Because of the Crusades the Orders of Religious Knights- the Knights Templar, the Teutonic Knights, and the Hospitallers- were formed. Tens of thousands of people joined the crusades from both the Upper and Lower classes. To the Upper classes, going on a crusade appealed to their warlike instincts. For the Lower classes, life was so hard that going away to fight was a relief. They wanted to move ‘the Golden East’. Anyone who took part in the crusades was forgiven of their past sins. If they died fighting in a crusade, they would immediately go to Paradise. Also, they were freed of pay interest on their debts. If anyone disturbed or annoyed his wife, children, or property, the Church threatened them with excommunication. Some of the people who preached to get people to join the crusades were Peter the Hermit, who got about 15,000 people to join, and Walter the Penniless, who got about 80,0000 people to join.

The main reason for the crusades was free the Holy Lands, like Israel and other countries close to Israel, from the Turks and Muslims. The First Crusade, also known as The People’s Crusade happened 1096-1099 AD. It is called the Peoples Crusade because it was mostly common people, like serfs and others from the lower classes, who fought in the Peoples crusade. About 95,000 people fought in the Peoples Crusade and most were slaughtered during a surprise attack by the Turks. The Second Crusade occurred 1144 –1155 AD and was led by the Holy Roman Emperor. The Third Crusade occurred 1187 –1192 AD and was led by Richard the Lionheart of England. The Fourth Crusade occurred 1202 –1204 AD and was led by Fulk of Neuil. The Children’s Crusade was led by a peasant boy named Stephen of Cloyes and occurred in 1212 AD. The last four crusades occurred 1217-1272 AD.

One of the major effects of the Crusades was that they made a constant demand for men and supplies, made the boat-building business more successful, and opened new trade routes. Also, thousands of knights and noblemen sold their estates to pay for a crusading expedition and many died while fighting. The drop in numbers of nobles made the feudal system decline.