The Worst Crusade: When Constantinople Fell to Its Christian Allies

In 1204, crusaders on route to the Holy Land sacked the city of Constantinople. The great capital of the Byzantine Empire was weakened and set on a path which led to its eventual fall to the Ottoman Turks while the schism between Eastern and Western Christianity was solidified. What went wrong? The Crusades are generally seen as a misguided outcome of Medieval Western Christian religious enthusiasm with few positive, lasting results. But even within the context of the times, the Fourth Crusade has stood out as a particularly dark chapter. John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place will look at the context of Fourth Crusade, its events, and its legacies.
Join the livestream to participate in the discussion and to ask questions to our lecturer during the Q&A.
Other topics covered in this lecture include:
Holy Roman Empire
Republic of Venice
Byzantine Empire
Ayyubid Sultanate
Middle Ages
Pope Innocent III
People’s Crusade
Christian Schism
Medieval History
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[@TheNAWorks]

the fourth crusade’s sack of constantinople has to be one of the most perfect examples of situational irony

[@jonathanjeffreys3007]

What a delight to listen to an unbiased erudite commentator and undeniable expert.

[@garymensurati1631]

Look forward to this lecture, as with all of your lectures. Thank you John. Blessings to all.

[@alangriffin8146]

I’d love a presentation on the rise of Islam

[@toonmoene8757]

Man, when in school I thought the Middle Ages were just crusades and knights in shining armor. Thanks for this lecture on (contemporary sounding) intrigue, spying, "diplomacy" and straight out war (but not for the stated purpose) !

[@joshbedford4889]

4th Crusade is essentially the side-quest from Hell

[@beaudweiser]

sife quest that breaks the game

[@notanemoprog]

Another smash hit lecture. Marvelous!

[@GaryTalbott]

Thanks!

[@centre-place]

Thank you so much!!

[@wright661]

Thank you

[@VSP4591]

Mulțumim!

[@centre-place]

Thank you for supporting!

[@toddrennie4961]

Wel done ty!

[@wakingupcrosseyed]

Can someone please explain to me why this stretch of land is so important? Like geographically, strategically, spiritually? Short hand answers only. Asking for a friend.

[@terencewinters2154]

Who said christians would get along ? Not jesus.

[@kaloarepo288]

Essentially Latins versus Greeks - they never really got along!

[@TheGreatReset-nk4zj]

By Christian you mean Jewish. The Pope wears a Yarmulke not a Jimmy Swagger hair do.

[@majorianus8055]

I want to stress this enough, the sack of Constantinople is possibly likely in history but it's not a done deal. Just a few decades ago, the Empire is still Europe's number 1 economic, military and cultural power. Even in 1453 when the Turks conquered the city, they have to use the assemble the most powerful army seen in Europe since the days of imperial Rome to capture it when the city is just inhabited by less than 50K people and is basically a collection of villages! It's just so happen that the crusaders where 1. benefited from the strong Ventian navy 2. extremely incompetent Byzantine leadership 3. a huge amount of luck

[@paperback10]

Im sorry but I have no idea what you are trying to say.

[@dfoss7647]

No Africans, huh?

[@of9490]

My problem with this channel is i want to donate, but I refuse to give to religious organizations. I absolutely love your lectures and wish it was separate from your church.

[@PamelaContiGlass]

They have a separate fund for the lectures. If you donate, the money will go to keeping the lectures going. I felt the same when I first donated. Now that I learned more about their church, I don't really care, but I do donate to the lecture fund exclusively.

[@Midgard458]

Bigotry revealed by your comment!