Changes

The Holy Land had been part of the [[Roman Empire]], and thus the [[Byzantine Empire]], until the Islamic conquests of the seventh and eighth centuries. Thereafter, Christians had generally been permitted to visit the sacred places in the Holy Land until 1071, when the [[Seljuk Turks]] closed Christian pilgrimages and assailed the Byzantines, defeating them at the [[Battle of Manzikert]]. Emperor [[Alexius I]] asked for aid from [[Pope Urban II]] (1088–1099) for help against Islamic aggression.  He may have expected money from the pope for the hiring of mercenaries. Instead, Urban II called upon the knights of Christendom to fight for the defense of the Christian East and the protection of pilgrims in a speech made at the [[Council of Clermont]] on November 27, 1095.  Urban demanded that all internal feuds within Christendom end, threatening [[excommunication]] for anyone who continued to bicker internally, and promising [[absolution]] and assurance of [[salvation]] to anyone who died in the crusade.  In a sense this matched the claims that Islam made in regard to Jihad since the inception of that relgion.

The Holy Land had been part of the [[Roman Empire]], and thus the [[Byzantine Empire]], until the Islamic conquests of the seventh and eighth centuries. Thereafter, Christians had generally been permitted to visit the sacred places in the Holy Land until 1071, when the [[Seljuk Turks]] closed Christian pilgrimages and assailed the Byzantines, defeating them at the [[Battle of Manzikert]]. Emperor [[Alexius I]] asked for aid from [[Pope Urban II]] (1088–1099) for help against Islamic aggression.  He may have expected money from the pope for the hiring of mercenaries. Instead, Urban II called upon the knights of Christendom to fight for the defense of the Christian East and the protection of pilgrims in a speech made at the [[Council of Clermont]] on November 27, 1095.  Urban demanded that all internal feuds within Christendom end, threatening [[excommunication]] for anyone who continued to bicker internally, and promising [[absolution]] and assurance of [[salvation]] to anyone who died in the crusade.  In a sense this matched the claims that Islam made in regard to Jihad since the inception of that relgion.

The crusades began with an odd start.  The peasantry, excited by the notion of a crusade, and stirred by the preaching of the layman [[Peter the Hermit]], embarked on a disorganized and poorly supplied “crusade”, which failed utterly, being rather unwelcome in the cities they stopped in on their journey, and being slaughtered by the first Islamic army they met.  This was an unofficial, impromptu affair involving the peasantry, and which was warned, and forbidden, by the Christian feudal lords and the papacy alike.

The crusades began with an odd start.  The peasantry, excited by the notion of a crusade, and stirred by the preaching of the layman [[Peter the Hermit]], embarked on a disorganized and poorly supplied “crusade”, which failed utterly, being rather unwelcome in the cities they stopped in on their journey, and being slaughtered by the first Islamic army they met.  This was an unofficial, impromptu affair involving the peasantry, and which was warned, and forbidden, by the Christian feudal lords and the papacy alike.  

The [[First Crusade]], properly speaking, was lead by Feudal lords, mostly of [[Franks|Frankish]] origin.  Many of the knights left home never expecting to return, knowing virtually nothing about the [[Holy Land]], and trusting in God for victory.  The army consisted of almost 20,000 men, including a mass of [[squire]]s and other servants necessary to support a mounted knight. The army captured [[Nicaea]] in 1097, [[Antioch]] in 1099 and then [[Jerusalem]].  The Crusaders massacred the inhabitants of Jerusalem (and it should be noted that, in explaining why the crusaders ultimately failed, contemporary churchmen pointed out the sins of the crusaders).  Four feudal kingdoms were established, which would remain for nearly 100 years.  Crusading orders, consisting of [[paladin]]s, were also set up.

The [[First Crusade]], properly speaking, was lead by Feudal lords, mostly of [[Franks|Frankish]] origin.  Many of the knights left home never expecting to return, knowing virtually nothing about the [[Holy Land]], and trusting in God for victory.  The army consisted of almost 20,000 men, including a mass of [[squire]]s and other servants necessary to support a mounted knight. Lacking sufficient supplies, they laid informal siege to [[Constantinople]] to obtain supplies, which they eventually obtained after giving oaths of service to Emperor Alexius.<ref name="RS">Riley-Smith, Jonathan.  ''The Crusades: a History.'' 2005: Yale University Press.  ISBN: 0300101287</ref>  After a hard march to the Holy Land, the army captured [[Nicaea]] in 1097, [[Antioch]] in 1099 and then [[Jerusalem]].  The Crusaders massacred many of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.  Four feudal kingdoms were established, which would remain for nearly 100 years.  Crusading orders, consisting of [[paladin]]s, were also set up.

 

It should be noted that, in explaining why the crusaders ultimately failed, contemporary churchmen pointed out the sins of the crusaders.  However, they did not generally mean the sacking of cities with their criticism but rather their lack of adherence to holy day edicts by their traveling clergy.  Few contemporaries condemned the widespread violence against [[Jew]]s that occurred in Europe, such as the pogrom conducted along the length of the [[Rhine]] valley by the German nobleman [[Gottschalk]] and his army.  Such violence was commonplace, and Jews were considered acceptable targets since popular belief held that they were responsible for [[Jesus]]' [[crucifixion]].<ref name="RS"/>

The [[Second Crusade]] occurred in 1145 when [[Edessa]] was retaken by Islamic forces.  It was ultimately a failure, owing in part to the French king's insistence on betraying and attacking his only Muslim ally, [[Damascus]].  In 1187 the Muslims

The [[Second Crusade]] occurred in 1145 when [[Edessa]] was retaken by Islamic forces.  It was ultimately a failure, owing in part to the French king's insistence on betraying and attacking his only Muslim ally, [[Damascus]].  In 1187 the Muslims