When did this revisionist history about the crusades being "defensive" start gaining prominence?

Question

It wasn't around when I was taking Western History 101 about 10 years ago from a practicing Roman Catholic. In fact, I've only heard of it from here.

Answer 1

They were "defending" their right to kill pagans.

"To save a sword you should baptize it in the blood of an infidel"
~Real middle ages practice

Answer 2

I wouldn't say it was "defensive," but a closer inspection of historical sources have shown historians that the Crusades were much more complicated than the popular idea that it was just a bunch of Christians who wanted to kill and convert Muslims. In fact, there's little to no evidence that conversion was even on their minds.

The fact is that Chrstian pilgrims had access to Holy sites for hundreds of years after the Muslims took over the area. It's also a fact that when the less-moderate Seljuk Turks took over the area, they not only barred the area from pilgrims but also killed and mutilated some of them to drive home the point. Christianity was ok with Muslims controlling the area, but not with them cutting off all contact.

It's also a fact that a lot of trade routes were disrupted, and the merchants complained loudly.

Historical studies continue to improve all the time. Its really amazing the kinds of things that used to be taught and believed by intelligent people. We just keep repeating certain things without actually looking at historical documents. For example, children are still regularly taught that Columbus proved the world wasn't flat. The fact is that no educated European thought the world flat by Columbus's time. Yet it's STILL being taught.

Answer 3

It began as a response to the Muslims referring to Bush and Blair as Crusaders.
Historically only the very early phases of the Crusade can be justified at all. Even then though the war was about political control by the Catholic Church. The Muslims did not commit any slaughters in Spain or Southern Europe. They fought strictly military campaigns and did not even demand religious conversion.
The later Crusades included the sack of the Christian city of Constantinople by the Catholics, and the slaughter of the Jerusalem Jews, again by the Catholics. When people are ignorant of history they are easily led with propaganda that distorts it.

This does not mean that the Islamic use of the term Crusader is not politically loaded as well.

Answer 4

In March 1095 an embassy from the Byzantine emperor Alexius I asked the Pope Urban II for help against the Seljuk Turks who had overrun most of the eastern provinces of the Byzatine empire and were within striking distance of the capital, Constantinople. Sounds like a defensive action to me.

Answer 5

Both the suffering and the work that his Father had given him to do was finished. Because the sacrifices of the past had had no effect on the hearts of God's people the LORD God had sent His son. In the words of the parable he taught the owner of the vineyard said ,"Surely they will respect my son." But as in the parable they hadn't respected him, they were envious of his authority and killed him. The LORD God knows the end from the beginning, as we see in Scripture, but Jesus willingly went through this dreadful ordeal for our sakes. Jesus has blotted out our sins by his sacrifice if we trust in him and in the LORD God. So Jesus' earthly work as a mortal finished and he received everlasting life and is on the right hand of his Father in heaven. As he told his disciples he will return in the glory of his Father at a time when we don't expect him. He will raise the dead and there will be judgement. After that Jesus is to set up the Kingdom for his Father as the Scriptures tell us. What we have to do meantime is to be faithful and obedient and watch for his coming and read our Bibles so that we understand more of his Father's plan and purpose with the earth.

Answer 6

I put this forth on another answer and was ignored. A Muslim army invaded Europe in the 8th century.The year was 711 AD and a Berber Muslim army ,led by Tariq ibn-Zayid,crossed the Striat of Gibraltor from northern Africa and invaded the Iberian peninsula.They got as far as France. Spain did not repel them until the year 1492. Ever hear of El Cid? Yes,Europe was invaded several times.

Answer 7

I guess it is a convenient excuse.

First Friday is tonight. I'll toast a Margarita to you at Blue Star. Honestly, I will.

((((((Cute Squirrel)))))

Answer 8

Since when is invasion and war defensive? Haven't these people learned anyhting about history?

Answer 9

You see what you want to see, you hear what you want to hear, and you remember it the way you want. This is the way of humanity. (Besides, what Christian would want to be responsible for paying reparations to Muslims?)