Crusades

A sit down with Pope Urban II (1095 C.E.)

Q: How many Crusades were there and what was the purpose of them?
A: There were 9 Crusades, the first one ordered by myself, and the purpose was to reclaim the Holy Land of Jerusalem.

Q: Why were the Crusades called for?
A: I hoped to increase power in Europe and maybe heal the schism between the Roman and Byzantine churches. I also hoped that the Crusades would set Christian knights to fight Muslims instead of one another.

Q: Were the Crusades successful?
A: Yes and no. We returned with knowledge and many great things, but we were also captured and killed by the Muslims in the 3rd and 4th Crusade..

Q: What were the affects?
A: The Crusades did have a significant effect on life in Europe. European economies expanded, the power of monarchs increased, increased papal power, and a wider view on the world was shown. The Crusades also ended the Dark Ages.