Thomas Asbridge

The Crusades

1. IDEA 1

   A pope launched a holy war

   Asbridge describes how Pope Urban II, in a speech at Clermont in 1095, called on Western Christians to fight to recover Jerusalem. He promised spiritual rewards to those who joined, and thousands responded.

2. IDEA 2

   The First Crusade took Jerusalem

   Asbridge describes the long, difficult journey of the First Crusade and the capture of Jerusalem in 1099. The conquest was followed by a massacre of many inhabitants. Asbridge shows that this success was won at a very heavy human cost.

3. IDEA 3

   Crusaders built states in the Levant

   After the First Crusade, Europeans established crusader states along the eastern Mediterranean. They had to defend these territories against neighbouring Muslim powers. Keeping these small states safe was a constant struggle, which meant they depended on help from Europe.

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