OCR GCSE History B (Schools History Project) Component 81 November 2021 question paper

What can Source A tell us about the concerns of Christian leaders in Europe about events in the Holy Land at this time?

Use the source and your own knowledge to support your answer.

Source A An appeal written by Pope Gregory VII in 1074 to all Christian rulers in Europe.

We have heard from many that a non-Christian race has overcome the Christians and with horrible cruelty has devastated everything almost to the walls of Constantinople. They are now governing the conquered lands with terrible violence, and have killed many thousands of Christians as if they were sheep. If we love God and wish to be recognised as Christians, we should be filled with grief. But simply to grieve is not our whole duty. The example of Jesus demands that we should lay down our lives to free them.

Know, therefore, that we are making preparations to give aid to the Christian Byzantine empire as quickly as possible. Send messengers to us at once to inform us of what God is inspiring you to do in this matter.

How useful are Interpretation B, Source C and Interpretation D for a historian studying the Battle of Ascalon in August 1099? In your answer, refer to the two interpretations and the source as well as your own knowledge.

A letter to the Pope from Godfrey of Bouillon in September 1099.

When we learned that the enemy was at Ascalon, we went down to meet them. When our army was in sight of the enemy, we knelt and we asked for the aid of the Lord God. There was no delay; God was present when we asked for His aid, and He gave us great courage.

It was wonderful. There were in our army not more than 5000 horsemen and 15 000 foot soldiers. There were probably in the enemy’s army 100 000 horsemen and 400 000 foot soldiers. Then God appeared to His servants. More than 100 000 Fatimids died there by the sword. Moreover, their panic was so great that about 2000 were suffocated at the gate of the city.

The following must not be left out: on the day before the battle, our army had captured many thousands of camels, oxen and sheep. When we advanced to battle, the camels formed in many squadrons and the sheep and oxen did the same. These animals accompanied us, charging when we charged.

Interpretation D A painting from the 1200s by a French artist showing the Battle of Ascalon. The crusaders are on the left and the Fatimids are on the right.

3* ‘The men of the First Crusade were motivated by the promise of Urban II that their sins would be forgiven.’ How far do you agree with this view of the First Crusade, c. November 1095 – December 1096?

4* ‘The assistance of Alexios I was the main reason the crusaders were able to cross Asia Minor between December 1096 and October 1097.’

How far do you agree with this view?