Crusader Jerusalem

Today we discussed Crusader Jerusalem, taking place from 1099-1291.  In 1099, Jerusalem was conquered by Godfrey de Bouillon.  The Crusades were known as the Holy War.  It is distinguished by battles between Roman Catholic forces versus Muslims.  The Crusaders took vows and were granted penance for past since, called indulgences.  Their efforts were an attempt to recapture Jerusalem from Islam.  Professor Cargill continued on to talk about the causes of the crusades.  It was caused from a long-building tension of political, religious, and socio-economic stress.  The Christians felt undermined and underrepresented, and retaliated.  Thus, from 1099-1187, they reformed Jerusalem to become Christian.  Within these crusades, the Islamic shrines the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque were modified.  In addition, they rebuilt Christian influenced Byzantine churches (ie. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher), as well as other new churches.  In addition, they established four new quarters of Jerusalem: the Patriarch's quarter, the Templar's quarter, the Syrian quarter, and the Armenian quarter.  They rebuilt the Church of the Holy Sepulcher after its destruction in 1009.  Lastly after the second crusade was finished, under Saladin's rule, Jerusalem rule came to be known as Ayyubid Jerusalem.  During this time period, there was the re-settlement of Jews back into Jerusalem oncea gain.  Christian influences were slowly dissipating back into the Greek Orthodox.  Christian topography was replaced with Muslim shrines.  After the 5th crusade, the walls of Jerusalem were dismantled, causing the population to grow.  By the 6th crusade, Jerusalem was recaptured by the Crusaders and the Crusaders regained power.  The last crusader outpost was in 1291.