Crusades - Vocabulary List : Vocabulary.com
Crusades
November 5, 2013 By P G.
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any of the more or less continuous military expeditions in the 11th to 13th centuries when Christian powers of Europe tried to recapture the Holy Land from the Muslims
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A series of armed conflicts in the Near East, the Crusades started in 1096 CE and continued on and off for several hundred years.
Byzantine Empire
a continuation of the Roman Empire in the Middle East after its division in 395
At that time, the Byzantine Empire controlled much of the land bordering the Mediterranean Sea, but its borders began to weaken from repeated attacks by various groups, including Muslim Arabs.
a Crusade from 1096 to 1099
Many Motives
The protection of Christians and the recovery of territory from the Muslims were not the only motives for the First Crusade.
Seljuk
of or relating to the Seljuks
However, by 1071, the Seljuk Turks, also Muslims, gained control of the city and began to make life difficult for Christians arriving there.
Muslim
a believer in or follower of Islam
They began when Christians from Western Europe set off to recapture the Holy Land (the city of Jerusalem and surrounding areas) from Muslims who had conquered it in the seventh century CE.
Frederick I
Holy Roman Emperor from 1152 to 1190
The Christians responded with the Third Crusade, led by King Richard the Lionhearted of England, King Philip II Augustus of France, and Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa of Germany.
Louis VII
king of France who led the unsuccessful Second Crusade and fought frequent wars with Henry II of England (1120-1180)
Led by King Louis VII of France, together with Conrad III, the Holy Roman emperor, the Second Crusade began in 1147.
Byzantine
of or relating to or characteristic of the Byzantine Empire or the ancient city of Byzantium
At that time, the Byzantine Empire controlled much of the land bordering the Mediterranean Sea, but its borders began to weaken from repeated attacks by various groups, including Muslim Arabs.
an ancient city in Bithynia
The combined armies defeated the Muslims at Nicaea and Antioch, and they finally captured Jerusalem in 1099.
a leader of military forces
Encouraged by that success, Muslim military leaders continued to attack the Crusader States.
Saladin
sultan of Syria and Egypt
One of them, a brilliant general known as Saladin, destroyed the army of the Kingdom of Jerusalem in 1187 and gained control of most of its territory.
crusade
a series of actions tending toward a particular end
The crusaders divided the conquered territory into four states: the County of Edessa, the County of Tripoli, the Principality of Antioch, and the Kingdom of Jerusalem, each ruled by an important noble who had helped lead the crusade.
Barbarossa
Holy Roman Emperor from 1152 to 1190
The Christians responded with the Third Crusade, led by King Richard the Lionhearted of England, King Philip II Augustus of France, and Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa of Germany.
pope
the head of the Roman Catholic Church
To make the idea more attractive, the pope offered indulgences (forgiveness of sins) to those who would fight and promised that the Church would protect a knight's family and property during his absence.
a town in southern Turkey
The combined armies defeated the Muslims at Nicaea and Antioch, and they finally captured Jerusalem in 1099.
Jerusalem
capital and largest city of the modern state of Israel
They began when Christians from Western Europe set off to recapture the Holy Land (the city of Jerusalem and surrounding areas) from Muslims who had conquered it in the seventh century CE.
Philip II
king of Spain and Portugal and husband of Mary I
The Christians responded with the Third Crusade, led by King Richard the Lionhearted of England, King Philip II Augustus of France, and Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa of Germany.
commoner
a person who holds no title
Led by a preacher named Peter the Hermit and a knight known as Walter the Penniless, many commoners heeded the pope's call.
principality
territory ruled by a prince
The crusaders divided the conquered territory into four states: the County of Edessa, the County of Tripoli, the Principality of Antioch, and the Kingdom of Jerusalem, each ruled by an important noble who had helped lead the crusade.
one of the Muslim people of north Africa
Other Crusades
Over the course of the next 200 years, Christians launched other crusades, not only against the Muslims in the Holy Land but also against Egypt, the Muslim Moors in Spain, non-Christians in northern Europe, and Christian heretics.
population growth
increase in the number of people who inhabit a territory or state
In feudal Europe, increased food production and population growth meant that more nobles competed for ownership of the same land.
someone who journeys in foreign lands
For several hundred years, the Arabs who controlled Jerusalem were fairly tolerant of Christian pilgrims.
pilgrimage
a journey to a sacred place
During the Middle Ages, European Christians who had the means often made religious journeys, or pilgrimages, to the city of Jerusalem.
a person whose religious beliefs conflict with church dogma
Other Crusades
Over the course of the next 200 years, Christians launched other crusades, not only against the Muslims in the Holy Land but also against Egypt, the Muslim Moors in Spain, non-Christians in northern Europe, and Christian heretics.
an open clash between two opposing groups
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A series of armed conflicts in the Near East, the Crusades started in 1096 CE and continued on and off for several hundred years.
Roman Empire
an empire established by Augustus in 27 BC and divided in AD 395 into the Western Roman Empire and the eastern or Byzantine Empire; at its peak lands in Europe and Africa and Asia were ruled by ancient Rome
Over time, Christianity became the dominant religion in the areas that were once part of the Roman Empire.
concealing yourself and lying in wait to attack by surprise
Following a treacherous journey, a Muslim ambush wiped out nearly the entire army.
European
of or relating to or characteristic of Europe
Although many factors played a role in the decision to embark on the Crusades, European Christians believed that they were fighting a just war.
Catholic Church
any of several churches claiming to have maintained historical continuity with the original Christian Church
From the Catholic Church's standpoint, such a glorious venture—if successful—would bring power and prestige to the Church for issuing the initial call.
feudal
relating to a system where vassals are protected by lords
In feudal Europe, increased food production and population growth meant that more nobles competed for ownership of the same land.
Islamic
of or relating to or supporting Islamism
In the seventh century, the Islamic faith appeared in present-day Saudi Arabia and began spreading rapidly throughout the Near East.
ownership
the state of being in possession of something
In feudal Europe, increased food production and population growth meant that more nobles competed for ownership of the same land.
Middle Ages
the period of history between classical antiquity and the Italian Renaissance
During the Middle Ages, European Christians who had the means often made religious journeys, or pilgrimages, to the city of Jerusalem.
Augustus
Roman statesman who established the Roman Empire and became emperor in 27 BC; defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra in 31 BC at Actium (63 BC - AD 14)
The Christians responded with the Third Crusade, led by King Richard the Lionhearted of England, King Philip II Augustus of France, and Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa of Germany.
Europe
the 2nd smallest continent
They began when Christians from Western Europe set off to recapture the Holy Land (the city of Jerusalem and surrounding areas) from Muslims who had conquered it in the seventh century CE.
warfare
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
Untrained in warfare, disorganized, and with meager financial resources, thousands of peasants rushed toward the Byzantine Empire in the spring.
the armed forces of a nation
Following their military success, many of the crusaders completed a religious pilgrimage and went home.
nation
a politically organized body of people under a government
The Byzantine Empire also felt threatened by the Turks and appealed to the Christian nations of Western Europe for assistance.
financial
involving fiscal matters
Untrained in warfare, disorganized, and with meager financial resources, thousands of peasants rushed toward the Byzantine Empire in the spring.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
It also became a matter of prestige to win a victory over the Christians.
Christianity
a monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as savior
Over time, Christianity became the dominant religion in the areas that were once part of the Roman Empire.