...The Fundamental causes of the Crusades Derek A. Shuman The ancient World had the territorial Peleponesian war between Athens and Sparta. After that, the Persian swept in and conquered much of Greece, along with the rest of the Mediterranean area. Alexander retook possession of Greece, (along with much of the Mediterranean). Then came the Romans, who also conquered Greece, (along with much of the Mediterranean). But after the fall of the Roman Empire, the Eastern Mediterranean fell into the hands of the Muslims. So, since 638 AD, Jerusalem had been governed by Muslims. The Muslim Caliphs were, at heart, capitalists, and they tolerated Christian pilgrims because the tourist money helped the economy. But then, in the 1070s, Turks (who were recent Muslim converts) conquered these Holy Lands and mistreated the Jews and Christians, not realizing how useful their good will (and money) could be. The Byzantine Empire was also threatened by the Turks. Emperor Alexius asked the pope for assistance. Pope Urban II, a skillful orator, seeing an outlet for the violent energy of Christian knights, made an urgent speech calling for them to take back Jerusalem. Thousands responded, resulting in the First Crusade. Dates and Leaders of the Crusades: Urban II made his speech calling for Crusade at the Council of Clermont in November, 1095. He combined the idea of a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with waging a war against the infidels. When he also promised complete absolution past present and future...
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