Everything on Crusades
- Created by: lucy2024
- Created on: 19-01-23 12:15
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Crusades 1st & 2nd
Muslim Sunni Faith - 11th Century
- Largest denomination in Islam.
- Historical roots in the majority group who followed Abu Bakr, an effective leader, as Muhammad's successor.
- Believe they follow the 'sunnah' or 'custom' of the Prophet.
- 940 million.
- 90% of total Muslims.
- Located in most Muslim countries.
- Leaders’ 'imams'.
- Holy sites include Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem.
- Seljuk Turks were Sunni.
- Dominant apart from in Egypt.
- Leadership in Baghdad.
Muslim Shia Faith - 11th Century
- Followed Ali, the closest relative of Muhammed.
- 120 million.
- 10% of total Muslims.
- Dominant in Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Egypt.
- Leaders 'mujahids'.
- Holy sites include Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, Majaf, Karbala.
Islam Before the Crusades - Battle of Manzikert, 1
- Acts of aggression by Seljuks made the Byzantine Emperor respond: the Battle of Manzikert.
- Disastrous failure for the Byzantines.
- Seljuks took lands that included almost all of Asia Minor from the Byzantines, showed no sign of slowing towards the Byzantine capital Constantinople.
- Seljuks began to obstruct Christians on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
The threat posed by the Seljuks caused Emperor Alexius to ask for help from the Pope; this resulted in the call to crusade in 1095.
A Bitter Rivalry...
Sunni:
- Dominant apart from in Egypt.
- BUT - Not just Sunni Muslims living in those territories. Often there were some Shi’as and also some Christians.
Shia:
- Controlled several areas later taken by the Crusaders such as Tyre and Acre.
- Had controlled Jerusalem until 1071 when it was taken by a Turkish general.
- Took it back in 1098 when the Turks were preoccupied with the arrival of the First Crusade.
Rivalry:
- Prepared to ally with the Crusaders against each other rather than form a united front against the Christians.
Crusader Advantage
- The situation in the East was of advantage to the Crusaders. They faced a disunited region where individual local elders could be overcome and were more concerned with fighting each other.
- Sunni leadership was distracted by troubles closer to home.
- Muslim leaders didn't recognise the Crusader army as one of conquest + consolidation - thought it was just another Byzantine raid.
Byzantium Before 1095
- Byzantium dominated the Mediterranean world in the early Middle Ages.
- Resisted rapid expansion of Islam from 630s onwards.
- Held off two determined and prolonged attempts to capture Constantinople by Muslim forces.
What was Byzantium?
- Greek-speaking Roman Empire.
- Capital - Constantinople.
- Was a continuation of the Roman Empire; Rome was capital of the West and fell to the barbarians. East survived as Byzantium.
- Greatest extent during 500s AD, although it revived in power and influence during the 10th-11th century.
- At death of Emperor Basil II in 1025 it was the premier poer of Europe + the Middle East.
But Half a Century Later...
- Byzantium lost control of Asia Minor to the Seljuk Turks (after Manzikert, 1071).
- Empire had to fight desperately to resist invasion from the Normans based in Southern Italy.
Why the Dramatic Reversal?
- Periods of misrule.
- Military breakdown.
- Nature of Turkish settlement in Asia Minor.
- Structural…
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