The Crusades: Justified Defense or Religious Aggression?

the Crusades stand as one of history's most  contentious subjects stirring debates due   to their profound impact and the complex  motivations behind them at the heart of   the controversy lies the question was  the Western incursion into the Middle   East driven by Justified aims or fueled  by solely the desires for bloodshed firstly it's crucial to understand the historical  context of the Muslim expansion as historian   Jonathan Riley Smith elucidates in his book The  Crusades are history the Crusades were a direct   response to centuries of Muslim conquests and  territorial expansion since the 7th Century   Islamic forces had steadily Advanced conquering  vast territories across the Middle East North   Africa and parts of Europe by the 11th century the  selic Turks emerged as a formidable power posing a   significant threat to the Byzantine empire in  Anatolia the Byzantine Empire facing imminent   danger sought aid from the West Emperor Alexios  I Komnenos urgently appealed to Pope Urban II for   military assistance against the encroaching SJC  Turks historian Thomas Asbridge underscores the   gravity of the situation in his work the Crusades  the authoritative history of the war for the Holy   Land noting that the byzantines were in dire  need of support to repel the sric advance and   Safeguard their territories however the threat  posed by Muslim expansion extended Beyond mere   territorial conquests Christian pilgrims faced  numerous obstacles and dangers while traveling   to Jerusalem and other holy sites under the  Muslim rule historian Christopher tyan in   his comprehensive study God's War a new history  of the Crusades illuminates the plight of these   pilgrims who encountered harassment extortion and  even violence Muslim authorities imposed wondrous   taxes and levies inhabiting Christian access to  Sacred sites and undermining religious freedoms   moreover the capture of Jerusalem by Muslim  forces in the 7th Century marked a pivotal   moment in history the holy city revered as the  Cradle of Christianity fell under Muslim control   subjecting Christians to harsh restrictions  and persecution Steven runman in a history of   the Crusades underscores the Stark realities  faced by Christians under Muslim rule they   enured discrimination humiliation and outbreaks  of violence all of which fued Western resolve   to reclaim lost lands and Safeguard Christian  interests in addition to facing discrimination and   violence Christians living under Muslim rule were  often subjected to Demi status a form of second   class citizenship this status imposed various  restrictions and humiliations on Christians   including limitations on religious practices dress  codes and economical opportun ities the historian   Bernard Lewis in his book the Arabs in history  outlines the legal and social framework of Demi   status highlighting its impact on Christian  communities throughout the medieval period   furthermore the conquest of Christian territories  by Muslim forces often led to the desecration and   destruction of churches monasteries and other  Christian institutions the historic Robert   Spencer in the history of jihad from Muhammad to  Isis documents numerous instances of religious   persecution and cultural vandalism perpetrated by  Muslim conquerors these actions not only inflicted   physical harm but also struck at the heart  of Christian identity and Heritage in summary   Christians living under Muslim rule during the  medieval period faced a multitude of challenges   including discrimination violence and the  imposition of Demi status the conquest of   Jerusalem and other Christian territories  by Muslim forces marked a turning point   in history subjecting Christian communities  to harsh restrictions and persecution these   realities fueled Western resolve to reclaim lost  lands and defend Christianity against external   threats shaping The Narrative of Defense Warfare  that underpins the Crusades thank you all for   watching don't forget to like And subscribe and  comment if you think the Crusades were Justified

Channel: Invictus

Views: 748

Keywords: crusades, templars, islam, christianity, jesus, christianity vs islam, religion, god, truth, knights templar

Id: zQD6DEcGUWE

Length: 5min 23sec (323 seconds)

Published: Thu Apr 25 2024