People’s Crusade

The First Crusade (1096-1102) was conducted in three waves and was intended by the church to help the Byzantine emperor Alexius against Turkish forces. This main objective of the church was masked by the pious idea of a “holy war” to retake Jerusalem. The First Crusade was considered the only successful crusade in the Levant. Although successful the First Crusade had many problems such as the lack of supplies, noncombatants following crusading armies, and the undisciplined army itself. The three waves of the First Crusade were the People’s Crusade of 1096, the Crusade of the Great Lords, and the Crusade of 1101. In that order were the waves dispersed.

The social and economical factors that the crusades had upon the world at the time caused misfortune, but in some cases also provided a country with great wealth. Understanding these main points on what the existence of the crusades has created and destroyed helps one understand the worlds present day condition.

Many of the world’s struggles that exist today predate much of modern history. Some of them were actually formed during the crusades such as west versus east conflicts. These scars that the world still bears from the crusades and other such calamities shows just how history can be affected. Much of the violence and animosity that was displayed in the Middle East during the crusades is again, seen in our time.

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Maalouf, Amin. "The Crusades through Arab Eyes." Translated by Jon Rothschild. New York: Schoken Books, 1984.

Nicolle, David. "Esential Histories: The Crusades." Michigan: Osprey Publishing Limited, 2001.