The Crusades were a series of wars between Christians and Muslims over control of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. The Muslims had captured Jerusalem, preventing Christian pilgrimages. Pope Urban II called for the defeat of the Turks and return of the Holy Land to Christianity. Thousands answered the call, including feudal lords, knights, and peasants. The First Crusade succeeded in capturing Jerusalem in 1099, though the Turks later retook much of the territory, leading to further Crusades over the next century with no lasting victories for the Christians.
The document discusses the history of the Crusades from 1095 to 1291 AD. It began when the Pope called on European warriors to help retake Jerusalem and the Holy Land from Muslim rule. There were nine major Crusades over almost two centuries that aimed to defeat Muslim forces and establish Christian control, but they ultimately failed and Muslim rule was restored. The Crusades exposed Europeans to new cultures and increased trade between Europe and the Middle East.
The document discusses the Crusades, a series of religious wars launched by the Catholic Church between the 11th and 13th centuries with the goal of regaining control of Christian holy sites in Jerusalem from Muslim rule. Pope Urban II initiated the First Crusade by calling on European Christians to fight to reclaim the Holy Land. While the Crusades succeeded in temporarily taking Jerusalem, they ultimately failed in permanently retaking and maintaining control of the Holy Land from Muslim powers like Saladin.
The document provides information about the Crusades, a series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims over control of Jerusalem from the 11th to 13th centuries. It details the causes of the Crusades, including Muslim capture of Jerusalem and attacks on Christian pilgrims. Pope Urban II called for troops to defeat the Turks and retake the Holy Land. Feudal lords, knights, and peasants answered the call. The First Crusade succeeded in capturing Jerusalem but later Crusades met with defeat against Saladin and the Turks, who eventually retook the Holy Land. The Crusades declined over time due to lack of interest, defeats, and being discredited by crusades against other Christians. The Crusades had various effects
The Children's Crusade - Research PaperGrant Benson
This document provides an overview of the historical interpretations of the Children's Crusade of 1212. It begins by describing the varying accounts in primary sources from the time, which were vague and often religiously influenced. It then outlines the long-standing traditional view that emerged decades later, depicting the crusade as led by a young prophet who gathered thousands of children believing the sea would part for them. However, modern historians have questioned this interpretation. The document analyzes the primary sources and argues that the true events involved two separate movements - one in France led by Stephen and another larger one in Germany led by Nicholas, though they may not have been directly related. It provides a more detailed account of what likely occurred based on historical investigation and
This ppt follows 7th grade World History spi 7.38 . . . .Analyze the causes, course, and consequences of the European Crusades and their effects on the Christian, Muslim, and Jewish populations in Europe, with emphasis on the increasing contact by Europeans with cultures of the Eastern Mediterranean world.
The Crusades were a series of wars between Christians and Muslims over control of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. The Muslims had captured Jerusalem, preventing Christian pilgrimages. Pope Urban II called for the defeat of the Turks and return of the Holy Land to Christianity. Thousands answered the call, including feudal lords, knights, and peasants. The First Crusade succeeded in capturing Jerusalem in 1099, though the Turks later retook much of the territory, leading to further Crusades over the next century with no lasting victories for the Christians.
The document discusses the history of the Crusades from 1095 to 1291 AD. It began when the Pope called on European warriors to help retake Jerusalem and the Holy Land from Muslim rule. There were nine major Crusades over almost two centuries that aimed to defeat Muslim forces and establish Christian control, but they ultimately failed and Muslim rule was restored. The Crusades exposed Europeans to new cultures and increased trade between Europe and the Middle East.
The document discusses the Crusades, a series of religious wars launched by the Catholic Church between the 11th and 13th centuries with the goal of regaining control of Christian holy sites in Jerusalem from Muslim rule. Pope Urban II initiated the First Crusade by calling on European Christians to fight to reclaim the Holy Land. While the Crusades succeeded in temporarily taking Jerusalem, they ultimately failed in permanently retaking and maintaining control of the Holy Land from Muslim powers like Saladin.
The document provides information about the Crusades, a series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims over control of Jerusalem from the 11th to 13th centuries. It details the causes of the Crusades, including Muslim capture of Jerusalem and attacks on Christian pilgrims. Pope Urban II called for troops to defeat the Turks and retake the Holy Land. Feudal lords, knights, and peasants answered the call. The First Crusade succeeded in capturing Jerusalem but later Crusades met with defeat against Saladin and the Turks, who eventually retook the Holy Land. The Crusades declined over time due to lack of interest, defeats, and being discredited by crusades against other Christians. The Crusades had various effects
The Children's Crusade - Research PaperGrant Benson
This document provides an overview of the historical interpretations of the Children's Crusade of 1212. It begins by describing the varying accounts in primary sources from the time, which were vague and often religiously influenced. It then outlines the long-standing traditional view that emerged decades later, depicting the crusade as led by a young prophet who gathered thousands of children believing the sea would part for them. However, modern historians have questioned this interpretation. The document analyzes the primary sources and argues that the true events involved two separate movements - one in France led by Stephen and another larger one in Germany led by Nicholas, though they may not have been directly related. It provides a more detailed account of what likely occurred based on historical investigation and
This ppt follows 7th grade World History spi 7.38 . . . .Analyze the causes, course, and consequences of the European Crusades and their effects on the Christian, Muslim, and Jewish populations in Europe, with emphasis on the increasing contact by Europeans with cultures of the Eastern Mediterranean world.
The People's Crusade was led by Peter the Hermit in 1096 and consisted of about 60,000 untrained peasants who were later slaughtered by Turkish soldiers. The First Crusade from 1095-1099 was ordered by Pope Urban II and involved a larger armed force of 25,000-30,000 knights, infantry and cavalry who eventually captured Jerusalem in 1099 after months of battling. The Children's Crusade in 1212 was a failed attempt by thousands of young children to reach the Holy Land that resulted in many being sold into slavery.
The Crusades were a series of Christian military expeditions between the 11th and 13th centuries to regain control of holy sites in Palestine from Muslim rule. They began as a response to Muslim control over Jerusalem but later expanded to conquering Muslim-held territories in Spain and Eastern Europe. Preaching of the First Crusade also triggered violent attacks against Jewish communities in Europe who were wrongly blamed for Jesus' death.
The Crusades were a series of wars launched by European Christians against Muslims to regain control of holy sites in the Middle East. There were nine Crusades from 1095 to 1291 that aimed to retake Jerusalem from Muslim rule. The First Crusade succeeded in capturing Jerusalem in 1099 and established the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. Subsequent Crusades were launched in response to Muslim reconquests of Crusader territories, such as the Second Crusade after the fall of Edessa and the Third Crusade after Saladin recaptured Jerusalem in 1187. The Fourth Crusade unexpectedly sacked the Christian city of Constantinople instead of going to the Holy Land.
Nicholas of Cologne, a shepherd boy from Germany, claimed to have received a message from Jesus telling him to lead a Children's Crusade to convert Muslims in Jerusalem peacefully. He gathered thousands of children who marched through Germany and France, but two-thirds died along the way from hunger, disease or exposure in the Alps. Those who boarded ships with merchants hoping to cross the sea were either sold into slavery in Tunisia or drowned in a shipwreck, and few of the children ultimately returned home.
A brief overview of why the crusades started and some of the more important ones. It also looks at their influence and has some links to watch short videos.
The Crusades were a series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims over control of the Holy Land. Growing tensions between the groups were exacerbated when the Seljuk Turks took over Jerusalem and persecuted Christian pilgrims, massacring 3000 of them. In response to a call for help from the Byzantine Emperor, Pope Urban II saw an opportunity to both aid the Byzantines and unite Europe under the Church. In 1095, he gave a speech urging Europeans to take up arms in a "just war" to retake Jerusalem and regain access to Christian holy sites.
The Crusades were a series of military expeditions organized by the Pope and European kings between 1096-1396 CE to take the Holy Land from Muslim rule. There were economic motivations as well, as European kings wanted to control trade routes in the Orient. While the First Crusade succeeded in taking Jerusalem, later Crusades failed to retain control of the Holy Land due to infighting between Christian factions, stronger Muslim armies at times, and settlements that were difficult for Europeans to support from far away.
The Book of Samuel is a book in the Hebrew Bible, found as two books in the Old Testament. The book is part of the Deuteronomistic history, a series of books that constitute a theological history of the Israelites and that aim to explain God's law for Israel under the guidance of the prophets.
Astronism, Cosmism and Cosmodeism: the space religions espousing the doctrine...Cometan
This lecture created by Brandon Taylorian (aka Cometan) specially for the CESNUR Conference held Bordeaux in June 2024 provides a brief introduction to the legacy of religious and philosophical thought that Astronism emerges from, namely the discourse on transcension started assuredly by the Cosmists in Russia in the mid-to-late nineteenth century and then carried on and developed by Mordecai Nessyahu in Cosmodeism in the twentieth century. Cometan also then provides some detail on his story in founding Astronism in the early twenty-first century from 2013 along with details on the central Astronist doctrine of transcension. Finally, the lecture concludes with some contributions made by space religions and space philosophy and their influences on various cultural facets in art, literature and film.
Heartfulness Magazine - June 2024 (Volume 9, Issue 6)heartfulness
Dear readers,
This month we continue with more inspiring talks from the Global Spirituality Mahotsav that was held from March 14 to 17, 2024, at Kanha Shanti Vanam.
We hear from Daaji on lifestyle and yoga in honor of International Day of Yoga, June 21, 2024. We also hear from Professor Bhavani Rao, Dean at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, on spirituality in action, the Venerable BhikkuSanghasena on how to be an ambassador for compassion, Dr. Tony Nader on the Maharishi Effect, Swami Mukundananda on the crossroads of modernization, Tejinder Kaur Basra on the purpose of work, the Venerable GesheDorjiDamdul on the psychology of peace, the Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland, KC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, on how we are all related, and world-renowned violinist KumareshRajagopalan on the uplifting mysteries of music.
Dr. Prasad Veluthanar shares an Ayurvedic perspective on treating autism, Dr. IchakAdizes helps us navigate disagreements at work, Sravan Banda celebrates World Environment Day by sharing some tips on land restoration, and Sara Bubber tells our children another inspiring story and challenges them with some fun facts and riddles.
Happy reading,
The editors
Trusting God's Providence | Verse: Romans 8: 28-31JL de Belen
Trusting God's Providence.
Providence - God’s active preservation and care over His creation. God is both the Creator and the Sustainer of all things Heb. 1:2-3; Col. 1:17
-God keep His promises.
-God’s general providence is toward all creation
- All things were made through Him
God’s special providence is toward His children.
We may suffer now, but joy can and will come
God can see what we cannot see
Sanatan Vastu | Experience Great Living | Vastu ExpertSanatan Vastu
Santan Vastu Provides Vedic astrology courses & Vastu remedies, If you are searching Vastu for home, Vastu for kitchen, Vastu for house, Vastu for Office & Factory. Best Vastu in Bahadurgarh. Best Vastu in Delhi NCR
2nd issue of Volume 15. A magazine in urdu language mainly based on spiritual treatment and learning. Many topics on ISLAM, SUFISM, SOCIAL PROBLEMS, SELF HELP, PSYCHOLOGY, HEALTH, SPIRITUAL TREATMENT, Ruqya etc.A very useful magazine for everyone.
Chandra Dev: Unveiling the Mystery of the Moon GodExotic India
Shining brightly in the sky, some days more than others, the Moon in popular culture is a symbol of love, romance, and beauty. The ancient Hindu texts, however, mention the Moon as an intriguing and powerful being, worshiped by sages as Chandra.
Lucid Dreaming: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
The ability to control one's dreams or for the dreamer to be aware that he or she is dreaming. This process, called lucid dreaming, has some potential risks as well as many fascinating benefits. However, many people are hesitant to try it initially for fear of the potential dangers. This article aims to clarify these concerns by exploring both the risks and benefits of lucid dreaming.
The Benefits of Lucid Dreaming
Lucid dreaming allows a person to take control of their dream world, helping them overcome their fears and eliminate nightmares. This technique is particularly useful for mental health. By taking control of their dreams, individuals can face challenging scenarios in a controlled environment, which can help reduce anxiety and increase self-confidence.
Addressing Common Concerns
Physical Harm in Dreams Lucid dreaming is fundamentally safe. In a lucid dream, everything is a creation of your mind. Therefore, nothing in the dream can physically harm you. Despite the vividness and realness of the dream experience, it remains entirely within your mental landscape, posing no physical danger.
Mental Health Risks Concerns about developing PTSD or other mental illnesses from lucid dreaming are unfounded. As soon as you wake up, it's clear that the events experienced in the dream were not real. On the contrary, lucid dreaming is often seen as a therapeutic tool for conditions like PTSD, as it allows individuals to reframe and manage their thoughts.
Potential Risks of Lucid Dreaming
While generally safe, lucid dreaming does come with a few risks as well:
Mixing Dream Memories with Reality Long-term lucid dreamers might occasionally confuse dream memories with real ones, creating false memories. This issue is rare and preventable by maintaining a dream journal and avoiding lucid dreaming about real-life people or places too frequently.
Escapism Using lucid dreaming to escape reality can be problematic if it interferes with your daily life. While it is sometimes beneficial to escape and relieve the stress of reality, relying on lucid dreaming for happiness can hinder personal growth and productivity.
Feeling Tired After Lucid Dreaming Some people report feeling tired after lucid dreaming. This tiredness is not due to the dreams themselves but often results from not getting enough sleep or using techniques that disrupt sleep patterns. Taking breaks and ensuring adequate sleep can prevent this.
Mental Exhaustion Lucid dreaming can be mentally taxing if practiced excessively without breaks. It’s important to balance lucid dreaming with regular sleep to avoid mental fatigue.
Lucid dreaming is safe and beneficial if done with caution. It has many benefits, such as overcoming fear and improving mental health, and minimal risks. There are many resources and tutorials available for those interested in trying it.
The Vulnerabilities of Individuals Born Under Swati Nakshatra.pdfAstroAnuradha
Individuals born under Swati Nakshatra often exhibit a strong sense of independence and adaptability, yet they may also face vulnerabilities such as indecisiveness and a tendency to be easily swayed by external influences. Their quest for balance and harmony can sometimes lead to inner conflict and a lack of assertiveness. To know more visit: astroanuradha.com
Lesson 12 - The Blessed Hope: The Mark of the Christian.pptxCelso Napoleon
Lesson 12 - The Blessed Hope: The Mark of the Christian
SBS – Sunday Bible School
Adult Bible Lessons 2nd quarter 2024 CPAD
MAGAZINE: THE CAREER THAT IS PROPOSED TO US: The Path of Salvation, Holiness and Perseverance to Reach Heaven
Commentator: Pastor Osiel Gomes
Presentation: Missionary Celso Napoleon
Renewed in Grace
The People's Crusade was led by Peter the Hermit in 1096 and consisted of about 60,000 untrained peasants who were later slaughtered by Turkish soldiers. The First Crusade from 1095-1099 was ordered by Pope Urban II and involved a larger armed force of 25,000-30,000 knights, infantry and cavalry who eventually captured Jerusalem in 1099 after months of battling. The Children's Crusade in 1212 was a failed attempt by thousands of young children to reach the Holy Land that resulted in many being sold into slavery.
The Crusades were a series of Christian military expeditions between the 11th and 13th centuries to regain control of holy sites in Palestine from Muslim rule. They began as a response to Muslim control over Jerusalem but later expanded to conquering Muslim-held territories in Spain and Eastern Europe. Preaching of the First Crusade also triggered violent attacks against Jewish communities in Europe who were wrongly blamed for Jesus' death.
The Crusades were a series of wars launched by European Christians against Muslims to regain control of holy sites in the Middle East. There were nine Crusades from 1095 to 1291 that aimed to retake Jerusalem from Muslim rule. The First Crusade succeeded in capturing Jerusalem in 1099 and established the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. Subsequent Crusades were launched in response to Muslim reconquests of Crusader territories, such as the Second Crusade after the fall of Edessa and the Third Crusade after Saladin recaptured Jerusalem in 1187. The Fourth Crusade unexpectedly sacked the Christian city of Constantinople instead of going to the Holy Land.
Nicholas of Cologne, a shepherd boy from Germany, claimed to have received a message from Jesus telling him to lead a Children's Crusade to convert Muslims in Jerusalem peacefully. He gathered thousands of children who marched through Germany and France, but two-thirds died along the way from hunger, disease or exposure in the Alps. Those who boarded ships with merchants hoping to cross the sea were either sold into slavery in Tunisia or drowned in a shipwreck, and few of the children ultimately returned home.
A brief overview of why the crusades started and some of the more important ones. It also looks at their influence and has some links to watch short videos.
The Crusades were a series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims over control of the Holy Land. Growing tensions between the groups were exacerbated when the Seljuk Turks took over Jerusalem and persecuted Christian pilgrims, massacring 3000 of them. In response to a call for help from the Byzantine Emperor, Pope Urban II saw an opportunity to both aid the Byzantines and unite Europe under the Church. In 1095, he gave a speech urging Europeans to take up arms in a "just war" to retake Jerusalem and regain access to Christian holy sites.
The Crusades were a series of military expeditions organized by the Pope and European kings between 1096-1396 CE to take the Holy Land from Muslim rule. There were economic motivations as well, as European kings wanted to control trade routes in the Orient. While the First Crusade succeeded in taking Jerusalem, later Crusades failed to retain control of the Holy Land due to infighting between Christian factions, stronger Muslim armies at times, and settlements that were difficult for Europeans to support from far away.
The Book of Samuel is a book in the Hebrew Bible, found as two books in the Old Testament. The book is part of the Deuteronomistic history, a series of books that constitute a theological history of the Israelites and that aim to explain God's law for Israel under the guidance of the prophets.
Astronism, Cosmism and Cosmodeism: the space religions espousing the doctrine...Cometan
This lecture created by Brandon Taylorian (aka Cometan) specially for the CESNUR Conference held Bordeaux in June 2024 provides a brief introduction to the legacy of religious and philosophical thought that Astronism emerges from, namely the discourse on transcension started assuredly by the Cosmists in Russia in the mid-to-late nineteenth century and then carried on and developed by Mordecai Nessyahu in Cosmodeism in the twentieth century. Cometan also then provides some detail on his story in founding Astronism in the early twenty-first century from 2013 along with details on the central Astronist doctrine of transcension. Finally, the lecture concludes with some contributions made by space religions and space philosophy and their influences on various cultural facets in art, literature and film.
Heartfulness Magazine - June 2024 (Volume 9, Issue 6)heartfulness
Dear readers,
This month we continue with more inspiring talks from the Global Spirituality Mahotsav that was held from March 14 to 17, 2024, at Kanha Shanti Vanam.
We hear from Daaji on lifestyle and yoga in honor of International Day of Yoga, June 21, 2024. We also hear from Professor Bhavani Rao, Dean at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, on spirituality in action, the Venerable BhikkuSanghasena on how to be an ambassador for compassion, Dr. Tony Nader on the Maharishi Effect, Swami Mukundananda on the crossroads of modernization, Tejinder Kaur Basra on the purpose of work, the Venerable GesheDorjiDamdul on the psychology of peace, the Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland, KC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, on how we are all related, and world-renowned violinist KumareshRajagopalan on the uplifting mysteries of music.
Dr. Prasad Veluthanar shares an Ayurvedic perspective on treating autism, Dr. IchakAdizes helps us navigate disagreements at work, Sravan Banda celebrates World Environment Day by sharing some tips on land restoration, and Sara Bubber tells our children another inspiring story and challenges them with some fun facts and riddles.
Happy reading,
The editors
Trusting God's Providence | Verse: Romans 8: 28-31JL de Belen
Trusting God's Providence.
Providence - God’s active preservation and care over His creation. God is both the Creator and the Sustainer of all things Heb. 1:2-3; Col. 1:17
-God keep His promises.
-God’s general providence is toward all creation
- All things were made through Him
God’s special providence is toward His children.
We may suffer now, but joy can and will come
God can see what we cannot see
Sanatan Vastu | Experience Great Living | Vastu ExpertSanatan Vastu
Santan Vastu Provides Vedic astrology courses & Vastu remedies, If you are searching Vastu for home, Vastu for kitchen, Vastu for house, Vastu for Office & Factory. Best Vastu in Bahadurgarh. Best Vastu in Delhi NCR
2nd issue of Volume 15. A magazine in urdu language mainly based on spiritual treatment and learning. Many topics on ISLAM, SUFISM, SOCIAL PROBLEMS, SELF HELP, PSYCHOLOGY, HEALTH, SPIRITUAL TREATMENT, Ruqya etc.A very useful magazine for everyone.
Chandra Dev: Unveiling the Mystery of the Moon GodExotic India
Shining brightly in the sky, some days more than others, the Moon in popular culture is a symbol of love, romance, and beauty. The ancient Hindu texts, however, mention the Moon as an intriguing and powerful being, worshiped by sages as Chandra.
Lucid Dreaming: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
The ability to control one's dreams or for the dreamer to be aware that he or she is dreaming. This process, called lucid dreaming, has some potential risks as well as many fascinating benefits. However, many people are hesitant to try it initially for fear of the potential dangers. This article aims to clarify these concerns by exploring both the risks and benefits of lucid dreaming.
The Benefits of Lucid Dreaming
Lucid dreaming allows a person to take control of their dream world, helping them overcome their fears and eliminate nightmares. This technique is particularly useful for mental health. By taking control of their dreams, individuals can face challenging scenarios in a controlled environment, which can help reduce anxiety and increase self-confidence.
Addressing Common Concerns
Physical Harm in Dreams Lucid dreaming is fundamentally safe. In a lucid dream, everything is a creation of your mind. Therefore, nothing in the dream can physically harm you. Despite the vividness and realness of the dream experience, it remains entirely within your mental landscape, posing no physical danger.
Mental Health Risks Concerns about developing PTSD or other mental illnesses from lucid dreaming are unfounded. As soon as you wake up, it's clear that the events experienced in the dream were not real. On the contrary, lucid dreaming is often seen as a therapeutic tool for conditions like PTSD, as it allows individuals to reframe and manage their thoughts.
Potential Risks of Lucid Dreaming
While generally safe, lucid dreaming does come with a few risks as well:
Mixing Dream Memories with Reality Long-term lucid dreamers might occasionally confuse dream memories with real ones, creating false memories. This issue is rare and preventable by maintaining a dream journal and avoiding lucid dreaming about real-life people or places too frequently.
Escapism Using lucid dreaming to escape reality can be problematic if it interferes with your daily life. While it is sometimes beneficial to escape and relieve the stress of reality, relying on lucid dreaming for happiness can hinder personal growth and productivity.
Feeling Tired After Lucid Dreaming Some people report feeling tired after lucid dreaming. This tiredness is not due to the dreams themselves but often results from not getting enough sleep or using techniques that disrupt sleep patterns. Taking breaks and ensuring adequate sleep can prevent this.
Mental Exhaustion Lucid dreaming can be mentally taxing if practiced excessively without breaks. It’s important to balance lucid dreaming with regular sleep to avoid mental fatigue.
Lucid dreaming is safe and beneficial if done with caution. It has many benefits, such as overcoming fear and improving mental health, and minimal risks. There are many resources and tutorials available for those interested in trying it.
The Vulnerabilities of Individuals Born Under Swati Nakshatra.pdfAstroAnuradha
Individuals born under Swati Nakshatra often exhibit a strong sense of independence and adaptability, yet they may also face vulnerabilities such as indecisiveness and a tendency to be easily swayed by external influences. Their quest for balance and harmony can sometimes lead to inner conflict and a lack of assertiveness. To know more visit: astroanuradha.com
Lesson 12 - The Blessed Hope: The Mark of the Christian.pptxCelso Napoleon
Lesson 12 - The Blessed Hope: The Mark of the Christian
SBS – Sunday Bible School
Adult Bible Lessons 2nd quarter 2024 CPAD
MAGAZINE: THE CAREER THAT IS PROPOSED TO US: The Path of Salvation, Holiness and Perseverance to Reach Heaven
Commentator: Pastor Osiel Gomes
Presentation: Missionary Celso Napoleon
Renewed in Grace
1. Warongvat Wanachaikiat
Gr. 9 Pr.2 W.Civ
To What Extent Were the Crusades Justified?
The Crusades were Christian military expeditions to recapture the Holy Land
from the Muslims. The expeditions were to gain back Palestine or the Holy Land and Jerusalem
because it was the region where Jesus lived. The region was also important to the Muslims
because Jerusalem was the place where the Islamic prophet, Mohammed once lived. This
meant that the Holy Land was holy to both the Muslims and Christians. Kings, nobles,
thousands of knights, peasants, and townspeople all took part in the Crusades. The Christians’
primary goals were to gain permanent control of the Holy Land and to protect the Byzantine
Empire from the Muslims. The secondary goals of the Crusades were to increase their power,
territory, and riches. Although the Muslims and the Christians have different perspectives
about the Crusades, there is still more evidence that the Crusades were unjustified.
From the perspective of the Christians, their actions were justified for many
reasons. They started the Crusades because the Byzantine emperor, Alexius I asked Pope Urban
II to send help against the Muslim attacks. In the late 1095 at the town of Clermont in southern
France, Pope Urban II urged the knights, peasants, and churchmen to rise up, take the cross,
and join in a crusade to gain back the Holy Land from the Muslims. Pope Urban II in 1095
supported the cause for the Crusades very well. The Pope said that their relatives who were
living in the east were in a treacherous situation. They badly need help because of the Turks
who are attacking them, so every single knight must give them the support that was promised
(qtd. in Halsall). One of the reasons why the Crusades started was because the Crusaders
promised help to the East and their help would be there anytime needed. Another fact stated
by the Pope is, “They have killed and captured many and have destroyed the churches and
devastated the empire…On this account I, or rather the Lord, beseech you…to carry aid
promptly to those Christians and to destroy that vile race from the lands of our friends…,” (qtd.
in Halsall). This shows that the Christians thought that the Lord was on their side and that the
Lord would guide them to the destruction of the Muslims. They organized their knights for the
expedition. As a result, numerous people joined the Crusades because their life will end up in
2. heaven if they die on this holy war. The Pope also said, “All who die by the way, whether by
land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins. This I
grant them through the power of God with which I am invested” (qtd. in Halsall). The evidence
proves that Christians were certain that God will give them an eternal life and forgiveness of
their sins if the Crusaders died in the battle. From the Christian’s perspective, the Crusades
were justified without a doubt.
On the contrary, the Muslims consider the Crusades to be unjustified. Their
views about the Crusades are that the Crusaders were concerned about the rising of the
Muslim’s power. The Crusaders wanted to limit the Muslim power and along with gaining back
the holy land. Leila Juma also agrees with this idea by saying, “...the Crusades were concerned
as much with countering the rise of Muslim power as with ‘liberating’ any holy lands” (Juma).
The second reason that made the Muslim thinks the Crusades were unjustified is that the
Crusaders fought for their own personal desires. The knights who lived in Spain and Italy were
fighting the Muslims in Europe instead of fighting in the Holy Lands. This confirms that the
Crusaders were making war with them because the Pope wanted every pieces of land that the
Muslims owned and Pope Urban II told the knights that the land was just as holy as in
Jerusalem, even though it was not in the holy land. This, however, was not the original attempt
or goal of the Crusaders which was to recapture Jerusalem from the Muslims. Like the
Christians, Muslims also believed that the Lord was on their side and always leading them. They
believe that Allah will grant them the victory against the Christians. Those who did not believe
in their Lord, would be punished. Qur’an, the Muslim holy book supports this point by stating
that, “O you who believe ! if you help (the cause of) Allah, He will help you and make firm your
feet. And (as for) those who disbelieve, for them is destruction and He has made their deeds
ineffective” (“Translation of the”). These are the main reasons that make the Muslims think the
Crusades were unjustified.
From the two perspectives of the Muslims and the Christians, the Muslims have
more evidence to prove that the Christians were wrong and that the Crusades were unjustified.
This is because the Christians’ main purpose was to gain control of the holy land, Palestine.
They were only battling against the Muslims because of their faith in God and the needed
protection of the Byzantine Empire during the First Crusade. It was considered a very
triumphant Crusade because the Christians had some pieces of land and Jerusalem. The
3. evidence that changes the view of the Crusades completely was the later Crusades that were
judged as a failure and faithless. The later Crusades turned out to be a personal desire for war.
They were not as fortunate as the First Crusade at all. This was because the event in the Fourth
Crusade which the knights ended up fighting the Christians living in Constantinople themselves.
The cause of this was that they were tricked by the merchant living in Venice. This was because
Venice and Constantinople were trading opponents at that time; therefore, they tricked the
knights by shipping them to Constantinople instead of Jerusalem. The incident pointed out that
Christians were not fighting for their Lord anymore, but for the power and money that they will
receive from this warfare (Juma). Muslim view toward the Crusade was that Christians only
wanted to keep the Islamic power in good shapes so that they would not be capable of rising
over the Christian. From the religious view, the Crusades were not justified. The reason for this
is that the Muslims and Christian both believed in the same god as explained by the fact that,
“To Muslims, Allah is the same God that is worshiped in Christianity and Judaism...The Muslims
trace their ancestry to Abraham, as do the Jews and Christians” (Beck 268). This shows that
both the Muslims and Christians thought that God is on their side and they will fight for the
Lord. It is true that, “...Allah is the same God that is worshiped in Christianity...,” (Beck 268). So
why did the Christians and Muslims fight against each other for the same God? This is another
reason that the Crusades are unjustified in the Crusades.
In conclusion of two different perspectives, the Crusades were not justified for
many reasons. Although the Christians thought that the Crusades were justified because they
needed to protect the Byzantine Empire, but some of the actions such as fighting for the power
over Islamic Empire and killing innocent people living in the Muslim land were considered to be
unjustified. Another unjustifiable reason is when the Muslims destroyed the Christian Church
which meant that they did not believe in Allah because the Christians and Muslims worshiped
the same God. These factors are important to the modern world because there are many
conflicts between Christians and Muslims today. The quarrel between them might clash and
lead to another religious war like the Crusades. Therefore, people should focus more on the
reasons why the Crusades happened and this will naturally prevent the start of the next
religious war.
4. Citation:
Beck, Roger B., et al. Ancient World History: Patterns of Interaction. Evanston, IL:
McDougal Littell, 2005.
Halsall, Paul. “Urban II: Speech at Council of Clermont, 1095, according to Fulcher of Chartre”
Internet Medieval History Sourcebook. March 1996. Fordham University. 27 February.
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/urban2-fulcher.html.
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