Roughly 900 years ago, Pope Urban II issued the first holy war known as the Crusades. For the faith and loyalty of their religion, it encouraged thousands of Christian men to take back Jerusalem from the Muslims. Followers of both religions, Christians and Islamic people wanted Jerusalem because of its religious significance and meaning. These battles came to have a profound impact on both societies. The Crusades affected the Middle Ages by contributing to new advancements, led to a decline in the power in the church, and increased the roles of women in society. These wars occurred for 200 years, but nobody would know the long-term consequences that would impact them.
Since the Crusades, Europeans have gained techniques from the Muslims. After battle the Crusaders learned more about warfare. For instance, a BBC website
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Roughly over 500,000 lives were taken during the Crusades. Since the men were gone or lost in the war, women then had to fend for themselves, and protect their families. For instance, the website states, “Raids on property were common throughout this period and women often were called upon to defend their homes or castles” (womeninworldhistory.com). Usually the men were the protectors of the family while the wife played the role of a caretaker. Since the men left the women, they had to step up into new roles and new gender expectations in their society. They also took part in tasks that the men used to be responsible for before they left for the Crusades. For example, a website that focuses on women’s actions in history shared, “experienced men-at-arms, mostly noble, were sought, leaving property and wealth to be administered and protected by women.” (womeninworldhistory.com). Since the men left for the war, women kept running the inns and tasks that the men had handled. The Crusades effected the gender roles in society and how women handled situations without a