How Is The Crusades Relevant Today

The depiction of the Crusades that is retold by historians today is a one-sided depiction of a monumental historic event that would change the tide of history forever. Often the Crusades are depicted in a view of Christianity conquering the holy land held by the Muslim state. The depiction of the Crusades differs widely from Christian views to Muslim views. To begin the Christians viewed Muslims not as inferior but as someone that stood in the way of the pilgrimage to the holy land. The Crusades carried on this Christian tradition of pilgrimage to the holy lands that were occupied by the Muslim state. The crusades by Christian standards were a call to a holy war to take back what they believed was rightfully theirs. It just so happened that

In Urban’s Call to the Crusades according to Fulchers Chartres Pope Urban II is seen saying dying for the holy war will absolve all sins “All who die by the way, whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins. This I grant them through the power of God with which I am invested” (Bonhomme, 507). This reward for fighting in the holy war shows that the war was not fought because Muslims were disliked by Christians instead the Christians believed that they were restoring the holy land to the rightful owner and that if they were to die doing so would be absolved of all sin. This overall shows the power and commitment they had to retake the holy land. This is a way also the rationale for the Christians to start the Crusades. Pope Urban II also makes a claim that the Turks and Persians have taken over Christian land and if it is permitted to continue God’s faith will be attacked “They have killed and captured many, and have destroyed the churches and devastated the empire. If you permit them to continue thus for awhile with impunity, the faithful of God will be much more widely attacked by them” (Bonhomme,

The Muslims view the crusades, not as a war or even religiously based instead they viewed the Crusades and Christians as barbarians almost who came from nowhere to wreak havoc on the Muslim world. Oftentimes Muslim views of Europeans during the Crusades were that of unintelligent beings. For instance, one of the accounts by Usama Ibn Munqidh is that a European doctor performed a strange procedure because they believed the woman had a demon in her head So the physician said, “That demon has entered further into her head.” She took a razor and made a cut in her head in the shape of a cross. He then peeled back the skin so that the skull was exposed and rubbed it with salt. The woman died instantaneously” (Bonhomme, 538). This kind of strange European medical practice is what led to Muslims believing that Europeans were strange unintelligent barbarians. This idea of unintelligence can also stem from the fact that Muslim society was more urbanized and developed than western society. Muslims also believe that Europeans during the Crusades do not have honors or propriety because of encounters with husband and wife “One of them might be walking along with his wife and run into another man. This other man might then take his wife to one side and chat with her, while the husband just stands there waiting for her to finish her conversation. And if she takes too long, he’ll just