Foundation of military orders: Templars and Hospitallers; military, religious and economic roles
The Templars and Hospitallers were organisations of warrior-monks. They defended the Crusader states, cared for pilgrims, and built up significant wealth and power across Outremer.
Real World
The Knights Templar's banking network — allowing pilgrims to deposit money in Europe and withdraw it in Jerusalem — was essentially the medieval world's first international banking system, anticipating modern wire transfers by 900 years.
Exam Focus
Treat military, religious, and economic roles as equally important; answers focusing only on fighting will miss the breadth markers in higher-level questions.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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