In the decades immediately following the First Crusade, an isolated and outnumbered Frankish elite managed to establish four new states in the Levant. How were they able to do this? In this mini-series, Associate Professor Nicholas Morton explores the four main contributory factors. In this final episode, he considers the role played by the states' supporters abroad. Just how significant was it?   This episode is the fourth in a mini-series of four. The complete mini-series includes:   Ep.1:...

In the decades immediately following the First Crusade, an isolated and outnumbered Frankish elite managed to establish four new states in the Levant. How were they able to do this? In this mini-series, Associate Professor Nicholas Morton explores the four main contributory factors. In this third episode, he considers the role played by the leaders' political decision-making. Just how skilled were they?   This episode is the third in a mini-series of four. The complete mini-series...

In the decades following the First Crusade, an isolated and outnumbered Frankish elite managed to establish four new states in the Levant. How were they able to do this? In this mini-series, Associate Professor Nicholas Morton explores the four main contributory factors. In this second episode, he considers the role played by their Muslim opponents’ disunity.   This episode is the second in a mini-series of four. The complete mini-series includes:   Ep.1: What role did military skill...

In the decades immediately following the First Crusade, an isolated and outnumbered Frankish elite managed to establish four new states in the Levant. How were they able to do this? In this new mini-series, Associate Professor Nicholas Morton explores the four main contributory factors. In this first episode, he considers the role played by the crusaders’ military skill.   This episode is the first in a mini-series of four. The complete mini-series includes:   Ep.1: What role did military...

The First Crusade 1095-99 was an astonishing success against all the odds. Why? In this new mini-series, Dr Thomas W Smith explores the four main contributory factors one at a time and in substantial depth. In this fourth episode, he considers the part played by divisions within the Muslim world at the time. Did they play a crucial role? Or can they be overplayed?   This episode is the fourth in a mini-series of four. The complete mini-series includes:   Ep.1: What role did military skill...

The First Crusade 1095-99 was an astonishing success against all the odds. Why? In this new mini-series, Dr Thomas W Smith explores the four main contributory factors one at a time and in substantial depth. In this third episode, he considers the role played by the crusaders’ Byzantine allies. Has their contribution to the crusade’s ultimate success been underplayed?   This episode is the third in a mini-series of four. The complete mini-series includes:   Ep.1: What role did military skill...

The First Crusade 1095-99 was an astonishing success against all the odds. Why? In this new mini-series, Dr Thomas W Smith explores the four main contributory factors one at a time and in substantial depth. In this second episode, he considers the role played by the crusaders’ religious fervour. Just how central was it to their inexorable progress and ultimate victory?   This episode is the second in a mini-series of four. The complete mini-series includes:   Ep.1: What role did military...

The First Crusade 1095-99 was an astonishing success against all the odds. Why? In this new mini-series, Dr Thomas W Smith explores the four main contributory factors one at a time and in substantial depth. In this first episode, he considers the role played by the crusaders’ martial prowess. Just how significant was it in their ultimate victory?   This episode is the first in a mini-series of four. The complete mini-series includes:   Ep.1: What role did military skill play? Ep.2: What role...

The four Crusader States established in the wake of the First Crusade survived remarkably well until their near total collapse following Saladin’s victory at the battle of Hattin in 1187. In this episode, Dr Steve Tibble discusses how the Crusader States desperately tried to cling to survival in the face of the rise of Saladin.   This episode is the sixth in a mini-series of six:   Ep.1: Were the crusaders really capable of strategy? Ep.2: How did the crusaders take the coast? Ep.3: How did...

The four Crusader States established in the wake of the First Crusade survived remarkably well until their near total collapse following Saladin’s victory at the battle of Hattin in 1187. In this episode, Dr Steve Tibble discusses how the crusaders tried to capture Fatimid Egypt to their south, arguably their last shot at long-term survival.   This episode is the fifth in a mini-series of six:   Ep.1: Were the crusaders really capable of strategy? Ep.2: How did the crusaders take the...

The four Crusader States established in the wake of the First Crusade survived remarkably well until their near total collapse following Saladin’s victory at the battle of Hattin in 1187. In this episode, Dr Steve Tibble discusses how the crusaders tried to secure their states' survival by instituting a pragmatic approach to governance.   This episode is the fourth in a mini-series of six:   Ep.1: Were the crusaders really capable of strategy? Ep.2: How did the crusaders take the coast? Ep.3:...

The four Crusader States established in the wake of the First Crusade survived remarkably well until their near total collapse following Saladin’s victory at the battle of Hattin in 1187. In this episode, Dr Steve Tibble discusses how the crusaders tried to increase their states' chances of survival by capturing the inland urban centres of Edessa, Aleppo and Damascus ... with varying degrees of success.   This episode is the third in a mini-series of six:   Ep.1: Were the crusaders really...

The four Crusader States established in the wake of the First Crusade survived remarkably well until their near total collapse following Saladin’s victory at the battle of Hattin in 1187. In this episode, Dr Steve Tibble discusses how the crusaders secured their states’ initial survival by capturing the precious ports along the coastline with the help of the Italian city states.   This episode is the second in a mini-series of six:   Ep.1: Were the crusaders really capable of strategy? Ep.2:...

The four Crusader States established in the wake of the First Crusade survived remarkably well until their near total collapse following Saladin’s victory at the battle of Hattin in 1187. In this new mini-series, Dr Steve Tibble explores the strategies that he believes the crusaders consciously formulated and deployed, with varying degrees of success, in order to secure that survival for nearly ninety years.   This episode is the first in a mini-series of six:   Ep.1: Were the crusaders...

THE CRUSADES: Defending Outremer (Ep.3): Steve Tibble discusses his new book on the British Templars!   The Templars had a huge presence right across Western Europe and Britain was no exception. In this special episode, Dr Steve Tibble discusses the ways in which the Templars in Britain supported the continued survival of Outremer from three thousand miles away on their British estates and explores the thrilling exploits in the Holy Land of a number of identifiable British Templars!   This...

THE CRUSADES: Defending Outremer (Ep.2): What role did the Franks’ own tactics and strategy play?   Whilst the Military Orders certainly provided a much need injection of discipline, expertise and professionalism into Outremer’s forces, it would be remiss to discount the Franks’ own contribution to their defence. In this episode, Dr Steve Tibble explores some of the tactics and strategies they developed and deployed on the battlefields of the Near East. Was the Franks’ own military skill...

THE CRUSADES: Defending Outremer (Ep.1): What role did the Templars and Hospitallers play?   The Templars and the Hospitallers played a huge role in the defence of the Crusader States and thus their survival for two precarious centuries. In this episode, Dr Steve Tibble explores the ways in which the Military Orders supported the Franks of Outremer’s efforts through both their martial exploits in the Near East and their economic endeavours in the West. Were the Orders Outremer’s main means of...

THE WARS OF THE ROSES: Bastard Feudalism (Ep1).   The term bastard feudalism has been adopted as a label to distinguish a social structure different from its predecessor in the post‐Conquest period. In this episode of Teach Medieval, Abi is joined by Dr Gordon McKelvie of the University of Winchester to discuss the term and the role that this social structure played in the Wars of the Roses. Recommended works by Dr Gordon McKelvie History Today, Roses are Red? Modern History Review, Henry...

THE CRUSADES: Urban II and the First Crusade (Episode 3)   On 27th November 1095, at a great council he had summoned at Clermont in France, Pope Urban II preached the First Crusade. His motives for doing so have been much debated ever since. In this episode, Associate Professor Nicholas Morton (Nottingham Trent University) explores the role played by Urban’s own religious conviction. Was it the main reason Urban called his crusade?   This episode is the third in a mini-series of three. The...

THE CRUSADES: Urban II and the First Crusade (Episode 2)   On 27th November 1095, at a great council he had summoned at Clermont in France, Pope Urban II preached the First Crusade. His motives for doing so have been much debated ever since. In this episode, Associate Professor Nicholas Morton (Nottingham Trent University) explores the role played by Urban’s own political ambition for greater authority and influence both in the Latin West and further afield. Was it the main reason Urban...

THE CRUSADES: Urban II and the First Crusade (Episode 1)   On 27th November 1095, at a great council he had summoned at Clermont in France, Pope Urban II preached the First Crusade. His motives for doing so have been much debated ever since. In this episode, Associate Professor Nicholas Morton (Nottingham Trent University) explores the role played by the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos’s appeal for aid. Was it the main reason Urban called his crusade?   This episode is the first in a...

THE WARS OF THE ROSES: Cade's Rebellion (Ep.6): ReviewTHE WARS OF THE ROSES: Cade's Rebellion (Ep6)   Cade's Rebellion of 1450 was a popular uprising against the government of Henry VI. In this episode, Dr James Ross (University of Winchester) summarise our learning so far of Cade's Rebellion. This episode is the final in a mini-series of six. The complete mini-series includes:   Ep.1: Why was there unrest in Kent? Ep.2: What role did William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk play in triggering the...

THE WARS OF THE ROSES: Cade's Rebellion (Ep4)   Cade's Rebellion of 1450 was a popular uprising against the government of Henry VI. In this episode, Dr James Ross (University of Winchester) considers in what ways can Richard, Duke of York be linked to the rebellion?   This episode is the second in a mini-series of six. The complete mini-series includes:   Ep.1: Why was there unrest in Kent? Ep.2: What role did William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk play in triggering the rebellion? Ep.3: What...

THE WARS OF THE ROSES: Cade's Rebellion (Ep4)   Cade's Rebellion of 1450 was a popular uprising against the government of Henry VI. In this episode, Dr James Ross (University of Winchester) investigates how Henry VI and his government reacted to the rebellion.   This episode is the second in a mini-series of six. The complete mini-series includes:   Ep.1: Why was there unrest in Kent? Ep.2: What role did William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk play in triggering the rebellion? Ep.3: What key...