The Crusades

Vocabulary flashcards about the key terms and figures related to the Crusades.

Crusades

A long series of wars between Christians and Muslims in Southwest Asia.

Holy Land

The region of Palestine in Southwest Asia where Jesus had lived, preached, and died; fought over during the Crusades.

Seljuk Turks

The Muslim group that ruled the Holy Land in the late 1000s and were accused of attacking Christian pilgrims.

Pope Urban II

The pope of the Roman Catholic Church who called on Christians to fight against the Turks and start the Crusades.

People's Crusade

The initial crusade by peasants in 1096 who left Europe for the Holy Land, often attacking Jews along the way.

First Crusade

The crusade in which noble/knight crusaders reached and took Jerusalem in 1099.

Second Crusade

A crusade in 1147 led by French and German kings to retake land from the Muslims, which resulted in a total defeat for the Christians due to poor planning.

Third Crusade

A crusade that began after the Muslims retook Jerusalem in 1189, involving rulers of England, France, and the Holy Roman Empire.

Richard I (Richard the Lionheart)

The King of England who stayed in the Holy Land during the Third Crusade.

Saladin

The leader of the Muslim forces during the Third Crusade, respected by crusaders for his kindness and bravery.

Fourth Crusade

A crusade in 1201 in which French knights attacked Zara and Constantinople instead of the Holy Land.

Palestine

A region in Southwest Asia that was the focus of the Crusades due to its religious significance.

Byzantine Empire

The empire that requested help from Pope Urban II against the Seljuk Turks, leading to the Crusades.

Kingdoms in the Holy Land

Small kingdoms set up by the Europeans after taking Jerusalem, organized with lord and vassal systems.

Zara

Rival trade city conquered by French knights during the Fourth Crusade as payment for voyage.