matejevichhumangeo: final

The Middle Ages was a time of change. Whether it be in invention, religion or architecture. The feelings about religion were changing drastically, Europeans wanted to take back the holy land. The crusades were mainly for religious purposes like checking the spread of Islam.

One non-religious reason for these crusades was to conquer pagan areas. “The Crusaders set up a new society” (The crusades). These lands weren’t only in the way of the crusaders as they marched their way to the holy land. They were land to add to the empire. Some crusaders stopped and settled down in the newly conquered areas. These lands consisted of areas from around Constantinople to around Jerusalem. On the journey there was a spread of culture through food and tradition. Also these religious travelers brought back many types of things that weren’t available in Europe such as textiles from Jerusalem.

A second reason for the crusades was to check the spread of Islam. (Picture 1 and picture 2) Which was probably a motive of the pope. This is a religious reason because the Europeans just wanted to keep the Islamic religion out and away from the holy land. One reason the Europeans hated Islam so much was because its belief that god was one single person instead of the trinity. Also it was believed by Islamics that Jesus did not die, but he just ascended into heaven. For these reasons the Christian/Catholic Europeans had to suppress the Islamic religion.

Probably the most important reason for the crusades was for the retaking of the holy land. (Picture 3) This was important because this is where the Catholics believed Jesus was born. That was a very important thing and the Catholics wanted to have control over that land. It was simply an area of land that the Christians needed to have. The Christians were irritated because the Muslims and Jews had control over the holy land. They felt the land had to be theirs. And for that reason they fought for the land.

There were many reasons for the crusades such as adding land to the empire, to control the spread of Islam and to gain control of the holy land. Most of these reasons were for religious purposes but there were other non-religious reasons to. The Christians had to keep the Muslims under control or their religion would spread to Europe. Their fear was that it would catch on, which was bad because Christianity was just starting to boom. That’s why they used religion as a motivator for the crusades.

Bibliography

The crusades: step by step through a spectacular mess. (2010, November, 17). Retrieved from http://gratefultothedead.wordpress.com/2010/11/17/the-crusades-step-by-step-through-a-spectacular-mess/

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