Essay Questions
The Eve of the First Crusade
• What was the most significant factor in bringing about the First Crusade?
• ‘The crisis of the Byzantine Empire was the main reason for the First Crusade.’ How far
do you agree?
The First Crusade
• Assess the reasons for the success of the First Crusade.
• How significant were economic factors in motivating people to take the cross?
• Assess the reasons for the failure of the People’s Crusade.
• How important were the military tactics of the Crusaders in explaining their victories in
1097 – 1099?
• How important were the military tactics of the Crusaders in explaining their capture of
Jerusalem?
Crusader States
• How important were internal rivalries in the problems facing the Crusader States in the
twelfth century?
• How important was the role of rulers in securing the Kingdom of Jerusalem in the twelfth
century?
• Assess the reasons for the survival of the Crusader States in the twelfth century.
• ‘The military orders were the most significant reasons for the survival of the Crusader
States in the first half of the twelfth century.’ How far do you agree?
• ‘Struggles in Egypt were the principal reason for Crusader misfortunes between 1159 –
1182.’ How far do you agree?
The Second Crusade
• Assess the reasons for the fall of Edessa in 1144.
• What was the most important factor in the calling of the Second Crusade?
• ‘The failure of the Second Crusade was caused by the rise of Muslim unity after the First
Crusade’. How far do you agree?
• What was the most significant consequence of the failure of the Second Crusade for
crusaders?
• ‘The most significant consequence of the failure of the Second Crusade was the alliance
between Byzantium and Outremer.’ How far do you agree?
The Eve of the First Crusade
• What was the most significant factor in bringing about the First Crusade?
• ‘The crisis of the Byzantine Empire was the main reason for the First Crusade.’ How far
do you agree?
The First Crusade
• Assess the reasons for the success of the First Crusade.
• How significant were economic factors in motivating people to take the cross?
• Assess the reasons for the failure of the People’s Crusade.
• How important were the military tactics of the Crusaders in explaining their victories in
1097 – 1099?
• How important were the military tactics of the Crusaders in explaining their capture of
Jerusalem?
Crusader States
• How important were internal rivalries in the problems facing the Crusader States in the
twelfth century?
• How important was the role of rulers in securing the Kingdom of Jerusalem in the twelfth
century?
• Assess the reasons for the survival of the Crusader States in the twelfth century.
• ‘The military orders were the most significant reasons for the survival of the Crusader
States in the first half of the twelfth century.’ How far do you agree?
• ‘Struggles in Egypt were the principal reason for Crusader misfortunes between 1159 –
1182.’ How far do you agree?
The Second Crusade
• Assess the reasons for the fall of Edessa in 1144.
• What was the most important factor in the calling of the Second Crusade?
• ‘The failure of the Second Crusade was caused by the rise of Muslim unity after the First
Crusade’. How far do you agree?
• What was the most significant consequence of the failure of the Second Crusade for
crusaders?
• ‘The most significant consequence of the failure of the Second Crusade was the alliance
between Byzantium and Outremer.’ How far do you agree?
