“The First Crusade (1096–1099) was motivated by religious rather than secular concerns.” Discuss.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review that includes a range of opinions relating to the religious and secular motivations for the First Crusade. Evidence for religious concerns may include the Gregorian reform movement, which sought to assert the primacy of the pope over secular rulers, the occupation of the Holy Land by Seljuk Turks, Byzantine fears of Muslim expansion into their empire, and Church doctrine, which held that crusaders would receive absolution for their sins. For secular concerns, candidates may include Pope Urban’s speech at the Council of Clermont—where he did not mention the capture of Jerusalem as an objective—and the right of primogeniture, which may have led the younger sons of noblemen to join the crusade. Candidates may recognize that there is often some overlap between religious and secular concerns.