Why did they want to control Jerusalem? Unanswered Questions. ... Who ruled the holy land in middle ages? Robbers and bandits were one of the biggest threats and although attacking a pilgrim was considered a crime and the attackers faced harsh punishments, many pilgrims were attacked and robbed on their way to the holy place or shrine. Palestine has post-medieval significance; but in the Middle Ages, it was rarely used by Europeans in connection with the land they considered sacred. ... of the Middle Ages, ... Pope Urban II orders first Crusade. Holy Land Pilgrimage Each section of this Middle Ages website addresses all topics and provides interesting facts and information about these great people and events in bygone Medieval times including Holy Land Pilgrimage . A military order (Latin: militaris ordinis) is a Christian religious society of knights.The original military orders were the Knights Templar, the Knights Hospitaller and the Teutonic Knights.They arose in the Middle Ages in association with the Crusades, their members being dedicated to the protection of pilgrims and the defence of the Crusader states. In the Middle Ages, the Muslim world stretched from India to Spain, including Jerusalem and the Holy Land. History >> Islamic Empire >> Middle Ages for Kids The Crusades were a series of wars during the Middle Ages where the Christians of Europe tried to retake control of Jerusalem and the Holy Land from the Muslims. However, poorly signposted paths were just a tiny part of the dangers during the pilgrimages in the Middle Ages. For Jews, Christians and Muslims, Jerusalem was and still is a holy city. The Holy Land is in the Middle East, specifically the Southern Levant in the countries called Israel and Palestine. The Holy Land is sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims. Muslims controlled this area for most of the Middle Ages. Pope Urban II launches the Crusades by calling all Christians in Europe to war against Muslims in order to reclaim the Holy Land.