Emily+Johns

1. Introduction--Describe a general cause or causes of the conflict.
The Crusades were a series of battles that were generally fought by the Jews, Christians, and Muslims. The Seljuk Turks were very greedy at the time, and they wanted more land for themselves. As time went on they would keep conquering more land. When they were close to Constantinople the Christians were very concerned. They were afraid that the Turks would limit their access to the holy land. So the crusades were the result of there worries. This is just one of the causes of the crusades. = =

2. Background--Describe who, what when and where.
The Crusades involved a lot of people,but the three main groups were the Christians, Jews, and the Muslims. The crusades were a seires of battles fought by mainly the 3 religions previously listed. The total length of the crusades lasted from around 1096-1291. The seires of battles took place in Europe and Asia. Though more specifically, Clearmont, Damascus, Jerusalem, Syria, Iberian Peninsula, and much more.

3. Causal Factors--Describe three factors that led to The Crusades.
One of the factors that helped lead to the crusades was beacause the European Christians wanted to take the holy land which was already in ownership of the Arabian Muslims. The Jews also had the same concern. Another reason that the Crusades started was because of the concern of the Seljuks threat to the Christian lands. After the Seljuks ruled over Palestine, turmoil made travel slightly unsafe at the time. Lastly, Myths began reaching Europe about robberies and such and they were afraid that they wouldnt be able to travel again. These are just a few factors of the crusades.

4. Most Important Factor--Explain how one factor was more important than the others.
I believe that the most important factor was when the Seljuk Turks rose concern for the Christians. The Turks started conquering land, and soon they got close to Constantinople. The Christians were worried that that they wouldnt have access to the holy land. This factor is probably the most important because it was really the biggest concern. This is also most important because it not only effected the Christians and the Muslims, but it effected the Jews because they were also getting a rise in concern. That is why I think that the concern of the Turks was the most important factor of the crusades.

5. Impacts--Explain how one religous group and an individual within that group were impacted by The Crusades.
During the crusades the Christians were greatly impacted. The Christians were concerned because the Seljuk Turks had been effecting their access to the Holy Land which caused a lot of conflict. The Christians fought in the crusades along with the Jews and the Muslims. The Christians were effected by these because they were greatly impacted economic wise, follower wise and more. For the Christians to fight in the Crusades there were a lot of expenses along with it. For example, all the weapons they had to pay for, or the cost of the things they needed to repair. Also by doing the Crusades they lost a lot of lives. Those are just a few impacts that the Christians had on the cursades. One person that was greatly effected was Anna Comnena. Anna Comnena, a christian, was born into royalty because of her father. She was raised with great education as a young child. She was going to take her fathers thrown, though the birth of her brother crushed her dreams. Anna later married a historian. She wanted to sieze the thrown for her husband though her attempts failed. Anna was effected because when she helped in the Crusades she was encouraging them to fight for God, though she was ashamed when they said they werent. Anna later died soon before the Sack of Constantinople.

6. Conclusion--Explain how The Crusades could have been avoided.
The Crusades were definatly a long and uneeded series of battles. The Crusades could probably have been avoided by the Turks not getting near Constantinople. Also the Crusades could have been avoided if the Muslims were tell them that they would still get access to the Holy Land. Another way the crusades could have been avoided would be if the Christians didnt here all the myths about how the travel to Jerusalem would be difficult because of the Turks. These are just a few ways the Crusades could have been avoided

7. Works Cited--List your sources in MLA format.
"Christian Statement on Crusades." __Answering Islam.__ 3/1/10 [|www.answering-slam.org]

"History of Christianity." __wikipedia .__ 2/27/10 [|www.wikipedia.org/wiki/History-of-Christianity]

Barrett, Tracy. "Anna Comnena." __women in world history.__ 1996-2010. 2/24/10. [|www.womeninworldhistory.com/heroine5.html]