OCR B GCSE: The First Crusade c.1070-1100

The World Depth Study The First Crusade c.1070-1100 explores one of medieval history’s most transformative events. Students investigate the complex mix of religious fervour, political ambition, and economic motivations that spurred Western Europe to launch a military expedition aimed at retaking Jerusalem and the Holy Land. They study the experiences of diverse groups of crusaders, examining key battles and sieges such as the Siege of Antioch and the capture of Jerusalem, and assess how these events reshaped the identities of both the Christian and Muslim worlds. The module also encourages critical analysis of contemporary sources and later interpretations, enabling learners to understand the lasting impact of the crusade on European society, cross-cultural relations, and the broader medieval world order.

What students need to learn:

• Origins c.1070–1095
  • The Islamic world, including its diversity and its relations with Christians
  • Pressures on the Byzantine Empire
  • Latin Christendom and the power of the papacy 
• Responses November 1095 to December 1096
  • Urban II and the preaching of the First Crusade 
  • Joining the First Crusade: who went and why
  • The People’s Crusade and the challenges it faced Into Asia Minor 
• Into Asia Minor December 1096 to October 1097
  • Alexios I and his negotiations with the crusade leaders
  • The siege of Nicaea and the Battle of Dorylaeum: the nature of Christian and Muslim warfare
  • The journey across Asia Minor: physical challenges and disunity among the leadership 
• Antioch October 1097 to June 1098
  • The siege by the crusaders
  • The capture of Antioch: rivalries, strategies and atrocities
  • The events of June and the defeat of Kerbogha 
• Jerusalem July 1098 to July 1100
  • Disputes, delays and the journey to Jerusalem
  • The capture of Jerusalem: preparations, tactics and the sack of the city
  • The establishment of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Muslim response