Bibliography

Adrian Flectcher (2000) The Crusades [Date accessed 6/3/09]
URL; http://www.paradoxplace.com/Insights/Crusades/Crusades.htm

Author unknown (Date of publication unknown) The First Crusade [date accessed 6/3/09]
URL; http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/the-first-crusade.htm

Jay Atkinson (Date of publication unknown) The First Crusade-Conquering of Jerusalem [15/3/09]
URL; http://www.latter-rain.com/crusade/curone.htm

Chris Trueman (2000) The First Crusade [Date accessed 6/3/09]
URL; http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/cru2.htm

Jackie Cherish (1991) The People Crusade [Date accessed 12/3/09]
URL; http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/projects/middleages/peoplescruade/peoplescrusade....

"Kos Media"(2006) Calling in the Goons [Date accessed 12/3/09]
URL; http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/4/2/221652/0248

All pictures from Google.

Introduction

The first crusade was started by Pope Urban II. It is the only crusade that succeeded, the others failed miserably. The First Crusade or otherwise known as the Peasants or Peoples Crusade was described as an unorganised battle against many armies, which mainly included the Christians and the Non- Christians. The aim of the First Crusade was for the Christians to regain Jerusalem city from the Non- Christians (Muslim rule). When the pope talked about liberating Jerusalem, he meant that he wanted to bring back Christianity as the main religion. This city was described as The Holy Land and many people made pilgrimages to this Holy Land.

When did the First Crusade start/end???

The First Crusade was planned in 1095 however did not begin until 1096. By this stage hundreds of thousands of Christian's had joined to fight against the Non- Christians. In 1099 the aim of the First Crusade was achieved when Jerusalem was captured in a horrific battle. The Christians ended the battle leaving many blood covered bodies lining the streets of Jerusalem.

How did the First Crusade affect the church or the country they fought for???

Through the Crusades, the wealth and power of the Roman Catholic Church was increased. The church, to gain control of land and people as well as to increase their money would take a dramatic turn and start a crusade. This would silence the people rebelling against the church. Once the church had gained control of a city it would become extremely wealthy, depending on how wealthy the city was.

Who won and who lost the First Crusade???

The aim of the First Crusade was for the Christians to regain Jerusalem from the non-Christians. This was achieved in 1099 when Jerusalem was eventually recaptured by the Christians. After three years of fighting, leading to the deaths of many Knights, men, women and children, the Christians had won the First of many Crusades.

How were the weapons used in the First Crusade???

Though in the First Crusade there were not many weapons, the weapons that were used were used in a horrifying manner. There were siege weapons which could catapult rocks and arrows far distances; these were used to attack cities and buildings. They used knight equipment such as, swords and shields, swords were used to stab, cut limbs and kill the opposition, and shields were used to try to prevent this from happening.

What weapons were used in the First Crusade

The First Crusade was said to be an unorganised battle where weapons were minor in number. It was said that a lot of people were unarmed and lacked any control or discipline. However there were three major types of siege weapons that were used in The First Crusade. They were the ballista, which was the simplest and was a medium range catapult which looked much like a crossbow and shot arrows up to 350 to 450 yards. The second was trebuchet, this was the most the most powerful siege weapon and flung rocks at a long range. The third was the battering ram and was made from the trunk of a large tree. Until logs were brought into Jerusalem, siege machines were almost impossible to build. But when logs arrived, two siege machines were built in order to attack Jerusalem. Then ladders were used to get over the walls of Jerusalem City, but sometimes knights defending the city would push over the ladders or tip hot liquids over those climbing up the ladders. Also knights used equipment such as swords and shields.

How many people died in the First Crusade???

Some websites state that out of the 700,000 men, women, children and knights, who fought in the First Crusade, at least 150,000 people died, and others websites say that at least 70,000 people died. But as we all know any death is a loss to everyone, especially the family and friends of the crusaders.

How did the people in the First Crusade get killed???

It is not known exactly how people in the First Crusade died but it is suspected that a lot of people died by human sorts eg. Pointy sticks, chocking, fire, hitting, punching. Also people died because of the catapulting siege weapons that were built after the logs were brought into Jerusalem. Also when people were climbing the walls of Jerusalem they were burnt by a hot liquid that was poured on them by the defenders of the city. Many crusaders died on the journey to Jerusalem from disease and sickness, which could not be cured in these early times. People also died of heatstroke, exhaustion from the journey and starvation, due to the limited supplies.

Why did the First Crusade start/what reasons were they given for the battle???

In 1094, the Emperor of Byzantine, Alexius Comnenus, had Sunni Muslim Turks invading his land. In order to drive them off of his land, he decided that the best option was to battle with them, this battle was later known as the First Crusade. Alexius now knew that he needed a new army, and in order to do so he confronted the Pope, Pope Urban II. Because Pope Urban wanted the Holy land (Jerusalem) back under Christian control, he agreed to help Alexius form a new army to defeat the invaders of Jerusalem. Urban then presented a speech to the Christian followers, stating that if they agreed to fight in the battle (Crusade) their sins, both past and present, would be forgiven, and if they died fighting in Gods name, they would, without a doubt, go to heaven. This speech resulted in many citizens joining up to fight.

Picture up the top of Pope Urban the Second

Who was fighting in the First Crusade???

The First Crusade included many armies; however there were two major armies. The major armies were made up of the Christians and the Non-Christians. Some of the Christians included the Byzantines and other Christians, the non-Christians included the Turks, Muslims, Normans and Jews. There were also many other small armies that joined the crusade to help the lager armies to achieve there goal.

What happened in the First Crusade???

Jerusalem City

In 1096, the Christian Crusaders made there way to Jerusalem. On their journey they passed through many towns, all of which they rained havoc upon, they travelled through France, Italy and Eastern Europe. Soon after their journey began their food and drink supplies ran out. Many resorted to drinking their own urine, animal blood or sewage water and had to beg for their food. As a result, many Crusaders contracted diseases which weakened them severely. The Christian Crusaders captured two major cities before they came to Jerusalem. Jerusalem (The Holy Land) was well protected with high walls around its borders, it took the Christians many attempts to gain control of the city, however when they built two siege machines they soon were able to seize the Holy Land. They destroyed many buildings and killed anyone they came across, no matter their religion or race, with blood all over the streets and buildings destroyed; the Christians eventually won the crusade in 1099.

Where was the First Crusade fought???

The First Crusade was fought in Jerusalem city. Before departing for Jerusalem most of the armies travelled through many cities destroying many structures. After they got to Jerusalem they fought against anyone in their path and killed anyone (no matter which cultural background they came from).

The First Crusade was fought in the red area on the map, The Kingdom of Jerusalem.
The blue area was the Byzantine Empire, were the Emperor found Sunni Muslims Turks on The Holy Land and decide to build a army to recapture Jerusalem, This was called the First Crusade.