CLEP Western Civ I

Answer: D - In 1095, Pope Urban II gave the most powerful speech of the Middle Ages when he commanded the First Crusade to reclaim the Holy Land from the Muslims. He implored the members of the church to drive the Muslims from the East and out of the Holy Land, launching the First Crusade. Christians had long been denied access to the holy sites in the Near East, which is why they wanted to force the Muslims out of the Levant, too. Ultimately, there were nine Crusades altogether, and they lasted into the 13th century. There were many secondary outcomes of the Crusades that completely transformed Europe in terms of trade, warfare, geopolitical power, architecture and the arts, and cultural constructs. However, the stated goal was essentially never accomplished. Christendom only secured the ability to travel to the holy sites, but the Muslims retained control of the area.