I’m beginning to clearly understand the rationale for the Crusades...
I saw a presentation while back of the Islamic attacks on Europe prior to the Crusades. I don’t remember the exact totals now, but there were literally hundreds (nearly 400, if my memory is accurate) of attacks.
During the Crusades, there were a paltry number of attacks. If I remember accurately, less than 20.
Despite this, all we hear about are those mean old racist/religious zealot Crusaders.
We Westerners have been bamboozled for a long long time.