Crusades

I had the wonderful pleasure of interviewing one of the Christian soldiers who fought in the crusades...

Q: In a nutshell, what exactly were the Crusades?

A: I would say that the Crusades were Holy Wars that were launched by Christians and targeted the Muslims.

Q: What was the purpose of these wars?

A: The main object was Jerusalem. It was constantly getting passed back and forth between us and the Muslims. Neither one of us wanted to give it up to the other.

Q: When were the crusades?

A: There were so many and I only got to fight in a couple. They started in 1096 when Emperor Alexius asked Pope Urban II for help with muslims. Jerusalem was captured in 1099. The last one was around 1271- 1272 led by Prince Edward.

Q: What will some of the effects of the Crusades, and how will they impact the future?

A: There are so many! Let's see if I can remember. The Crusades helped break down the Feudal System by decreasing the power of the king. Many technological advances were achieved due to the exposure to muslim culture, trade and different religions were brought together and the spread of christianity. There was a great exchange of spices, art, literature and ideas and weakened the Byzantine empire. Europeans weren't farming anymore but reading, writing, and painting. The Crusades also brought in money to help the European Economy and gave power to the Church and the Pope. Most importantly, The Crusades are responsible for lifting Europe out of the Dark Ages and that will live on forever.