75. The First Crusades

“Oh, race of Franks, race from across the mountains… beloved and chosen by God.  Let hatred depart. Let all war cease. Enter onto the road to the Holy Sepulcher...” (Pope Urban II, 1095)

Rome’s wilting son, Byzantium.

Was threatened

By the Islamic faith flowing into the Holy Land.

They ate away at the empire

As Caliphs claimed their territory.

Warring Seljuks replaced them.

Byzantium asked for help

People were concerned.

The pope was concerned.

“They threaten our religious livelihood!” they said.

“We must get rid of them!”

 “Deus vult!”

The pope said.

“Deus vult!”

The people said.

“God wills it.”

“It is up to him!”

So they grabbed their armor and went off to fight

Eagar to take the Holy Land from the Turk’s hand.

But, as Rome’s son soon found out

They were too eager.

Knights,

Rich,

Poor,

Nobles,

Commoners

Trudged across Europe

Abandoning homes

Dressed in silver armor

Painted with the crimson cross

To fight for God.

Many believed they were right.

The knights had obligations.

Still more did it just to line their pockets.

Young aristocrats wanted land.

Others hoped for plunder.

With direction from a hermit preacher

Some couldn’t wait for the Holy Land

So they sent God’s chosen

To sleep in the land of Worms.

The preacher and his men

Continued to their holy spot

Where many met a terrible end.

The ultimate goal was met

When the Turks left the land

A crusader castle was built

To protect Jerusalem’s pilgrims

As they came to see their holy relics

Buying holy wares.

Though the rivers of eager men

Flowed strong to the Holy Land

They were no match for the Turk named Zengi.

Built on unstable foundations

The crusader castle slowly fell apart.

74. Medieval Europe

The lands of Europe fell to war and strife.

The Franks made their empire.

Vikings invaded.

Muslims invaded.

Spain was captured.

Byzantium slowly eroded into nothing.

Their culture lived on in Kiev,

The future cause of problems in the world

Lombards took over Italy

Islam shattered.

The Holy Roman Empire came

With Charlemagne and the Carolingians.

The old Merovingian order fell.

Charlemagne expanded.

He tried to build from the ashes of the old empire.

Education was important

To clergy and people.

Christianity won many converts.

The dream of Rome lived on.

The great city.

The culture.

Charlemagne was the first to try to bring Rome Back.

Fourteen years before he died the pope gave recognition.

Then his death caused the empire to crumble.

As the years passed, Europe slowly organized.

Nations born of local tribesman.

England was born.

Scotland was born.

Ireland was born.

France, Poland and Denmark.

Trade flourished in Europe and routes were built.

Religion took center stage.

Churches got bigger.

More elaborate

As Rome was forgotten they became goth.

Hierarchies were formed.

Peasants on the bottom

Holding kings and nobles on top of pedestals

Knights gave them support.

With the flying buttresses of clergy

Directing masses

Chanting in middle way.

Some hoping an indulgence would pass their way.

Others rejecting such worldly goods

For simple monastic prayer.

70. Byzantium

Alas poor Rome!

Your time has come!

No longer will your glory be enjoyed.

The eastern empire lived on in your son Byzantium.

In their time they split from the old Roman church.

They kept the literature

That used to lull old Rome to gentle sleep.

He combined religion and government.

A monarchy was created to rule the new Rome.

Mosaics ornately clothed his young body

As it glowed with religious fortitude.

Soon threats to Rome’s son came as well.

He became sick with civil war.

Changing his body structure forever.

The weakened boy found himself surrounded.

As he groped in internal pain

Sassanids, Slavs and Lombards all came

Taking little pieces of him

Utill he was no more.