[Antoninus]

The crusades did more to destroy the Byzantine Empire than the Turks.

That was your statement. It's ridiculous on its face and doesn't deserve much more than a two word answer.

The Sack of 1204 was a terrible blot on the Crusading movement and did much to weaken the Empire. But it did not do more than 400 years of incessant Turkish/Islamic attack. To even posit the idea is ludicrous.

[DariusBane]

I stand by my statement that the fourth crusade ended the Byzantine Empire. Am I arguing that the Turks had no hand in it? Hardly. However the inability of the Christain world to overcome the divisive religious schisms of the day ended the Byzantine Empire. The muslim world took advantage of the weakned and divided Christain world. The Forth Crusade saw the wealth of the Byzantine Empire carted off piecemiel to Rome and Vienna. It never recovered. You are arguing that I discount the barbaric nature of Islam, and the wanton descrution it caused. We are on the same side as I am sure you would take a hard line towards the islamofacist we face today. But don't underestimate or discount the ruinious fourth crusade and it's long term effect on the christain world. Regards