Definition of the Crusades

In the seventh century the religion Islam spread rapidly through western and central Asia, as well as North Africa. In the early eighth century, Muslims occupied the Iberian Peninsula and southern France. This situation generated great concern among Christians in Europe, as they feared that Islam would spread throughout the world. continent European.

Starting in the 11th century, the Christian kingdoms began a period of military confrontations with Muslim troops.

For two centuries the Europe medieval initiated a set of campaigns to recover the holy places of Christendom.

This period is known as the Crusades, since the Christian soldiers who participated in these campaigns wore a cross on their clothing that represented the doctrine Christian.

Islam versus Christianity

In the year 1095 the pope Urban he ll convened a council in the French city of Clermont-Ferrand. There, nobles, knights and members of the high clergy met and the Supreme Pontiff proposed that they begin the reconquest of the Holy places. For this, different military orders were founded, such as the Temple or the Holy Sepulcher.

The holy city of Jerusalem became the most desired target for both Christians and Muslims.

In 1099 the Christian troops managed to take the city of Jerusalem after a bloody fight in which the population Muslim and Jewish was massacred. Later, the Crusaders founded Christian kingdoms in the Holy Land and in different territories of the Middle East. These territories fell back into the hands of the Muslims at the end of the 11th century.

In 1270 the eighth and definitive Crusade took place. All of them were summoned by the popes in order to recover the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. During two hundred years the Muslims were conquering different territories, but they did not manage to win in Western Europe.

Two opposing interpretations

The military confrontations of the Crusades are assessed from two very different perspectives. For some, the attitude combative of the Christian troops demonstrates the intolerance religious of the Catholic Church.

However, others consider that Western culture as we know it would not exist had it not been for the Crusades.

Beyond the religious factor

Although the religious fervor of the Christian military expeditions was the main motivator of the Crusades, it should not be forgotten other causes, such as the increase in the population in Europe and the progressive weakening of the feudal lords compared to the emerging ones monarchies.

Both of them factors they played a prominent role in the search for new territories in the East.

From the point of view of the Christian troops, the Crusades did not achieve the long-awaited reconquest of Holy Land, but they were useful to strengthen commercial and cultural relations between the East and West.

Photos: Fotolia - Erica Guilane-Nachez

Themes in The Crusades