis Depicting Standing Saints or Ecclesiastics and the Entry into Jerusalem with Christ Riding a Donkey

A Knight of the d'Aluye Family

Gemellion (Hand Basin) with the Arms of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem

Scene from the Legend of the True Cross

Leaf from a Gospel Book with Four Standing Evangelists

The Hours of Jeanne d'Evreux, Queen of France

Jean Pucelle

Initial A with the Battle of the Maccabees

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

Workshop of Fra Filippo Lippi

Godfroy de Bouillon

Colin Nouailher

The Crusaders Reach Jerusalem (from a set of Scenes from Gerusalemme Liberata)

Designed by Domenico Paradisi

Jérusalem, Saint Sépulcre, abside

Auguste Salzmann

Jérusalem, Saint Sépulcre, détails des chapiteaux

[Interior, Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem]

Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters , The Metropolitan Museum of Art

October 2001 (originally published) February 2014 (last revised)

The First Crusade Most historians consider the sermon preached by Pope Urban II at Clermont-Ferrand in November 1095 to have been the spark that fueled a wave of military campaigns to wrest the Holy Land from Muslim control. Considered at the time to be divinely sanctioned, these campaigns, involving often ruthless battles, are known as the Crusades. At their core was a desire for access to shrines associated with the life and ministry of Jesus, above all the Holy Sepulcher, the church in Jerusalem said to contain the tomb of Christ ( 2005.100.373.100 ). Absolution from sin and eternal glory were promised to the Crusaders, who also hoped to gain land and wealth in the East. Nobles and peasants responded in great number to the call and marched across Europe to Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine empire . With the support of the Byzantine emperor, the knights , guided by Armenian Christians ( 57.185.3 ), tenuously marched to Jerusalem through Seljuq-controlled territories in modern Turkey and Syria. In June 1099, the Crusaders began a five-week siege of Jerusalem, which fell on July 15, 1099 ( 92.1.15 ). Eyewitness accounts attest to the terror of battle. Ralph of Caen, watching the city from the Mount of Olives, saw “the scurrying people, the fortified towers, the roused garrison, the men rushing to arms, the women in tears, the priests turned to their prayers, the streets ringing with cries, crashing, clanging and neighing.”

The Crusaders took over many of the cities on the Mediterranean coast and built a large number of fortified castles across the Holy Land to protect their newly established territories ( 28.99.1 ), while also establishing churches loyal to Rome. For the Crusaders, the Dome of the Rock was the Temple of Solomon; the Aqsa mosque was converted to use as a palace and stables.

The Latin kingdom of Jerusalem established by the Crusaders boasted fifteen cathedral churches. The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, for example, became the seat of a Western Christian bishop in 1110 ( 1988.1174.9 ).

Artists from different traditions met in the city of Jerusalem, with, for example, Syrian goldworkers on the right of the market near the Holy Sepulcher, and Latin goldworkers on the left (Conder 1896). Indeed, metalwork from this period sometimes combines an Islamic aesthetic with Christian subject matter ( 1971.39a,b ). Some pieces even bear an inscription indicating that they were made by an Islamic goldsmith for a Christian. Precious works of art fashioned for the churches of Europe celebrated their links to the Holy Land ( 2002.18 ; Toulouse Cathedral Limoges Reliquary ).

Second and Third Crusade In 1147–49, the Second Crusade, championed by the Cistercian abbot Bernard of Clairvaux ( 1975.1.70b ), attempted to take Damascus in Syria. The campaign was a dismal failure because the Muslims had regrouped. Led by Salah al-Din (Saladin), Muslim forces advanced across Syria and finally retook Jerusalem in October 1187. Saladin was credited by his personal secretary with allowing the Patriarch of Jerusalem to leave the city with the church’s treasure, explaining: “If we make excuses [to confiscate this wealth] they [the Franks] will accuse us of treachery … let us not make them accuse people of faith of breaking their oaths. Let them go. They will talk about our benevolence” (Mohamed el-Moctar, in Paul and Yaeger, 2012, p. 209).

Entering the city, a vizier of Saladin marveled at how the Crusaders had beautified Jerusalem: “the care of the unbelievers had transformed [it] into a Paradise garden … those accursed ones defended with the lance and sword this city, which they had rebuilt with columns and slabs of marble [ 2005.100.373.86 ], where they had founded churches and the palaces of the Templars and the hospitallers … One sees on every side houses as pleasant as their gardens and bright with white marble and columns decorated with leaves, which make them look like living trees” (quoting Kadi el-Fadel in Hamilton, 1979).

By the end of the Third Crusade (1189–92), Crusader forces had gained Cyprus and the coastal city of Acre. Saladin guaranteed access to Jerusalem to European pilgrims and welcomed Jews back to the city as well.

The chronicle of the Spanish-born Ibn Jubayr, who traveled to Mecca from 1183 to 1185, speaks of the ease of trade in the Holy Land, even in times of military hostilities: “the Muslims continuously journeyed from Damascus to Acre (through Frankish territory), and likewise not one of the Christian merchants was stopped and hindered (in Muslim territories) … The soldiers engage themselves in their war, while the people are at peace” (as cited in Paul and Yaeger, 2012, p. 34).

The Fourth Crusade With each crusade, relations between the Byzantines and the Western forces became more estranged. The Fourth Crusade set out in 1202 with Egypt as its goal. After choosing sides in a dynastic dispute in Byzantium, however, the Crusaders turned their siege upon Byzantium’s capital, Constantinople, to collect an enormous sum of money that had been promised for their support. The city was sacked in 1204, its rich treasures divided between the Venetians (the lion’s share of which remains in the Treasury of San Marco, Venice), the French, and other Crusaders. The Latin Empire of Constantinople was established with Baldwin of Flanders as emperor. In 1261, the Byzantines regained the city .

Later Crusades Successive crusades were launched to the Holy Land. The knight Jean d’Alluye traveled to the Holy Land around 1240, but the circumstances of his voyage are not known ( 25.120.201 ).

The Seventh and Eighth Crusades, in 1248 ( 38.60 ) and 1270, were sponsored by Louis IX , who died in Tunisia ( 54.1.2 ; 37.173.3 ). In 1271, Sultan Baibars captured Montfort Castle ( 28.99.1 ), and in 1291, the Crusader city of Acre fell, ending the era of Latin Crusader kingdoms. Calls for new crusades over the next centuries were increasingly ignored, despite the renown in which Crusaders and the Holy Land were held in legend ( 1993.65.4 ; 23.21.4 ; 25.120.528 ; 25.120.529 ; 54.1.1 ; Belles Heures Heraclius leaf, folio 156 ).

Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters. “The Crusades (1095–1291).” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History . New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/crus/hd_crus.htm (originally published October 2001, last revised February 2014)

Further Reading

Burgoyne, Michael Hamilton. Mamluk Jerusalem: An Architectural Study . London: World of Islam Festival Trust, 1987.

Conder, Claude R., trans. "The City of Jerusalem." Palestine Pilgrims' Text Society 6 (1896).

Dandridge, Pete and Mark Wypyski. "Sword and Dagger Pommels Associated with the Crusades, Part II: A Technical Study." Metropolitan Museum Journal 46 (2011), pp. 145–51.

Folda, Jaroslav. The Art of the Crusaders in the Holy Land, 1098–1187 . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995.

Folda, Jaroslav. Crusader Art in the Holy Land: From the Third Crusade to the Fall of Acre, 1187–1291 . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005.

Goss, Vladimir P., ed. The Meeting of Two Worlds: Cultural Exchange Between East and West During the Period of the Crusades . Kalamazoo: Medieval Institute Publications, Western Michigan University, 1986.

Grabar, Oleg, and Benjamin Z. Kedar eds. Where Heaven and Earth Meet: Jerusalem's Sacred Esplanade . Jerusalem: Yad Ben-Zvi Press, 2009.

Hamilton, Bernard. Monastic Reform, Catharism, and the Crusades . London: Valorium Reprints, 1979.

Hillenbrandt, Carole. The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives . Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1999.

La Rocca, Donald J. "Sword and Dagger Pommels Associated with the Crusades, Part I," Metropolitan Museum Journal 46 (2012), pp. 133–44.

Paul, Nicholas, and Suzanne Yeager, eds. Remembering the Crusades: Myth, Image, and Identity . Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2012.

Prawer, Joshua. The History of the Jews in the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem . Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1988.

Rozenberg, Silvia, ed. Knights of the Holy Land: The Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem . Exhibition catalogue. Jerusalem: Israel Museum, 1999.

Additional Essays by Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters

• Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters. “ Art for the Christian Liturgy in the Middle Ages .” (October 2001)
• Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters. “ Classical Antiquity in the Middle Ages .” (October 2001)
• Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters. “ Private Devotion in Medieval Christianity .” (October 2001)
• Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters. “ The Art of the Book in the Middle Ages .” (October 2001)
• Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters. “ The Cult of the Virgin Mary in the Middle Ages .” (October 2001)
• Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters. “ Stained Glass in Medieval Europe .” (October 2001)

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The Medieval Crusades History Essay

Introduction, negative outcomes of the crusades, positive outcomes.

History is full of significant events that had great impacts on the lives of people and nations of the time. One of these great events is the Crusades, which were devastating wars undertaken by Christians against Muslims. The Crusades can trace their start to November 1095 when Pope Urban II made an appeal in France for the Knights to embark on a military expedition to free the Holy city of Jerusalem from Muslim power. The Crusade as to be a “war of liberation” since Jerusalem, which was regarded as the Christian holy land, was under Muslim control. In response to Urban’s call, over 60,000 Knights and peasants took up arms and headed East to fight against the Muslims and recover the Holy Land (Tyerman, 1998). The first crusade was followed by a series of other major and minor crusades, which continued to be waged until 1291. This paper will argue that the Crusades were a failure since they led to great losses for all the parties involved in the wars and they did not lead to any lasting benefits.

The crusades failed to attain their main objective, which was to recapture the Holy Land from the Muslims. When Pope Urban II called for the crusade, a Christian army marched to Jerusalem to reclaim the Holy Land and establish a Christian control in the area. Due to the dedication of the army, the First crusade succeeded in taking control over Jerusalem. However, the Christian armies were unable to hold on to the captured land and at the end; the Holy Land remained in the hands of the Muslims. In spite of many successive crusades, the Christians were unable to liberate Jerusalem (Nicolle 1986). In spite of all the finances invested in the war and lives lost, Europe’s Christians were forced to accept that they were not to be the guardians of the Holy Land.

The crusades led to religious intolerance by the Muslims who had been the main target for the crusading forces. The crusades were primarily launched against the Muslims who were in control of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Before the crusades, the Muslim rulers demonstrated tolerance to other religions and the Christians and Jews in the Holy Land were treated favorably. Nayak (2008) documents that the Islamic community accepted Christians and Jews as believers of an inferior faith and no persecutions were supported by the state. This good relationship was severely damaged by the crusades, which were characterized by aggressive attacks against Muslims by Christian forces. Nayak (2008) contends that the Crusades against Saracens “reversed the relationship between Christianity and Islam and created enormous damage” (p.273). The hostility started by the crusades continued to characterize the relationship between these two religions for centuries.

Cities were robbed off old treasures and historical artifacts because of the crusades. The temples in Jerusalem were filled with treasures and relics that had been collected over the centuries. The Muslim rulers had not respected these religious artifacts and preserved them throughout their rule. However, the crusading forces led to the loss of these treasures. The crusading forces were in part made up of peasants who had been drawn to the way by the promise of wealth and riches in the East. These soldiers were therefore not noble and took any opportunity to enrich themselves. Princess Anna Comnena of Constantinople recorded that the crusaders were unstable and greedy for money (Andrea & Overfield, 2012). When these crusading armies invaded the Holy Land, they broke into the temples and looted Jerusalem off gold, silver, and other treasures.

The crusades led to the killing of many innocent civilians and the destruction of property in Jerusalem. In their quest to liberate the Holy Land, the crusaders engaged in a brutal campaign and looting. Gonzalez (1984) documents that the Crusaders went through the Holy land carrying out a massacre of the population of Jerusalem. Historians note that the killing was not only confined to the Muslim armies but also innocent civilians. In the 1099 siege of Jerusalem, the crusaders overran the city killing the Saracens who were retreating.

The Crusades accelerated the collapse of the great Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine Empire was a Christian state and therefore under the protection of the Church. The crusaders passed through the Byzantine Empire as they headed towards the Holy Land to wage war against the Muslims. It was understood that the crusading armies would not attack their fellow Christians. However, the Fourth Crusade led to conditions that led to the attack against the Byzantine Empire. The recruitment for the Fourth Crusade by Pope Innocent 111 in 1198 failed to obtain the financial support necessary to sustain the crusade. In early 1203, the crusading force en route to Jerusalem was promised financial help by Prince Alexius Angelos if they helped him to reclaim his Byzantine imperial title (Jonathan, 2004).

The armies of the Forth Crusades therefore captured the Byzantine Capital of Constantinople and proceeded to loot it off great amounts of treasure. Jonathan (2004) documents that Constantinople had served as the greatest metropolis in the Christian world for centuries. This City had been able to resist numerous attacks by Arabs and Persians through the centuries and the capital had been a cultural and economic hub. After the attack by the crusaders, the Byzantine Empire was not able to resist the attacks by the Muslims for long and it collapsed in 1453.

The crusades had a positive impact on European life. Before the crusades, European society was not very advanced and the Byzantium Empire even regarded the Westerners as Barbarians. Europe had not opened herself up to the rest of the world and most citizens were unaware of the outside world. Because of the crusades, ordinary Europeans and even nobles ventured into distant lands. The interaction that Europeans had with the outside world led to an enrichment of European life and culture (Byfield, 2008). Western Europe was able to benefit from the cultural advances of Greece as many Greek scholars took refuge in the West. The Economy of Europe was also stimulated as the continent opened itself up for trade with the Middle East and Asia. Many crusaders returned home with treasured looted from the Holy land and goods acquired from the East. This created a demand for Eastern products therefore fostering trade.

Historians suggest that the Crusades helped to ensure the stability of the European countries for a while. Medieval Europe was full of social upheavals and rebellions by the people. The Crusades provided an outlet for their aggression and energy that might have been used to disrupt social life in Europe. Morris (2000) states that the most of the aggressive members of the society made the journey to the Middle East to take part in the war. Without these members, the rulers did not have trouble maintaining social order in their kingdoms.

The Crusades established Western Europe as the global center of Christianity. Before the Crusades, Constantinople hosted the greatest civilization and it was regarded as the Christian capital. This city had many relics and historical documents, which made it attractive to scholars and religious pilgrims. Riley-Smith (1999) notes that the Fourth Crusade reduced the Eastern Empire to a shadow of its former self and made it vulnerable to attacks by the Turks. These conditions hastened the end of Constantinople, which had served as the Center of Christendom. Following the destruction of the Byzantine Empire, the most civilized part of Christendom became centered in the West. France and its neighboring European states became the fount of Christian and European civilization because of the Crusades.

This paper set out to discuss the historical crusades carried out during the 11 th century in order to show that the battles were failures. It began by nothing that this wars were waged by Christians who aspired to liberate the Holy Land from the Muslims who had established control in Jerusalem for Centuries. The paper has revealed that the Crusades were not only unsuccessful in capturing Jerusalem but they also created a legacy of suspicion and animosity between Muslims and Christians. The expeditions also resulted in the loss of many lives and the destruction of property both in the Byzantine Empire and in the Holy Land. The paper has also highlighted the positive effects that the battle had on European cultural advancement and trade expansion. From the arguments raised in this paper, it is clear that the crusade mostly led to negative effects. It can therefore be presumed that all the parties involved would have benefited more if the crusades were never waged.

Andrea, A., & Overfield, J.H. (2012). The Human Record: Sources of Global History (Seventh Edition) Volume I: To 1700. Boston: Wadsworth-Cengage Learning.

Byfield, T. (2008). A Glorious Disaster: A.D. 1100 to 1300: The Crusades: Blood, Valor, Iniquity, Reason, Faith. New York: Christian History Project, 2008. Print.

Gonzalez J. (1984). The Story of Christianity. NY: Harper.

Jonathan, P. (2004). The Fourth Crusade and the Sack of Constantinople. History Today , 54(5), 21-28.

Morris, D. (2000). A History of England . London: CUP Archive, 2000.

Nayak, A. (2008). Crusade Violence: Understanding and Overcoming the Impact of Mission among Muslims. International Review of Mission , 97(386), 273-291.

Nicolle, D. (1986). Saladin and the Saracens: Armies of the Middle East 1000-1300 . London: Reed International Books.

Riley-Smith, L. (1999). The Crusades . Boston: Taylor & Francis.

Tyerman, C. (1998). Who Went on Crusades to the Holy Land? Oxford: Herford College.

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