CHAPTER I

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CAUSES LEADING TO THE CRUSADES.

The crusades a series of popular wars 1

Distinction between the crusades and other wars of the Middle Ages 2

Absence of local feeling in the earliest Christian traditions 3

The Christianity of St. Paul 4

The Christianity of the Roman empire 4

Localism of heathen religions 6

Influence of these local religions on Christianity 6

Growth of local associations in Palestine 7

Growth of pilgrimage to the holy places of Palestine 8

Gradual decay of spiritual religion 9

Encouragement given to pilgrimages 9

Trade in relics 10

Stimulus given by pilgrimages to commerce with the East 10

The long struggle between Rome and Persia 10

611 Capture of Jerusalem by the Persian king Khosru II. 11

Persian invasion of Egypt 11

622-625 Campaigns of the emperor Heraclius 11

627 Battle of Nineveh 11

628 Restoration of the True Cross by the Persians 12

629 Pilgrimage of Heraclius to Jerusalem 12

637 Conquest of Palestine by Omar 12

Terms of the treaty made by Omar with the Christians of Jerusalem 13

Omar and the patriarch Sophronios 13

Effects of Arabian conquest on pilgrimage to Jerusalem 14

Uninterrupted continuance of pilgrimage 14

1010 Ravages of the Egyptian sultan Hakem in Jerusalem 14

Persecution of Jews in Europe 15

Tax levied on pilgrims at the gates of Jerusalem 15

Expectation of the end of the world A. D. 1000 15

997 Conversion of Hungary under king Stephen 16

Advance of the Seljukian Turks 17

1092 Division of the Seljukian empire 17

Appeal of the Greek emperor Alexios to Western Christendom 17

1076 Seljukian conquest of Jerusalem 18

Increased burdens of the Christian pilgrims 18

Decline of commerce with the East 18

Oppression of the Christians of Palestine 19

General indignation felt in Western Christendom 19

Need of a religious sanction to sustain and direct this feeling 19

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