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==Crusades==

==Crusades==

The most famous military activity in the feudal period was the “Crusades”, a series of wars covering nearly 200 years, from A.D. 1096-1291.  The First Crusade was immensely successful.  To a lesser extent, the Third Crusade was also a success.  The other Crusades were not successful.

'''The most famous military activity in the feudal period was the “Crusades”, a series of wars covering nearly 200 years, from A.D. 1096-1291.''' The First Crusade was immensely successful.  To a lesser extent, the Third Crusade was also a success.  The other Crusades were not successful.

The primary motivation of the Crusades was to make Jerusalem safe for Christian pilgrimages.  Fed up with reports of the murdering of defenseless Christian pilgrims, in 1095 Pope Urban II called for feudal knights to retake the Holy Land from the Seljuk Turks.  At the time the Seljuk Turks were considered to be invincible fighters, having conquered Asia Minor and even defeating the once-mighty Byzantine empire.  Even now, as proven in wars such as the Korean War, Turkish soldiers are known to be incredibly tough and tenacious.  The communist torture and brainwashing of Western forces in the Korean War broke soldiers from every nation, including the United States, but had little effect on the Turkish soldiers, who were extremely tough mentally.

The primary motivation of the Crusades was to make Jerusalem safe for Christian pilgrimages.  Fed up with reports of the murdering of defenseless Christian pilgrims, in 1095 Pope Urban II called for feudal knights to retake the Holy Land from the Seljuk Turks.  At the time the Seljuk Turks were considered to be invincible fighters, having conquered Asia Minor and even defeating the once-mighty Byzantine empire.  Even now, as proven in wars such as the Korean War, Turkish soldiers are known to be incredibly tough and tenacious.  The communist torture and brainwashing of Western forces in the Korean War broke soldiers from every nation, including the United States, but had little effect on the Turkish soldiers, who were extremely tough mentally.

The Seljuk Turks defeated all opponents, ruling from the 1000s to the 1200s.  They did particularly well under their ruler Malik Shah, who died in 1092.  But some Moslems were unhappy with being ruled by the Turks, and once Malik died dissension in the Islamic world grew.

The Seljuk Turks defeated all opponents, ruling from the 1000s to the 1200s.  They did particularly well under their ruler Malik Shah, who died in 1092.  But some Muslims were unhappy with being ruled by the Turks, and once Malik died dissension in the Islamic world grew.

The Byzantine emperor, Alexius Comnenus, had been repeatedly defeated by the Seljuk Turks and he asked the pope for help to defeat the Moslems.  He promised a reunion of the Eastern Orthodox Church and to give Byzantine lands (“fiefs”) to victorious knights from feudal Western Europe.

The Byzantine emperor, Alexius Comnenus, had been repeatedly defeated by the Seljuk Turks and he asked the pope for help to defeat the Muslims.  He promised a reunion of the Eastern Orthodox Church and to give Byzantine lands (“fiefs”) to victorious knights from feudal Western Europe.

At the Council at Clermont in southern France, Pope Urban II gave one of the greatest speeches ever.  Promising absolution and assurance of salvation to anyone who died in a crusade for the Holy Land, he urged a huge crowd to protect Christian pilgrims from the Turks.  He demanded that all internal feuds end in the West and he threatened excommunication (expulsion from the Catholic Church) for anyone who continued to bicker internally.  Those who decided to fight in the crusades were said to be “taking up the cross,” because many wore a tunic with a large red cross on it.

At the Council at Clermont in southern France, Pope Urban II gave one of the greatest speeches ever.  Promising absolution and assurance of salvation to anyone who died in a crusade for the Holy Land, he urged a huge crowd to protect Christian pilgrims from the Turks.  He demanded that all internal feuds end in the West and he threatened excommunication (expulsion from the Catholic Church) for anyone who continued to bicker internally.  Those who decided to fight in the crusades were said to be “taking up the cross,” because many wore a tunic with a large red cross on it.

When these western forces reached Constantinople to join with Alexius’ soldiers, the western army was already overwhelming.  It proceeded to capture Nicaea in 1097, and went onward to Jerusalem despite intense fighting and hardship.

When these western forces reached Constantinople to join with Alexius’ soldiers, the western army was already overwhelming.  It proceeded to capture Nicaea in 1097, and went onward to Jerusalem despite intense fighting and hardship.

In 1099, the First Crusade invaded and succeeded in capturing Jerusalem, and set up four feudal kingdoms that would remain for nearly 100 years.  Critics claim that the Christian crusaders massacred the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the process.  But it was a huge military victory for the Western forces, and Jerusalem was finally made safe for the pilgrims.  

'''In 1099, the First Crusade invaded and succeeded in capturing Jerusalem, and set up four feudal kingdoms that would remain for nearly 100 years.''' Critics claim that the Christian crusaders massacred the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the process.  But it was a huge military victory for the Western forces, and Jerusalem was finally made safe for the pilgrims.  

A mixture of Christian spirituality and military adventure motivated the participants in the Crusades as never before in history, and perhaps never again.  Merchants participated also in the hope of establishing new trade connections.  While historians emphasize abuses committed by soldiers, most of the crusaders were acting to advance the cause of Christianity and secure salvation for others and perhaps themselves.  Of course not everyone who participated was so noble.  Criminals who fought in the Crusades were pardoned, and a crusader was exempt from taxation from the time that he “took up the cross,” until he returned from the war.  Still, for the most part, this was a religious war fought by devout Christians.

A mixture of Christian spirituality and military adventure motivated the participants in the Crusades as never before in history, and perhaps never again.  Merchants participated also in the hope of establishing new trade connections.  While historians emphasize abuses committed by soldiers, most of the crusaders were acting to advance the cause of Christianity and secure salvation for others and perhaps themselves.  Of course not everyone who participated was so noble.  Criminals who fought in the Crusades were pardoned, and a crusader was exempt from taxation from the time that he “took up the cross,” until he returned from the war.  Still, for the most part, this was a religious war fought by devout Christians.

Two subsequent Crusades were tragic.  The Fourth Crusade (1202-04) never reached the Holy Land and ended with the crusaders’ sacking Constantinople—a Christian city—wounding it forever and embittering the East against the West.  A Children’s Crusade (1212) consisted of peasants leading thousands of children on a mission of love to Jerusalem, but the children either drowned or were taken and sold into slavery.  The later Crusades lost their religious motivation.  Historians claim they were motivated by greed and ambition.

Two subsequent Crusades were tragic.  The Fourth Crusade (1202-04) never reached the Holy Land and ended with the crusaders’ sacking Constantinople—a Christian city—wounding it forever and embittering the East against the West.  A Children’s Crusade (1212) consisted of peasants leading thousands of children on a mission of love to Jerusalem, but the children either drowned or were taken and sold into slavery.  The later Crusades lost their religious motivation.  Historians claim they were motivated by greed and ambition.

The Crusades remain a controversial issue, particularly by opponents of Christianity who describe it as unjust violence by Christians.  But historians agree that the impact of the Crusades on the world was enormous, even leading to Christopher Columbus (much later) to explore the New World.  The Crusades were, in fact, the biggest cause of the subsequent end of the Middle Ages in Western Europe.  There are many reasons why:

The Crusades remain a controversial issue, particularly by opponents of Christianity who describe it as unjust violence by Christians.  But historians agree that the impact of the Crusades on the world was enormous, even leading to Christopher Columbus (much later) to explore the New World.  '''The Crusades were, in fact, the biggest cause of the subsequent end of the Middle Ages in Western Europe.''' There are many reasons why:

(1)  The Catholic Church gained more power due to the Crusades, and this led to the Reformation.

(1)  The Catholic Church gained more power due to the Crusades, and this led to the Reformation.

(8)  Historians argue that the Crusades improved the power of women who were left to manage property as the crusaders went off into battle.

(8)  Historians argue that the Crusades improved the power of women who were left to manage property as the crusaders went off into battle.

Some Christians fully defend the Crusades, and proudly compare the United States’ invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq to a modern version of the Crusades.  But President George W. Bush, perhaps afraid of the psychological effect of the comparison, carefully avoided comparing the invasion of Afghanistan and the Iraq War to the Crusades.  Note that although both the Crusades and the Iraq War consisted of battles between Christian and Moslems, in neither case were the Christians attempting to use force to convert.

Some Christians fully defend the Crusades, and proudly compare the United States’ invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq to a modern version of the Crusades.  But President George W. Bush, perhaps afraid of the psychological effect of the comparison, carefully avoided comparing the invasion of Afghanistan and the Iraq War to the Crusades.  Note that although both the Crusades and the Iraq War consisted of battles between Christian and Muslims, in neither case were the Christians attempting to use force to convert.

==The Mongols==

==The Mongols==