Year 7 - History
Background to the Crusades: the Byzantine Empire
The Crusades: did Europeans go on crusade to capture the 'holy land'?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils develop a deep understanding of the First Crusade's background. They learn how the interplay of events across Western Europe, the Byzantine Empire, and the Seljuk Empire led to this significant campaign.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe the position of Byzantium in the 11th century and the problems it faced.
Key Notes
- Byzantium considered itself to be the successor to the Roman Empire.
- Byzantium was a Christian empire.
- The reign of Justinian I was a high point for the Byzantine Empire.
- By the 11th century, the Byzantine Empire had been weakened by a series of internal conflicts.
- By the 11th century, Byzantium was facing external threats from the Seljuk Turks.
Vocabulary To Learn
- empire: an empire is a group of territories ruled over by one person or group of people
- idolatry: idolatry is the worship of images
- iconoclasm: iconoclasm is the destruction of holy images
- Eastern Orthodox: Eastern Orthodox Christianity was the form of Christianity practised in the Byzantine Empire
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Towns and cities are called by the same name as they were given when they were founded.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
Byzantium considered itself to be the successor to the Roman Empire. Byzantium was a Christian empire.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'empire'
an empire is a group of territories ruled over by one person or group of people.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Towns and cities are called by the same name as they were given when they were founded. Correction: Towns and cities all over the world have changed their name repeatedly for a wide variety of reasons. For example, York was called Eboracum by the Romans, Eoforwick by the Saxons and Jorvik by the Vikings!
More Lessons In This Unit
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