The Crusades

The Crusades- Causes and Effects

The Crusades were a two hundred year war between Christians and Muslims that began in 1096 and focused primarily on the city of Jerusalem, a place of religious significance for both religions. Generations of Christian pilgrims completed treks to the holy city of Jerusalem as it is home to various historically significant sites within the Christian faith. Such locations include the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the site in which Jesus Christ was crucified and buried. Jerusalem is revered as God’s chosen nation throughout scripture. This region also possessed religious significance for individuals of the Islamic faith as it home to the original qibla (the direction of prayer) and was the location from which Muhammad ascended into heaven. Muslims hold strong ownership over the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque. For these apparent geopolitical reasons there was and continues to be conflict over this region.

After an era of peace, a multitude of factors initiated the so called Holy Wars, a conflict that claimed millions of lives and had far reaching effects on society. An investigation of the political and social circumstances of the 11th century begins to paint a picture of what spurred on this conflict that spanned over 200 years (from 1096 to 1298) and was responsible for the death of what an estimated several million people.

Religious zeal and conviction helped to fuel support for the crusades. The journey to the Holy Land, described as a pilgrimage, was considered an admirable undertaking thought to earn a Christian pilgrim special favor in heaven. These zealous individuals replicated the footsteps of their savior, Jesus Christ. In 1065, however, three thousand Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem were massacred by the Turks, as they sought to complete their religious pilgrimages. Supporters of the Christian faith were unable to accept this infringement by others upon their religious action. Unable to overlook this offence...