What were the Reasons for the Successes Achieved by the First Crusade?

What were the Reasons for the Successes Achieved by the First Crusade? In 1092 Pope Urban II appealed the Council of Clermont to call a Crusade.[1] Despite there being an existence of four reports of this appeal, there is no doubt that it led to the First Crusade of 1095 on the Muslim world which was now in a state of disunity.[2] The Seljuk leader, Malik Shah, had controlled swathes of Asia Minor and Syria and was a binding force of the Muslim world, but with his death in 1092, his lands fractured into separate emirates. This splintered Muslim world, which was to suffer the impact of the Frankish invasion, was amplified by a year of death among its hierarchy in 1094. This left Asia Minor, Syria and Palestine bereft of any major leaders to lead a unified Muslim force against the Franks, as the remaining rulers struggled to fill the power vacuum.[3] Although Muslim disunity was a predominant factor for the successes of the First Crusade, it was not the sole factor, as the Franks faced stiff opposition in the forms of hunger, disease and battle, regardless. Therefore, one could argue that Muslim disunity gave the Franks a foothold to manipulate religious fervour, military expertise and a united cause to succeed in executing the First Crusade. The importance of these factors is exemplified with how, in their breakdown, the Frankish states struggled to maintain themselves in the

  • Word count: 2457
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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How accurate would it be to assert that by 1492 the Caribbean region was part of world civilization?

The word “civilization” is easier to describe than it is to define have often been the remark made by historiams. “Civilization” comes from the Latin adjective “civili”s, a reference to a citizen. Citizens willingly bring themselves together in political, social, economic, and religious organizations as they merge together in the interests of the larger community. As time surpassed, the word civilization refers to a particular shared way of thinking about the world as well as a reflection on that world in art, literature, drama and a host of other cultural happenings. By 1936, an archeologist V. Gordon Childe published his book “Man Makes Himself”. Childe identified several elements which he believed were essential for a civilization to exist. He included: the plow, wheeled cart and draft animals, sailing ships, the smelting of copper and bronze, a solar calendar, writing, standards of measurement, irrigation ditches, specialized craftsmen, urban centers and a surplus of food necessary to support non-agricultural workers who lived within the walls of the city. 1 Other historians agreed with Childe but added that a true definition of civilization should also include money collected through taxes, a privileged ruling class, a centralized government and a national religious or priestly class. In this essay we will examine “how accurate it is to assert that

  • Word count: 1488
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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To what extent did the Black Death contribute to the decline of Serfdom?

- 4155641 To what extent did the Black Death contribute to the decline of Serfdom? The magnitude and deadliness of the Black Death meant that it would forever be studied by historians. The effects were widespread and varied and have led historians to question how far the Black Death contributed to many of the changes which coincided with this pandemic. Serfdom, the social position in which peasants were bound to the Lord’s land and placed under strict rules which they had to obey through law, was common place throughout Europe during the years before the Black Death. The subsequent decline of Serfdom during this period, the late fourteenth and early fifteenth century, has led historians to question whether, and if so how far, the Black Death contributed towards this decline. Historians such as Dodds and Britnell have outlined the importance of the Black Death as a cause to the decline of Serfdom, as it created upward pressure on wages and gave Serfs the bargaining power they needed to achieve changes.[1] Hatcher does not believe such strong emphasis should be placed on the Black Death, and sees it more as a mere accelerator to changes already occurring.[2] Alternatively, historians have maintained that other reasons caused the decline. Henneman contends it was the political development which allowed the changes to occur[3], whilst Lerner stresses the importance of the

  • Word count: 2166
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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What impelled the English to fight the Hundred Years War?

What impelled the English to fight the hundred years war? There are five main motives which impelled the English to fight the hundred years war against France during the middle ages. The main motivation for all classes was the chance to gain wealth, as war gave the aristocracy a chance extract money through ransoms and the peasantry through plunder. The hundred years war was fought between England and France from 1337 to 453 and was concentrated into four main phases. The end result of the war was English loss of land and France becoming a more united nation. Each class varies in what motivated them however wanting to acquire wealth links them all together. The main factor that impelled the English to fight the hundred years war was the profits that victory, and even defeats during war could bring. For example Edward III ended the war in 1360 without achieving his full goal as he had made enough money. This factor motivated every class as war was profitable for all, for example the monarch, barons and to an extent the lords profited through the practice of capturing enemies of high birth in battle and demanding ransoms in return for their freedom. An example of this is in 1367 when Bertrand Du Guesclin was captured by the Black Prince and ransomed for 100,000 Francs. It is demonstrated in Geoffrey Baker's Chronicles that to the aristocracy this was

  • Word count: 1527
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Medieval Astrology

Medieval Astrology Astrology is an ancient practice many civilizations used. Throughout many years the people believed the stars and planets guided their life to where it would go. Boethius, the counsel of Rome, believed that the movements of the planets told the people of "earthly events." Astrology originated with the Chaldean, in Babylon, Mesopotamia, around 2300 BC. Many people practiced astrology in temples and became religious to many people. Astrology than spread to Egypt around the third millenium BC. Alexander the Great's influence and control on others made a big impact. Aristotle, a great philosopher, began spreading the ideas of astrology throughout the Greek world. It was during this 300-year period of time that the acceptance of astrology flourished into horoscope and zodiacal signs as well. It wasn't until this period it came into existence. The tradition of Greek, Arabic, and medieval astrology was inseparable during the Middle Ages, better known as the medieval times. They believed in the tradition of alchemy, which is believed that Man responds to energies from planets, the Sun, and the Moon. They used to define different human characteristics like mercurial, saturnine, lunatic, venereal, jovial, and martial. They soon began using the guide of the stars to make cures for those who wee sick. Kings, emperors, popes, scientists, doctors used astrology,

  • Word count: 333
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Industrial and Agricultural Revolution.

Industrial and Agricultural Revolution Contents 1. Introduction 2. What is Revolution? 3. Agricultural Revolution 3.1.Why did it happen? 3.2. Who lost out? 3.3. Who gained? 4. Industrial Revolution 4.1. Why did it happen? 4.2. Who lost out? 4.3. Who gained? 5. Effects of Revolution in Northampton 6. Conclusion . Introduction The objective of this project is to define revolution in a political/social context and to explain in two sections the processes of the Industrial and Agricultural revolutions in England. I have take the opportunity to study the effects of the Industrial revolution in Northampton. This project is written in five main sections. The first will define "revolution". The second section will discuss the Agricultural revolution, providing statistics, and discussing the cause and effect of the Agricultural revolution in England. It will also explain what happened in the Agricultural revolution and what changed, explaining how farming methods changed. The third section will discuss the Industrial revolution and its cause and effects. It will show the effects of factory working on the social structure of English life. The fourth section provides an example of the industrial age in Northampton a town that had made shoes for hundreds of years and how the Industrial revolution effected its shoe making techniques. My conclusion, summarises the project and argues

  • Word count: 3068
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Nobles and Peasants in Medieval Europe.

Nobles and Peasants in Medieval Europe Thesis: During the rise of Medieval Europe, nobles and commoners led completely different lives from one another since wealth was a dominant factor in lifestyle. I. Nobles A. Dress . Women 2. Men 3. Materials B. Diet . Breakfast 2. Lunch 3. Dinner C. Lifestyle . Women 2. Men D. House . Materials 2. Layout II. Serfs (Peasants) A. Dress . Women 2. Men 3. Materials B. Diet . Breakfast 2. Lunch 3. Dinner C. Lifestyle . Women 2. Men D. House . Materials 2. Layout III. Similarities A. Dress B. Diet C. Lifestyle A peasant's daughter wakes up. The young girl makes another line in her wooden wall, 3 lines under the eleventh notch- almost time for Michealmas! She quickly pulls her coarse dress over her head and prepares to encounter the cold of the English morning and a day filled with ceaseless chores. The sun is not even up yet but she has many tasks that must be started now to be finished at dusk. A noble's daughter wakes up. Her heavy velvet curtains have been opened and a warm fire has been started in the grate. She slowly gets out of bed and slips on her new silk robe. She puts on her slippers and goes to call her maid to wash her. It is almost midday. During the rise of Medieval Europe, nobles and commoners led completely different lives from one another since wealth was a dominant factor in lifestyle.

  • Word count: 1957
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Scottish is known as Scottish Standard English (SSE) considered. SSE is the form of the English language used in Scotland. It is normally used in formal, non-fictional written texts in Scotland.

Scottish Language Scottish is known as Scottish Standard English (SSE) considered. SSE is the form of the English language used in Scotland. It is normally used in formal, non-fictional written texts in Scotland. Background The standard spelling, grammar, and punctuation of Scottish English tend to follow the style of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). However, there are some unique characteristics, which originate in the country's two original languages, the Scottish Gaelic language and Lowland Scots. The speech of the middle classes in Scotland often conforms to the normal grammer of written language, particularly when it's formal. Highland English is slightly different from the lowlands as it is more phonologically, grammatically, and lexically influenced by the Gaelic background. Lexis General items are outwith, meaning outside of; pinkie for little finger; doubt meaning to think or suspect; and wee, the Scots word for small. Correct is often preferred to right meaning morally right. Culturally specific items like caber, haggis, and landward for rural. There is a wide range of legal and administrative vocabulary inherited from Scots. depute /'d?pju?t/ for deputy. proven /'pro?v?n/ for proved, and sheriff substitute for acting sheriff. Phonology Pronunciation features vary among speakers, and there are regional differences: * It is a rhotic accent, with r

  • Word count: 608
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Statutes of Kilkenny (commentary)

Ina Dimitrova Statuts of Kilkenny Commentary 1 17.11.2008 Paris Introduction: The XIII and XIV centuries were the period of the Irish resistance to the English policy. Many Irish families constitute "federations", there were also many marriages between Englishmen and the Irish population and therefore many Englishmen tended to be subsumed into the Irish society, they adopted the language and culture, so they became "More Irish than Irish themselves"2. At the same time many epidemics such as the Black Death3 caused the defeat of many Englishmen who lived in the urban zones. The most popular language became the Irish and even the English population that practiced it increased4. Not only were the Normans militarily superior, but their political, social and religious systems were completely different from those practiced by the natives. Even if the Normans prevailed politically, Gaelic culture prevailed, and the English population understood that its control is insufficient. In 1361, when Edward III was on the English throne, he sent one of his younger sons, Lionel, Duke Clarence, who was already married to an Irish heiress, to represent him in Ireland. In their efforts to See also: COPE COPE (M.E. cape, cope, from Med. Lat. capa, cappa) COPE, EDWARD DRINKER (1840-1897) COPE, EDWARD MEREDITH (1818-1873)cope with the prevailing disorder Lionel and his advisers tried to

  • Word count: 1505
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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vikings raids essay

Why were the Viking raids so much more politically disruptive in England than in Ireland? The Viking raids of the 9th and 10th centuries are among the best-known episodes of early medieval history. These fierce attacks from Scandinavia fell on the British Isles, the Atlantic and North Sea shoreline of the Carolingian Empire, which included most of what are now France, Germany and the Low Countries, and to the east on what became Russia. They took a heavy toll on the fragile political development and stability of Europe. While they were considerably disruptive throughout Europe, it was in England that they left their lasting impression. Because of the violent tendencies of their attacks, it is very easy to often disregard the incredible influence they had on every aspect of life in the countries they raided. The extensive Danish settlements in eastern England had a major influence on the development of the English language as many of our words we use today are derived from the Old Danish tongue. Place names too, both in England and Ireland, are owed to our Scandinavian invaders and are the most important source of evidence about the extent of Viking settlement in Britain and Ireland. All this aside, it was in the political arena where they left their long lasting impression. Ireland and England were both affected enormously by the famous raids, but it was in England that the

  • Word count: 2122
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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