The High Middle Ages: The Rise of European Empires and States - Coursework Example

Crusades in Medieval Europe Task One of the conspicuous factors was the warfare between Europeans. About the sametime, the church was preoccupied with efforts of quelling the violence that had plagued the continent in the eleventh century. They started grassroots movements that were named Truce of God and Peace of God that constrained the European warfare (Hazard, Zacour, and Setton, p 65). This called for most of the knights to make trips to Spain to fulfill their roles as knights where they fought the Muslims.

With time, there was an opportunity for a crusade call to send the knights east. This, however, did not resolve violence in EuropeThe crusades could also be seen as a rather natural extension of the already ongoing pilgrimage movement. For centuries, pilgrims had made regular trips to Jerusalem for penitence. In the mid of the 11th century, however, a concealed group of pilgrims went to Rome for their pilgrimage and went forward to attach Tunisia while they were still clothed in their religious attires (Hazard, Zacour, and Setton, p. 72).Pope called the first crusade in an attempt to protect the church in the east.

The Byzantines had called for military help in as early as 1071 against the Turks and in 1095; Urban II eventually made a decision to send armies in the east.Task 2Reasons for downfall of these states resulted from the unwillingness of inability of the local Christians to recruit native troops in large numbers. There were also frequent waves of crusades that killed foe and friend alike indiscriminately, and the various factions, which hindered any of the factions in effectively combating the Islam armies, which were equally, disorganized (Hazard, Zacour, and Setton, p. 89). Even when the Islamic states asked for peace, some crusades were still being constantly pushed, and Egyptian Mamluk dynasty threat was ignored.

There was also poor strategic planning and generalship.Task 3The arguments were made on the basis of protecting the church against the non-believers, in this case, the Muslims. However, even when the Muslim states called for peace, some crusaders could not stop, making the crusades irrational. The foreign policies however were well amended to include rational thinking and international interventional in the event of the violation of the laid down guidelines.Task 4Frederick I Barbarossa,Frederick I Barbarossa was a stone-cold leader in the 12th century.

He was intent in carrying forward the legacy of his forefather of military attacks and endless beatings. Despite his position, he had audacity to involve in fights that did not involve him even a little and this give the impression that he was a bloodthirsty bully who could defy any rules of decency to do what he pleased because he had power, especially after becoming the king of Germany.Works citedHazard, Harry W., Norman P. Zacour, and Kenneth M. Setton. A History of the Crusades: Volume VI: The Impact of the Crusades on Europe.

University of Wisconsin Press, 1989. Print.