The First Crusade: The Middle Ages

A crusader, clad in thick leather armour, branded with a red cross, charges forward towards the Muslim army, which is defending their city of Jerusalem. War cries sound from both armies as a bloodbath is about to ensue. The crusader uses his The Middle ages were an era of brutal power struggles that would form the modern world. The First Crusade was a Christian attempt at regaining Jerusalem, the Holy Land. It stemmed further than this, however. Pope Urban II had heard word that Christians were being persecuted in the Middle East, and the Byzantine Emperor, Alexius Comnenus, pleaded for his help against the advancing Muslims. Pope Urban agreed to help Comnenus despite the fact that they were on opposite sides on the Christian schism. As well …show more content…
Crusaders used these items in their proper ways to lead them to victory. Superior supplies allowed for more success in battle, instruments such as the trumpet improved troop morale and lightened the mood during dull times, and bibles gave people faith and strength to keep fighting. Without these objects, the crusaders would have lost every battle, been very depressed and would have no will to move on and keep fighting. Ending in 1099, the first crusade was successful in completing its original goal of taking back the Holy Land. After massacring many of their enemies as well as innocent people, Jerusalem was in Christian hands, and the Church was powerful in everyone’s eyes. The crusaders were killing machines, which contradicted the teachings of Christianity. The crusader walks the streets of Jerusalem, as the sun is setting. They had done it, Jerusalem was theirs. As he enters his newly acquired house, he looks around and listens. It is almost silent, and he could practically feel peace in the air. The crusade was over and he puts down his sword and takes off his armour, never to be needed again in his