The Crusades Online History Study Course & Assessment

Take our The Crusades online study course. Learn all about key moments of the Crusades including the reasons behind them, impact + much more. Share with your students and let them complete at home.

History courses for your students

Do you want to save dozens of hours in time? Get your evenings and weekends back?

If so, you'll love our interactive history courses. Your students will be able to work through courses on specific history topics, track their progress, take quizzes to test their knowledge, and finish with a final assessment test.

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Course Overview

The Crusading movement was a series of military campaigns against the Muslims in the Middle East. It roots lay the act of pilgrimage supported by the Church’s Gregorian reforms. Ecclesiastical reforms during the early medieval period caused drastic changes in the Church governance and its relationship with the imperial sovereign.

After Pope Urban II initiated the call for a Crusade in 1096,  a series of these religious and military wars continued until 1270. Both Christian men and women from Europe participated in the movement. Crusaders were driven by either religious belief, economic welfare, or political thought. In the succeeding centuries after the First Crusade, the Christians’ pursuance to save the Holy Land from the Muslims remained a major cause.

Two immediate impacts of the Crusades were the establishment of Crusader States or Kingdoms (after the First Crusade) and the emergence of Crusading Orders (during the First Crusade). Also known as Outremer or the Latin East, Crusader States were created to maintain order of the territorial grain brought by the First Crusade. On the other hand, Crusading Orders emerged from being protectors of the pilgrims to brave knights.

For two centuries, Europe was under siege against the Muslims, which resulted in the loss of lives, incalculable expenditures, and religious conflict.

Despite the failure of the succeeding crusades in re-capturing the Holy Land of Jerusalem, historians consider the series of events as one of the pivotal moments in world history during the Middle Ages.

This self-guided course is designed for you to work through on your own using the resources and suggested learning activities provided.

Over the four lessons in the course, you'll learn about the reasons behind the birth of the Crusades, crusading movements between 1096 and 1270, Crusader Kingdoms and Crusading Orders & results and impacts of the Crusades.

Part 1: The reasons behind the birth of the Crusades

In this lesson, we'll define key terms, understand the historical background behind the birth of the Crusades, analyse the drivers of Crusaders & assess the role played by the Church during this period.

Part 1 Quiz: The reasons behind the birth of the Crusades

Take this quiz to make sure you understand the reasons behind the birth of the Crusades.

Part 2: Crusading Movements between 1096 and 1270

In this lesson, we'll define key terms, trace significant crusading movements using a timeline, identify pivotal events of the Crusades & be familiar with the nature and results of each crusading movement.

Part 2 Quiz: Crusading Movements between 1096 and 1270

Take this quiz to make sure you understand the crusading movements between 1096 and 1270.

Part 3: Crusader Kingdoms and Crusading Orders

In this lesson, we'll define key terms, understand the establishment of Crusader Kingdoms using a map, be familiar with life in the Outremer & analyse the similarities and differences of varying Crusading Orders.

Part 3 Quiz: Crusader Kingdoms and Crusading Orders

Take this quiz to make sure you understand the Crusader Kingdoms and Crusading Orders.

Part 4: Results and Impacts of the Crusades

In this lesson, we'll define key terms, understand how significant crusading movements ended & analyse the immediate and lasting impacts of the Crusades.

Part 4 Quiz: Results and Impacts of the Crusades

Take this quiz to make sure you understand the results and impacts of the Crusades.

The Crusades Course Assessment

Take this quiz to make sure you understand the origins of the Crusades.