PLANNER UPDATE
Summary of the Fourth Crusade- due via Google Classroom on
TGIF!
TODAY IS
FEBRUARY 10, 2017
The Fourth Crusade
THE FOURTH CRUSADE
We have already talked about the first part of The Fourth
Crusade.
1.
Re-read your notes about the first parts.
2.
Look at your drawings
3.
Now, let’s help each other remember what happened…. Turn
to your elbow partner and summarize what happened in the
first part of the Fourth Crusade
HOW DID IT GO?
The first couple crusades were marginally successful.
They conquered back the Holy Land and established
Christian kingdoms…for a short time.
By 1200, the Muslim kingdoms of the Seljuks had taken
control of Central Asia. They had conquered the
Byzantine lands in Asia and were creeping towards
Constantinople.
THE FOURTH CRUSADE
In 1200, French nobles “took up the cross” and
decided to go on a crusade to Jerusalem through
Egypt
They had ordered ships and supplies for their holy
war from Venice. Their order included 50
fully-equipped galleys to transport 4,500 knights (and
horses), 9,000 squires, and 20,000 foot-soldiers.
The crusade was to begin on June 24, 1202, but on
the day, only 1/3 of the men arrived.
Since the Venetians had done their part in outfitting
THINGS GET COMPLICATED
Venice was lead by an elected official named a
Doge. They were elected for life and were often
shrewd business leaders. At this time, the Doge
was Enrico Dandolo, who was ninety years old
and blind.
The French could not come up with money to
pay for the crusade, so Dandolo proposed an
alternative.
Zara, a coastal town, had recently been taken
by Hungary from Venice. Dandolo wanted to
use Crusaders to take it back.
Zara was a Christian city, which would have
made them safe, but the Venetians needed
their money and told the Crusaders they would
postpone the debt payment if they helped.
SIEGE OF ZARA
After hearing of the plans, the Pope flew into a rage and
threatened to excommunicate the crusaders if they
attacked the city. This meant they were damned to hell
for their actions, which was the opposite of the intention
of the crusades.
When the fleet arrived at Zara, the citizens hung banners
over the walls with crosses on them to show they were
indeed a Christian city.
Many of the crusades refused to attack the city, but
Dandolo encouraged the men to attack.
After taking the city, the army plundered it for riches,
took slaves to sell, and caused general mayhem.
Dandolo then had the army winter at Zara to prepare for
their trip to Egypt.
While wintering, a letter arrived from the deposed
Byzantine Emperor Alexius. The letter said that if the
crusaders would help him take back his crown, he would
supply the army with 10,000 troops, supplies for 500
THE VENETIANS ARRIVE
On July 5, 1203, the Venetians arrived in Constantinople.
They attacked the garrison (troops) on the other side of the city that held up the chain across the Golden Horn.
After lowering the chain, they attacked the city from the
land and sea, focusing their siege at the sea side wall.
The soldiers defended their city impressively, wielding
axes at the attackers.
What turned the tide was Dandolo. He brought his boat
to shore, jumped off, and planted the Venetian flag on the ground. This inspired the men to fight harder.
After taking the city, the Crusaders placed Alexius in the
ALEXIUS NEEDS TO PAY UP
•
Days after taking the thrown, Alexius
increased taxes and let the churches
know they were now under the domain of
the Roman Catholic Church. This angered
the people greatly.
•
As for the debt, he continued to refuse
Enrico Dandolo’s request for payment.
•
Finally, the people and the Crusaders had
reached their limits with Alexius. Dandolo
started to secretly make plans to take the
city and Alexius was assassinated by a
rival.
•
The new emperor had no intention of
THE FOURTH CRUSADE
We have already talked about the first and second parts of The
Fourth Crusade.
1.
Re-read your notes about the first two parts.
2.
Look at your drawings
3.
Now, let’s help each other remember what happened…. Turn to
your elbow partner and:
Partner #1: Explain the first part of the Crusade
Partner #2: Explain the second part of the Crusade
FORGET THE HOLY LAND!
1204: The clergy told the knights (even though it
went against what the Pope said) that the sins of
the Byzantines made them a legitimate target of
the crusaders.
Instead of going to Egypt, their mission was
now to stay in Constantinople
After a few failed sea battles, a small group
managed to land below a seawall and dig a
small hole
Then, a priest named Aleaumes of Clari
squeezed through, drew his sword, and ran
towards the Byzantines roaring wildly
The Byzantines panicked and fled,
THE BOOTY
The city’s defenses collapsed completely, and three days of looting and destruction ensued
This was one of the most destructive and profitable sacks in history since Constantinople had many ancient treasures and holy relics (an object associated with a saint or martyr),
although many were ruined
The Crusaders destroyed holy artifacts and priceless art. The soldiers smashed the alter in the Hagia Sophia for souvenirs and brought in horses and mules to drag out the furniture. When the horses fell, men killed them in the sanctuary.
The Westerners looted the head of John the Baptist, pieces of the True Cross, hair from the Virgin Mary, innumerable body parts of various saints, and most likely the Shroud of Turin
IMPACT OF THE FOURTH
CRUSADE
(POLITICAL AND ECONOMICAL)
• For the next 57 years, a Latin ruled over Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire. This caused people to leave the city to other communities. The population
decreased, further weakening the city.
• Politically, the Byzantines never recovered. They were left defenseless to the Islamic armies of the Ottomans. • Venice became the most important port city in the
Mediterranean because they controlled the trade to and from Constantinople. This caused Venice to
become a center of learning and art during the Renaissance.
OH, THE IRONY! RELIGIOUS
IMPACTS
But a sense of betrayal grew, slamming the door between the Catholic west and Orthodox east
Conflict remains today
Constantinople was brought down by an army of Christians who had set out to save it
By 1205, the Fourth Crusade was officially over
The hope of uniting the Western and Eastern Christians against a common Muslim foe died.
In fact, it drove them further apart.
In 2004, Pope John Paul II said, “It is tragic that the
SUMMARY WRITING
REMINDERS
1.
Do not just rewrite the original piece.
2.
Use your own wording.
3.
Refer to the central and main ideas of the original piece.
4.
Read/write with
who, what, when, where, why and how
questions in
mind.
5.
Do not put in your opinion of the issue or topic discussed in the
original piece.
6.
Keep your summary short
I told you the original story
Then, you wrote about 20 bullet points total.
