History 107 Film Night

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History 107Film Night

• A Brief Introduction to the Crusades

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Geography of the CrusadesConflict in the Old
Roman Empire
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The First Crusade (1096-99)

• The First Crusade was launched by European
  noblemen to free the Holy Land from Islamic rule.
• It was the first of several attacks by medieval
  Christians on Muslims in the Middle Ages.
• Started by Pope Urban II in 1095 as a war of
  liberation, it was to be fought in accordance
  with Gods will.
• The papacy wanted to push back recent Muslim
  gains, and free the Holy Land for Christian
  pilgrimages.
• Those who died on the crusade were considered
  knights in Christs service and promised
  immediate salvation.
• The crusades also attempted to unite western and
  eastern Christians, who had grown apart.

Pope Urban II preaches idea of crusading at the
Council of Clermont
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The First Crusade (1096-99)

• The crusaders marched overland from France
  beginning in 1096.
• Along the way, they attacked a few Jewish
  communities, the first major anti-Semitic attacks
  in Europe.
• In 1098, the crusaders captured Antioch (in
  Syria) and found what they believed to be the
  lance that pierced Christs side at the
  crucifixion.
• In 1099, the crusaders captured Jerusalem and
  established three kingdoms or crusader states
  in the Holy Land the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the
  Principality of Antioch, and the County of
  Edessa.
• A fourth kingdom, the County of Tripoli, was
  established in 1109.

The Siege of Jerusalem (1099)
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The Second Crusade (1145-48)

• The Second Crusade was launched in 1145 as a
  European response to the fall of the County of
  Edessa in 1145.
• The respected clergyman Bernard of Clairvaux
  preached the crusade vigorously in Europe.
• The crusade largely failed and resulted in the
  consolidation of Muslim power and the Fall of
  Jerusalem in 1187.

Crusader kingdoms in the Levant
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Kingdom of Heaven (2005)

• The Kingdom of Heaven is a fictionalized
  retelling of the Second Crusade. The main
  character is named Balian, played by Orlando
  Bloom (right).
• In the movie, Balian's father is named Godfrey
  (instead of Barisan) and is played by Liam
  Neeson.
• Godfrey returns to Europe to find his long-lost
  son, and he encourages him to come to the Holy
  Land to atone for his sins and help restore
  order.
• Jerusalem is in chaos as various European
  noblemen vie for power in the city.

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Kingdom of Heaven (2005)

• Many of the characters are based on actual
  people, including Balian, the Muslim leader
  Saladin, the leper king Baldwin IV, Euro nobles
  Guy and Raymond, and Balians father.
• The caravan attack, Battle of Hattin, and Defense
  of Jerusalem all did happen in the year 1187.
• However, Balian would have been more like Liam
  Neesons character in age.
• Also, the movie does not cast any of Balian's
  brothers, and Orlando Blooms character is more a
  composite of Balian and his true brother Baldwin.