Why did the pope send the crusades to take back the "holy land"?

Question

what did the muslims do...
i don't get the whole concept
could you guys please explain?

Answer 1

Muslim armies had conquered much of northern Africa, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, and Spain, which had been some of the most heavily Christian areas in the world.

Thousands, and possibly millions, of Christians died during this drive to eventually bring the entire world under Islam.

The First Crusade was launched in 1095 by Pope Urban II to check the advance of the Muslims and regain control of the city of Jerusalem and the Holy Land.

I am sure that some atrocities were committed by both sides during this war but by most people's judgment this was a just war.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Crusade

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

There were a few reasons, both having to do with religion, money and politics. There was also more than one Crusade.

The holy land after centuries had been closed to Christians, prompting the Pope to issue the invitation for the people of Europe to go on a crusade. The pope wanted the Christians in europe to stop fighting each other and turn against non-christians. At the same time, it made him stronger as he exerted power as a leader.

Answer 3

It was mostly an attempt to gain control of the spice trade routes. All of the major trade routes between East and West went through that area. Control of those routes was making the Muslims very rich, and costing the Europeans a lot of money.
What ended the Crusades was the discovery by the Portuguese of a way to sail around Africa to the far East. This made the Spice Roads and Silk Roads much less important. The camel caravans were replaced by sailing ships.

Answer 4

Arthurian legend is the fictional origin of England. The Knights Templar lost the Holy Land to Saladin of Egypt in a series of battles, and were burned on crosses by the pope. A contemporary equivalent of the Knights Templar is the Halliburton corporation. A contemporary equivalent of the Knights of Malta, (Knights Hospitaller), is the Blackwater security agency.

Answer 5

originally the request for help came from the byzantine emperor, alexius as constantinople was being attacked by muslim seljuk turks. the pope thought it was a good opportunity to gain control over the eastern church so he called for a crusade to rescue constantinople. when the western, latin army arrived at constantinople alexius didn't like the look of it and he hurried them through. they cleared the seljuks from the byzantine lands in turkey and then proceeded into syria, lebanon and palestine where they conquered jerusalem.
the crusades were no more or less bloody and brutal than the original arab/muslim invasion of the middle east and the muslim turkish invasion of the byzantine empire. once the invading crusaders had settled in they treated the muslim population in exactly the same way as the muslim invaders had treated the christians, they imposed a poll tax and put some minor restrictions on religious displays, they were much like the christian dhimis under muslim rule.
if you look up the spanish muslim writer, ibn jubayr, he compares the frankish, (french speaking), christian landlords of muslim farmers in the areas the crusaders conquered favourably in comparison to the muslim landlords of muslim farmers.
so the crusades though initially brutal were no more brutal than what had gone before and soon mellowed in to a peaceful accomodation, until they were ejected by saladin some years later.

Answer 6

Actually there were seven of them and not all waged by one pope.

Back then, just like now, the Muslims were bent on converting the world. That was the given reason for the crusades - to drive these infidels out.

Trouble is, the papacy is anti-Christ. So the real reason for the crusades was to exterminate the earliest Jewish and Gentile Christian converts - the earliest Christian church as it were.

It's all right there in Revelation. Even the crusades which are described as "seven thunders."

Answer 7

Too many young men in Europe means trouble for the nobility, which means trouble for the papacy.

What was the point of the Crusades?

"Let's get all the people who could cause trouble out of here, and make sure they don't come back."

Thus, second and third sons were sent off to "glory" (death) - it worked so well, it was followed up with a crusade for children.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children's_crusade

Answer 8

The Crusades were provoked after German pilgrims were attacked.It got out of hand.But fanatical Muslims were responsible.The turning point was kind of like the 9/11 of the time.

Answer 9

Well, originally, the 'holy land' belonged to the Muslims. Eventually, after Jesus was born and Christianity was established, christians felt it was their duty to 'own' the land where Jesus was born, and save it from the 'pagans'. Well, the Muslims and such weren't to happy about that, seeing as how it was their Holy Land first, rightly so. So they took it back. Then the Pope was mad and ordered the crusades.

Or something like that.

Answer 10

War is good for the politics. The trick is how to make it appear as God's will to the masses. Pope did it, and his guilt remains. Others still try the same dubious tactics today while the Bible clearly says not to use the Lord's name in vain! Beware.