The Real History of the Crusades

Crisis Magazine ^ | 03/19/2011 | Thomas F. Madden

[Dr. Marten]

Many historians had been trying for some time to set the record straight on the Crusades—misconceptions are all too common. For them, current interest is an opportunity to explain the Crusades while people are actually listening. With the possible exception of Umberto Eco, medieval scholars are not used to getting much media attention. We tend to be a quiet lot (except during the annual bacchanalia we call the International Congress on Medieval Studies in Kalamazoo, Michigan, of all places), poring over musty chronicles and writing dull yet meticulous studies that few will read. Imagine, then, my surprise when within days of the September 11 attacks, the Middle Ages suddenly became relevant.

[meatloaf]

That’s a good article. Thanks!

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

Just for ‘spits and giggles’, instead of Kalamazoo, they should try Hamtramck.

[canuck_conservative]

Very interesting article, with lots of info.

Thanks for posting!

[NRx]

Bump for later.

[Albion Wilde]

bttt

[qman]

From the reading, we can deduce that we are currently defending from an new Islamic onslaught in to Europe. New crusades will be necessary to drive this murderous hoard back to their deserts, of course we won’t call them crusades. Sadly many beautiful and brave young Americans will spill blood and spill their blood before this final crusade will be ended and Islam reforms or dies forever!

[SaraJohnson]

Great article. Thanks.

[volunbeer]

Nice link and good timing!

[Fungi]

This article originally appeared in the March 2002 issue of Crisis Magazine. While the article does a fair job on the history of the crusades, witness this beginning sentence: "he second goal was the liberation of Jerusalem and the other places made holy by the life of Christ." While I can understend all of us make mistakes, was this really published? How could this have gotten by the editor?

[bitt]

good read!

[Mrs. Don-o]

+1

[Mrs. Don-o]

I am confident he did not men "made holy only by the life of Christ. But in context, the Christ connection would have been the Crusaders' priority,

[Fungi]

You missed my point, look again.

[sockmonkey]

Do you mean the missing T on The?

[Fungi]

Bingo. If this was indeed published as shown, and I copied it off their website, someone was not doing their job. Hey, we all make mistakes, but I would fire the editor.

[redleghunter]

Nice timeline below at the link to support this article:

MUSLIM CRUSADES Started Four Centuries Before the Western Crusades

[Retain Mike]

I have a beautiful time-line map of civilizations about three by ten feet. After studying it I came up with a sound bite I like to use which says the crusades were an 86 year interruption to over 1,000 year of barbaric Islamic conquests. Thanks for posting an article I can link to when I use it.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Sorry. De minimis...

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

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