

Remember that Christians have regarded the Holy Land of Jerusalem as their spiritual home. The pope promised redemption from sins and dubbed the First Crusade as the will of the divine, while the Church positioned this military expedition as a pilgrimage.Įuropean states began considering themselves as protectors not only of the Western civilization but also of the entire Christendom. His speech delivered during the Council of Clermont and the subsequent messaging of the Church appealed to the religiosity and sensibilities of these people. Pope Urban II was instrumental in unifying these individuals from different walks of life. There was diversity within these Christian armies-from monarchies and experienced military men, to members of the nobility class and peasants such as farmers and laborers.

Three Major Reasons for the Success of the First Crusade Unwavering Religiosity in EuropeĬhristians from different European states mobilized to form several armies and reclaim Jerusalem and other critical territories under the control of the Seljuk Turks. These reasons and factors could be categorized into two: A unified European front made of large and organized armies of loyal Christians, and a divided Muslim world due to religious schism and internal armed conflicts. Furthermore, there were specific factors that contributed to this success. There are several reasons why the First Crusade succeeded. A papal speech delivered at the Council of Clermont in November 1095 signaled the beginning of a Christian-led military expedition against Muslims. Through the Crusades, Europe grew out of chivalry and feudalism.As a backgrounder, during the Council of Piacenza in 1095, ambassadors of Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos requested military assistance from the Catholic Church to neutralize an ongoing conflict with the Muslim Seljuk Turks in Asia Minor. The overall effect of the Crusades on Europe is it increased the power of kings. It also caused a hatred between people of different religions. The Crusades also lessened the power of the Church. One of the biggest failures of the Crusades was that thousands of people lost their lives. Also the Crusades caused a revival of learning. Europe got new spices, fruits, and cloth. The biggest success of the Crusades was that it expanded trade in Europe with Muslims. People were motivated to join the Crusades because they were told God willed them to go and that you would go directly to Heavan if you died in battle. Pope Urban urges people to join the Crusades. Pope Urban II wants to reuntie the Eastern and Western branches of the Christendom. The goal for the Byzantine Empire was to keep the Turks out of Constantinople.

The goal of the Crusades for Catholics was to get back control over the Holy Land, Jerusalem, from the Turks.

Pope Urban II says that God wills us to go.
