The Christian Crusades of the middle ages are often discussed in regards to the decisions of the people in charge, such as Pope Urban or Saladin. However, the outcome of the crusades could not have been accomplished without the involvement of the citizens. In the late 11th century, a group of people came forward seeking to reform the church. They called their movement the Gregorian Reform. The reformers wanted to address various aspects of conduct among the clergy, such as maintaining duties and controlling inappropriate sexual behavior. They also wanted to organize activity throughout the church and reduce communication issues. (Riley-Smith, 24) However, the new papacy made several decisions in their own interests that would greatly affect
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This may have been true for some of the participants, but in reality many of the crusaders were motivated by guilt. Marcus Bull, a professor of Medieval and Early Modern Studies at UNC Chapel Hill, states that the Crusades were preached at a time when people were sensitive to peer pressure and used to dwelling on their shortcomings. (Riley-Smith, 26) The Crusades further encouraged the mindset that citizens needed to be willing to do anything for their sins. In addition, the church began offering incentives for participating in the Crusades. Crusaders were exempt from some legal proceedings, or had their cases settled quickly. They were exempt from taxes, and had other privileges such as protection for their families and belongings. A lot of people had become dependent on work and handouts during this time period, and some may have been looking for rewards. (Jones, …show more content…
They were angry about restrictions on who was allowed to participate in the Crusades, and were looking to prove themselves in a judgemental world. Citizen-led crusades did not always receive positive feedback, especially the Children’s Crusade. Many people lost their lives or were put into serious debt, but did not do so without leaving a mark on the world. People as young as twelve-year-old Stephen of Cloyes, or as old as some of the participants in the Shepherd’s Crusade, all made decisions that shaped the way that the church handled future crusades and Europe’s overall opinions on the movement. The Crusades were always about more than just religion; it was about people proving themselves and performing dangerous acts for the good of the people around them. The Christian Crusades are the true definition of the phrase ‘power to the
This may have been true for some of the participants, but in reality many of the crusaders were motivated by guilt. Marcus Bull, a professor of Medieval and Early Modern Studies at UNC Chapel Hill, states that the Crusades were preached at a time when people were sensitive to peer pressure and used to dwelling on their shortcomings. (Riley-Smith, 26) The Crusades further encouraged the mindset that citizens needed to be willing to do anything for their sins. In addition, the church began offering incentives for participating in the Crusades. Crusaders were exempt from some legal proceedings, or had their cases settled quickly. They were exempt from taxes, and had other privileges such as protection for their families and belongings. A lot of people had become dependent on work and handouts during this time period, and some may have been looking for rewards. (Jones, …show more content…
They were angry about restrictions on who was allowed to participate in the Crusades, and were looking to prove themselves in a judgemental world. Citizen-led crusades did not always receive positive feedback, especially the Children’s Crusade. Many people lost their lives or were put into serious debt, but did not do so without leaving a mark on the world. People as young as twelve-year-old Stephen of Cloyes, or as old as some of the participants in the Shepherd’s Crusade, all made decisions that shaped the way that the church handled future crusades and Europe’s overall opinions on the movement. The Crusades were always about more than just religion; it was about people proving themselves and performing dangerous acts for the good of the people around them. The Christian Crusades are the true definition of the phrase ‘power to the