- Why did people go on pilgrimages?
In the middle ages, Catholic people were told that if they prayed at holy places called shrines, they could be forgiven their sins or be cured of illnesses. This is why people took the risk of going on pilgrimages.
- Where did they go on pilgrimages?
The idea of going on a pilgrimage was very popular with Christians in the Middle Ages. The best place to visit would be the Holy Land, where Jesus lived, carried out miracles, died and came back to life again. But travel in the Middle Ages was difficult and very dangerous, and few were able to go on such a journey. Instead, most people visited local shrines - special places in this country, that were remembered as places where Saints had lived, worked, or were buried. Thomas Becket's shrine in Canterbury, St. David's in Wales and St. Mungo's in Glasgow were all popular.
- What were the benefits for people going on pilgrimages?
There are many benefits for people going on pilgrimages. Some include more closeness to God, uplifting of your spirit, intense feeling of love and compassion for others and sometimes a new found dedication to your Faith
- Where could people today go on pilgrimage to?
2. The Crusades
- What were the Crusades?
The Crusades were a series of Holy Wars that were initiated by the Christian states of Europe against the Saracens. 'Saracen', a term used to describe a Moslem during the time of the Crusades. The Crusades started in 1095 when Pope Claremont preached the First Crusade at the Council of Claremont. The Pope's preaching led to thousands immediately attatching the cross to their garments. The name Crusade given to the Holy Wars came from old French word 'crois' meaning 'cross'. The Crusades were great military expeditions undertaken by the Christian nations of Europe whose purpose was to rescue the holy places of Palestine from the hands of the Mohammedans. There were eight in number, the first four being sometimes called the Principal Crusades, and the remaining four the Minor Crusades. In addition there was a Children's Crusade.
- Why were they fought?
The crusades was a war between Christians and Moslems which centered around the city of Jerusalem. The City of Jerusalem held a Holy significance to the Christian religion. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem honoured the hill of crucifixion and the tomb of Christ's burial and was visited by Pilgrims. In 1065 Jerusalem was taken by the Turks and 3000 Christians were massacred starting a chain of events which contributed to the cause of the crusades.
- How many were there?
There were a total of nine crusades. The first four crusades were seen as the most important and little reference is made to the other crusades - with the exception of the Children's crusade which effectively led to the decline of the crusades. For a period of two hundred years Europe and Asia were engaged in almost constant warfare. Throughout this period there was a continuous movement of crusaders to and from the Moslem belongings in Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt.
- Why did the church send people on Crusades?
Taking back Jerusalem was the main reason why Crusades occurred. The church thought that since Jesus had lived and died there that it was theirs. So the church had to make up a new rule saying to all the people that god told the Pope that it is alright to kill or even better, rewarded to kill anyone that does not believe in god (for them it was the Muslims). This was actually not true, god had never told the Pope that they would be rewarded to kill a Muslim, and not rewarded for a Christian. The Pope had simply made it up so that the Christians could once again take over Jerusalem. This is why most peasants, lords, knights, kings, wives and even children went on Crusades.
Some Christians also went on Crusades because they wanted to go to heaven or wanted to shorten their time in Purgatory. They also went to be forgiven. Some people went on Crusades because they knew that if they killed a Muslim they would be allowed to take all his belongings, food and money. Some people were forced to go on crusades by the church because they had committed a crime. Some Christians went on Crusades because they didn’t want to disobey god in which they should kill Christians and they just couldn’t stop thinking of fighting and since the Pope had told everyone that they could now kill any body but Christians they joined Crusades just for fun.
- Were they successful?
The effects of the Crusades on Europe of the Middle Ages were an important factor in the history of the progress of civilization. The effects of the Crusades influenced the wealth and power of the Catholic Church, Political matters, commerce, feudalism, intellectual development, social effects, material effects and the effects of the crusades also prompted the famous Voyages of discovery.
They won their objectives but then could not hold them. Hence that is why there were 3 different crusades in a two hundred year period of time. Therefore, the crusades are considered to be “successful failures”
- What were the effects of the crusades on both the church and society?
The Crusades contributed to increase the wealth of the Church and the power of the Papacy. Thus the important part which the Popes took in the project naturally fostered their authority and influence, by placing in their hands, the armies and resources of Christendom, and getting the people used to looking to them as guides and leaders.
As to the wealth of the churches and monasteries, this was augmented enormously by the sale to them, often for a fraction of their actual value, of the estates of those preparing for the expeditions, or by the out and out gift of the lands of such in return for prayers and religious approvals.
Thousands of the crusaders, returning broken in spirits and in health, sought an asylum in small retreats, and began the establishments that they entered with all their goods
Besides all this, the stream of the ordinary gifts of holiness was swollen by the extraordinary fervor of religious enthusiasm which characterised the period into enormous proportions. In all these ways, the power of the Papacy and the wealth of the Church were greatly increased.
The Social effects of the Crusades upon the social life of the Western nations were marked and important. The Crusades afforded an opportunity for romantic adventure. The Crusades were therefore one of the most important influences of Chivalry. Contact with the culture of the East provided a general refining influence.
