The First Crusade
I can describe the key events of the First Crusade and the foundation of the 'crusader states'.
The First Crusade
I can describe the key events of the First Crusade and the foundation of the 'crusader states'.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- The First Crusade took place in the later 1090s.
- The People's Crusade was a failure.
- The crusaders faced very harsh conditions during their crusade.
- The events of the First Crusade led to the establishment of the crusader states.
- The Princes' Crusade successfully captured Jerusalem.
Keywords
Crusade - a crusade is a military expedition against a group considered by the papacy to be an enemy of the Church
Holy Land - the Holy Land is an area in the Middle East that is sacred to three major religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam
Crusader - a crusader is a Christian who fought in the holy wars authorised by the pope in the medieval period
Outremer - outremer is the name for the Christian crusader states established in the Middle East during the First Crusade: the literal translation from French is ‘beyond the sea’
Common misconception
Christians 'saved' the Holy Land from barbaric Muslim conquerors.
Muslims had generally treated Christians very well during the 400 or so years that they had controlled the Holy Land. In contrast, when the Christian crusaders arrived in the Holy Land they engaged in barbaric acts.
To help you plan your year 7 history lesson on: The First Crusade, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 7 history lesson on: The First Crusade, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the The Crusades: did Europeans go on crusade to capture the 'holy land'? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
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