• Many events during Middle Ages in Europe led up to the first crusade
• By 1050, Seljuks captured Baghdad and began to threaten Byzantium
• In 1071, battle of Manzikert ended Byzantine domination in eastern Turkey
• In 1095, Byzantine emperor appealed for help to Pope Urban II
  • Urban offered all who made trek to Holy Land forgiveness of sins
  • Around eighty thousand people braved rough journey to Holy Land
• Armies of First Crusade were organized as separate militias
• Main forces managed to achieve goal of taking Jerusalem
• Continuing members went through Hungary to Constantinople
  • Promptly shipped across Bosporus, most meeting death in Asia Minor
• Spared by Turks on arrival, crusaders made way south to Nicae
  • Managed to defeat Turkish army and took city on June 18, 1097
• One leader led followers to Edessa, creating first of crusader states
• In early June 1099, large force amassed before walls of Jerusalem
  • In mid-July, attacked and soon breached walls of the city
• By 1109, had carved out several tiny states in the Holy Land
  • Not willing to commit, states fell to Muslims permanently in 1291