[jocon307]

Very interesting. Good Post!

I do remember that we were never taught in schools about the defensive nature of the crusades, not at all. I certainly hope the cirriculum is being revised (yeah, right, sure)

[gaspar]

T he author does not really go into great depth on the causes of the first crusade (1095-). For nearly one hundred years the pilgrims from the West who were on pilgimage to Jerusalem were robbed, murdered, insulted and turned back on whim. Since many medieval Christians felt it was as much an obligation to visit Jerusalem (as a Muslim is obligated, if able, to visit Mekka during his lifetime) the continued depredations eventually led the Norman knighthood (including many men who had followed William in his conquestof England), to take up the Crusade. They were the most devoted of the Crusaders, the most homogeneous, and the most successful, creating a kingdom in the Holy Land that would last nearly a century.