The Christian Crusades Essay - 1459 Words

The origin of the Crusades is rooted in political upheaval. The mid seventh century to the mid tenth century CE saw a gradual expansion of Islam (Riley-Smith 1). Half of the Christian world was conquered by Arab armies. This included countries in which Christianity had been established for centuries, such as Egypt, southern France, southern Italy, Sicily, Spain, Syria, and Turkey (Riley-Smith 2). By the late tenth century, Europe and the Middle East were divided into Christian and Muslim hemispheres of influence. Christian pilgrims from Europe regularly visited the Muslim-controlled Jerusalem. These pilgrimages were very popular. The pilgrimage was believed by Christians a major act by which a person could reduce their exposure to the†¦show more content†¦In his book, The First Crusade, Thomas Asbridge excerpts from the pope’s speech show the importance of sanctified Violence the pope stated, â€Å"You, dearest brothers, must take the greatest pains to try to ensure that the holiness of that city (Jerusalem) and his sepulcher to be cleansed† (38). The proclaimed purpose of the Crusades, which were often requested and encouraged by papal policy, was to recover the city of Jerusalem. However, the Christians recapture of the Jerusalem not only put the city back in Christian hands, but also increased the political power of Pope Urban II. In turn this would put the Roman Catholic Church back at the focal point of society. Pope Urban II preached a sermon at the Council of Clermont in which he proposed that Western European noblemen and their armies join ranks with the Eastern Christian Byzantine Emperor and his forces in order to mount an attack against the Muslim Turks (â€Å"Crusades†). Before hand Alexius I, emperor of the Byzantine Empire, called for the Pope’s aid. Byzantium, as the empire was also called, was under attack from all sides, especially from the Seljuk Turks, who had recently converted to Islam (â€Å"Crusades†). Alexius feared that they would take over Constantinople. He pleaded for the Pope to send a few Knights to protect the weak fortifications of the city (â€Å"Crusades†). However, the Pope had his own political interest in mind. Instead he sent an army of thousand of not only Knights, but also peasants, women,Show MoreRelatedChristians And Muslims During The Crusades856 Words   |  4 Pagesreligions around the world today. From Christianity and I slam you get Christians and Muslims. The Christians and Muslims during the Crusades have similar and not so similar views on personal virtues and religious practices. The Crusades were military campaigns during the time period of Medieval England fighting against the Muslims. The Crusades had eight attempts and it lasted from 1095-1289. During the Crusades the Muslims and the Christians were the main religions focused on. Christianity and Islam areRead MoreChristian Crusades And The Spanish Inquisition Essay1344 Words   |  6 PagesSome Old Testament skeptics claim that the Israelite conquest of Canaan was an act of divine cruelty. I can see this accusation being leveled due to the Christian Crusades, which began in 1095 and showed no love of God nor adherence to God’s commands. 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According to the Britannica Concise Encyclopedia, crusades were military expeditions, beginning in the late 11th century, that were organized by Western Christians in response to centuries of Muslim wars of expansion. Their main objectives were to check the spread of Islam, retake control of the Holy Land, and to recapture formerly Christian territories. The objectives ofRead MoreThe Crusades As An Act Of Christian Aggression Against Arab Muslims Essay2269 Words   |  10 PagesThe Crusades are commonly classified as an act of Christian aggression against the weakened and fractured Muslims. There are many mistakes with this view, the Crusades were not against Arabs specifically, despite what is commonly believed. As mentioned in â€Å"Our Worlds Story† and some others, the Arabs were under attack by a steppes horde from Asia called the Seljuk Turks. The Seljuk and Arabs, despite both being Sunni Muslims had been in conflict against each other since the late 900’s. The SeljukRead MoreCrusades For Personal Benefit. Samuel Huntington Thought1132 Words   |  5 PagesCrusades For Personal Benefit Samuel Huntington thought that conflicts between two countries or religions are the result of a clash of civilizations. He thought that conflict arose because their thoughts were too different. The Crusades were more the result of the Christians wanting other benefits, not because they hated the Muslims. The Crusades do not prove that the Muslims and Christians had a clash of civilization and couldn’t coexist. Before the Crusades began, Christians and Muslims lived togetherRead MoreThe Crusades During The Middle Ages1152 Words   |  5 PagesRenaissance was a period of rebirth in art and culture after the Middle Ages. The Crusades helped Medieval Europe to flourish and grow out of the Dark Ages. The Crusades affected daily life and caused major effects in political, economical and cultural Medieval Europe. The first Crusade was gaining control over the Holy Land, but the later Crusades were fights over regaining land. The Byzantine Empire fell during the fourth Crusade after an attack on their capital, Constantinople, took place. Trade routesRead MoreThe Causes and Effects of the Crusades Essay654 Words   |  3 PagesIf you ask someone if they ever heard of the Crusades the answer will most likely be yes. Does that mean that they know what the Crusades are? No. Many Jewish people who don’t know much about the Crusades assume it was merely targeted against the Jews and it resulted in the death of countless Jews. Other than that they are oblivious to the true facts. So what were the Crusades? The Crusades were great military missions embarked on by the Christian nations of Europe for the purpose of rescuing theRead MoreEssay on The Crusades: Significance for Christianity Today1728 Words   |  7 Pagesof The Crusades. What significance do they still have for Christianity today? What should contemporary Christians learn from them? In this essay, this writer will give a brief account of The Crusades, demonstrate the significance they still have for Christianity today and what lessons contemporary Christians should learn from them. The Crusades were a series of Holy Wars launched between 1095 and 1291 by the Christian states of Europe against the Saracens who were Moslems. The name Crusade is derived