HIS 303 - Midterm Terms

In 3-5 sentences, identify the main features (who or what, when, where) and the primary nature or characteristics, and discuss the significance to crusading history

Jizya

The poll tax placed upon all non-Muslims, dhimmi, in an Islamic conquered city. It was common tax put onto the non-Muslims in Arabia. Jewish peasants being unable to pay this tax had to move from city to city.

Caliph

Term for the civil leaders of an Islamic community. Was first formally used during the 7th century with the Umayyad Dynasty used it as a term for their civil leaders. Later on to be used to describe someone related to Muhammad. They would impose the

Dhimmi

“People of the book” or a term used for non-Muslims in Muslim ruled territories. Needed to be separated so that they paid a different tax than Muslims. Would usually only be allowed certain rights if they were subordinate to their Muslim leaders, not actually a burden. Although second class status they were actually a protected status compared to the hostile Christians.

Constantinople

Capital city of the Byzantine Empire having been set up by Emperor Constantine. It is located on the Bosphorus strait in modern day Turkey. Emperor Justinian had a hand on rebuilding Constantinople on a grand scale with the Hagia Sophia. The crusaders went to Constantinople to help Byzantium.

Monophysites

One of the beliefs of how divine Jesus was during the 5th century. They believed that Jesus had one nature, both human and divine, but mostly divine. This belief was mostly seen in Egypt, Syria, and Armenia. Was declared heretical in 451 CE at the Council of Chalcedon. Feeling alienated most converted to Islam.

Nestorians

One of the beliefs of how divine Jesus was during the 5th century. They emphasized Jesus’ human nature and saw it separately from his divinity. This belief was mostly seen in Mesopotamia. Was declared heretical in 451 CE at the Council of Chalcedon. Feeling alienated most converted to Islam.

Justinian

Last Roman emperor of the Byzantine Empire during the 6th century. He codified Roman law and wanted to recover the west. When the western empire went into chaos he was able to recover North Africa and Italy. These territories would later be taken towards the end of his reign. These would be the territories that the crusaders took back.

Heraclius

Emperor of the Byzantine empire during the 7th century. Was able to take back stolen land in Asia Minor from the Persians with the help of the Turks. Was able to recover the “True Cross” in 630 CE in “the first religiously legitimized war”.

Muhammad

Started to hear messages from God that he was his prophet in the 7th century. After being threatened into leaving his birth city of Mecca he left for Medina in order to settle a dispute between the Jews and the Pagans. The Pagans convert to Islam and the Jews eventually leave. He then leads them to conquer Mecca and will later become the leader of Arabia. His predecessors expanded further into the lands that the crusaders took over.

Fatimids

An Islamic sanction turned dynasty from the 10th - 12th century that were described to be the descendants of Muhammad. Became the rulers Jerusalem during the time the crusaders fought. Had control over North Africa, Sicily, and the Levant at the height of their rule. Main reason for the disunity with the Muslim community that lead to the crusaders victory.

Seljuks

Originally a group of Nomadic Turks that moved into the eastern edge of Islamic world and converted to Islam. Became an empire in the 11th century after conquering Iran. Under their rule they increased the number of converts, spread madrasas (religious, legal college), and literature flourished. One of the other groups that the crusaders fought.

Council of Charroux

Council in 989 CE held by Archbishop Gunbaldus of Aquitaine in the French town of Charroux. It discusses the crimes and punishments of the lords who won’t be orderly. It was mostly unsuccessful due to the fact that the only punishment would be anathema, a curse, or excommunication. There had been a disproportionate amount of violence in France where the Church decided they needed to step in.

Peace of God

Movement in the later 10th century into the 11th century in Western France by the Church in order to enact peace. Due to the fact that they were unable to control the warring lords from destroying their land and killing innocents. Was started in order to protect the churches property, women, children, the clergymen, peasants, and others not from warrior clans from violence. Start of the Church controlling violence with spiritual authority and their is a Christian and non-Christian way of shedding blood.

Peace League of Bourges

Created in 1038 by Archbishop Aimon of Bourges in order to establish peace through an oath. In order to enforce the peace they would use violence against those who were “rebels” to their “faithful”. After realizing that curses and excommunication wasn’t working in stopping the violence it lead to the start of the Church using violence against “rebels”. Didn’t help to stop the violence. First time seen clerically sanctioned violence and emphasized Urbans idea of religious enemies.

Council of Clermont

Speech set in the French town of Clermont in November, 1095 where Pope Urban II spoke to the clergymen and laymen. He spoke about going to war with the Turks who had taken land from the Byzantine Empire. Depending on the source the main focus of the mission varied. Spoke about how the people fought to much and they should focus their violence onto a religious enemy. Caused an overwhelming response from untrained peasant to march to battle for the Chruch.

Pope Urban II

French born pope during the first crusade in the 11th century. Gathered the lords, clergy, and laymen together in order to help the Byzantine’s against the Turks. Before the Council of Clermont he promoted the papal reforms of raising education and morals of the clergy, end simony, reduce lay interference in the Church, and impose Church morals on laity. Was able to gather people together for the first expansion for religious reasons.

Peter the Hermit

French priest who started his travel to Jerusalem in the 11th century. Coined to be the leader of the Crusades of the Poor or the Crusades of the People. Was said to have epitomized the the popular spirituality that responded quickly and enthusiastically to appeal of Urban II. His crusades did not go to plan since they were easily defeated by the Turks, however they did damage to the Jewish community on their way to Jerusalem.

Siege of Antioch

From October 1097 to June 1098 where the crusaders are originally losing. They didn’t pack enough supplies and were freezing in the winter months and starving. Priests decide that it was due to sinning and tell them to throw the women out of the camps. Eventually they were able to overcome the Turks but not the Armenians and Greeks, Syrians and Jacobites.

Count Baldwin

Count from Boulogne France and the younger brother of Duke Godfrey. Was one of the main players of the crusade who left the army to “help” the Armenian prince of Edessa. He then marries the princess and becomes the ruler of Edessa.

Anna Comnena

Daughter of Byzantine Emperor Alexius I, the emperor during the first crusade. She wrote about her father’s reign in the 1130s and 1140s. She used her memories from when she was 13 and supplemented her memories with royal archives records and discussions with her father’s entourage. Discusses the deep distrust between the Franks and the Greeks.

Count Emicho of Leiningen

Nobleman that met up with the Crusade of the People when they reached Mainz in May of 1096. He had gathered a large group of Teutons along with the pilgrims who came. He held a council that determined the Jews in the city would be massacred otherwise known as the Rhineland Massacre.

Albert of Aachen

Created a chronicle about the First Crusade and the establishment of the Kingdom of Jerusalem in the mid 12th century. He hadn’t been apart of the crusade nor visited the east. He used the works from surviving witnesses and other literary works. Also discussed how the Latins distrusted the Greeks.

Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem

One of the four states established in 1099 after the Latin’s victory in the crusade in the Levant territory. Duke Godfrey of Bouillon was elected as its leader and a year later he died. It had a mixed population of a Latin minority and Muslim majority.

County of Edessa

One of the four states established in 1099 after the Latin’s victory in the crusade in the Levant territory. Founded by Count Baldwin who became it’s leader after his father in law died. It had a mixed population of a Latin minority and Muslim majority.

Venetian Treaty of Alliance

A solution to the economy of the four newly established Latin states in the Levant signed in the 12th century. Looked for help from the Venetians to establish an economy based on trade rather than expansion. Venetians asked for their own street where they could talk with other Venetians who came to help the Latins.

commercial feudalism

A type of feudalism based on merchants and commerce. Established in the four newly established Latin states with the help of the Venetians during the 12th century. Rather than growing the economy through expansion and pillaging they would instead trade with merchants. Required the cooperation between Muslim artisans and Europeans which did not help in bringing in a larger Latin population.