The Crusades

The Crusades of the Middle Ages were a time of religious, political and cultural conflict. Christians and Muslims sought to take control of the Holy Land through a series of battles. The First Crusade began in 1095 when Pope Urban II decreed that Christians should rescue Jerusalem from the Muslims (called Saracens at the time). Seven more crusades followed, including a Children’s Crusade in 1212. Although the Christians failed to reclaim their Holy Land, a number of important cultural shifts transpired. First off, a great deal of cultural diffusion took place which precipitated the exchange of ideas, resources, materials and technology. Second, a significant shift in power took place throughout Europe. Monarchs gained more power, as did the church. Finally, the European social structure changed as women gained increased rights and the middle class gained power.

An interactive, engaging way to help students learn about the Crusades is to play "The Amazing Crusades," fashioned after the television show "The Amazing Race." Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Hide clues around your classroom or school that will require students to perform a task or demonstrate knowledge about the Crusades before they can obtain their next clue. Whichever team finishes first should be knighted.

Another way for students to learn about the Crusades is to create a Medieval Times newspaper. You can ask students to report on various aspects of one or more of the Crusades. They can conduct investigative reports, interviews, write “puff pieces,” create comic strips, write horoscopes for those setting out on the next crusade, and lifestyle articles. Students can use a program like Publisher or Pages to give students experience with this sort of technology.

You can also assign students a notable person from the era and have them write a monologue from that person’s point of view. Then have students memorize and perform the monologue in costume. Suggestions for subjects include Saladin, Pope Urban II, a child from the Children’s Crusade, Richard the Lionheart, Pope Innocent III, Pope Clement VI, Eleanor of Aquitaine, or Anna Comnena. Monologues can also be written to reflect the daily life and experiences of the individual Christian soldier or Muslim defender. What follows are more lesson plans relating to the Crusades.

The Crusades Lesson Plans:

Panel Discussion: The Crusades

This lesson helps students develop an understanding of the chronology and sequence of events the led up to and took place during the Crusades. Students gain experience answering document-based questions, conducting independent research and writing an expository essay.

Let's Find a Deal - How the Crusades Led to the Finding of the New World

Students examine the Crusades through the lens of the economic interests of the Europeans. Students consider the introduction of new goods and materials into different parts of the world through trade, travel and conquest.

Islam: History, Society and Civilization

This lesson helps students gain an understanding of the divergent Christian and Muslim points of view during the Crusades. In addition, they become familiar with some of the leaders of the Crusades including Richard the Lionheart, Saladin and Pope Urban II.