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Causes and Consequences of the Crusades

The Crusades were a centuries-long struggle between Christian and Muslim kingdoms, as they struggled for control of the Holy Lands. Yet, these conflicts also brought new connection and ideas into the Mediterranean world.

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.

Key Ideas

Think about the following questions as you watch the video


  1. 01:30 Why did the Byzantine Emperor reach out to the pope for help? Why did the pope agree?
  2. 02:35 Were the Crusades successful and how did they impact networks in the Mediterranean world?
  3. 02:52 Which European powers benefited the most from the Crusades?
  4. 03:35 What evidence do we have that the Crusades impacted both Christian and Islamic culture?
  5. 04:56 How did the Crusades affect scholarship in Europe?
  6. 05:34 How did this period of exchange lead to the Renaissance and Columbian Exchange?