Taking a Look at the Crusades - 1259 Words

The Crusades of the middle ages were an extremely important part of history, although it was very gruesome and unnecessary at the same time, an oxymoron. I say it was important only because it had an impact on the world we live in today. It could be a very different world if the crusades would have never occurred and I believe traditional Roman Catholicism would be much more popular nowadays. The concept of the crusades seems wrong in the modern morals, but at the same time it seemed completely right and justifiable. The politics of Western Europe in the eleventh century was a one of a kind. The pope believed Europe was being threatened by the Byzantine Empire, (a Christian empire itself), and the Mohammedan tribes. The first crusades began in 1095 A.D., Christian forces followed Pope Urban II’s orders to wage war upon the Holy Lands and reclaim them. Soon armies of not only knights, but pilgrims, including women and children were headed east by the thousands. They were pushed forward by religious ambition, divine promise; they were fighting for what they believed was crucial to their beliefs and divine purpose. It is truly amazing to me the dedication these people had for something they had never seen or heard. It was true faith nonetheless. At this time in Western Europe, Roman Catholicism was extremely influential upon society and the pope was basically worshipped; he was their guidance, their connection to god. In 1071 the Byzantine army was destroyed by the Turkish andShow MoreRelatedWhy Were The Crusades?1389 Words   |  6 Pages WHY WERE THE CRUSADES STARTED SUBMITTED TO PROFESSOR C. PAUL KING CHHI-301-B06 LUO BY KEVIN SCOTT WILLIAMS JUNE 29, 2015 â€Æ' Why Were the Crusades Started Most have heard of the crusades of the middle-ages or at least heard of some famous people such as Pope Urban II, Richard the Lionheart or others. Whether you see the crusades as events that tried to promote Christian values in a pagan territory or of you see the crusades as chivalrous knights fight for a valiant cause one will stillRead MoreDoes Religion Cause War?1079 Words   |  5 Pagesthe Crusades. The Crusades were some of the most famous wars, and fought over religion. The Crusades were a series of wars blessed by the Pope, and Catholic Church. Their main goal was to regain Christian access to the city of Jerusalem, and holy places around it. The Crusades were actually originally launched to repel the expansion into Anatolia. Several hundred thousand soldiers became Crusaders by taking vows; the Pope granted them plenary indulgence. Their emblem was the cross, â€Å"crusade is derivedRead MoreThe First Four Crusades : Effects, Motivations, Contributing Factors Essay1033 Wo rds   |  5 PagesSean McFadden Hist 362z The First Four Crusades: Effects, Motivations, Contributing Factors On honor, the words and thoughts of this paper are my own. I have received no unauthorized help in writing this paper: Sean McFadden In recent decades the First four Crusades have become a major era of historical interest, which has led historians to try and explain these dynamic events. While much of this era has remained a mystery, recent years have allowed historians to learn more and answer some of theRead MoreThe Crusades and Their Failure to Spread the Message of the Church and Chritianity 1011 Words   |  5 PagesThe Crusades, starting in the eleventh century, were attempts by the Western Church to rid Europe of the new formulated and invading Muslims. 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New technologies came to light during the medieval period, which are still in place today – new trade routes meant trade with the east was possible andRead MoreThe Crusades And The Holy Land1459 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to scholars the crusades can simply be described as a series of military-religious campaigns by European Catholics to increase Christian influence in Palestine from the 11th to 14th centuries. Originally, these Roman Catholic crusades including attempts to re-capture the Holy Land from the Muslims were often led by none other then the papacy themselves. These holy leaders between the 11th and 14th century included many important figures including Pope Urban II and Pope Innocent III. TheseRead MoreDeath Of Stephen : An Era Of Persecution1653 W ords   |  7 Pageswoman. Perpetuas family did not see her martyrdom as something worth admiring, they saw it as an act of selfishness; Perpetua had a son and a big family and she was willing to leave them alone for the sake of God; †Look upon your brothers; look upon you mother and mothers sister; look upon your son, who will not endure to live after you. Give up your resolution; do not destroy us all together; for none of us will speak openly against men again if you suffer aught† But not everyone accepted martyrdomRead MoreThe Crusades : Campaigns That Changed The World1738 Words   |  7 PagesJared Spoonhour Mrs. Fegan Human Rights Literature 18 November 2015 The Crusades: Campaigns that Changed the World The Middle East has been afflicted by major religious wars and strife for thousands of years. For nearly a millennium, pilgrims from Europe had been persecuted by the Muslim rulers while on their way to the holy Christian city of Jerusalem in order to make atonement for their sins. The tense struggle for ownership of the city of Jerusalem between Muslims and Christians nearly a thousandRead MoreThe Crusades Essay1643 Words   |  7 PagesHis moving campaign and the promise of an immense reward was inspirational to the many willing participants. One must essentially understand that the leaders of these crusades connected almost every accomplishment to the works of God, and felt a huge moral obligation to take back what once belonged to Him. The extent of the crusades shows the deep devotion that most of Western Europe had towards Christianity and the desire to rid the world of unnecessary evils. During the Middle Ages, heresy wasRead MoreImpact Of The Crusades On The Beginning Of A New Era1549 Words   |  7 Pagesthe cause of a massive phenomenon, that changed the course of history. The Crusades, is one of the most misunderstood events of its time, because what proceeded after the Frist Crusades. The Crusades were a vicious and merciless time in the Later Middle Ages, and the leaders of the crusades understood that and used the spirit of the Crusades to achieve their own goals both political and religious. The impact of the Crusades marks the beginning of a new era in western world. In the Later Middle Ages