Based on what I've read it appears as though the Crusades were a rational response to islamic conquest and empire building and very possibly staved off a muslim advance on Europe
2007-12-31 17:34:04 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
the Crusades began when the ruler of Constantinople asked the pope for aid because of Muslim incursions into areas of Turkey that were Christian,and he was afraid.
Also,whereas the Muslim rulers of Jerusalem had at one time happily allowed Christians to make pilgrimages to the shrines in the holy city, they now began to charge tolls and to harass and attack visitors.
As for Muslims not expanding westward--do you naysayers not know that all of Turkey and even EGYPT was Christian at one time? And that people had to convert of suffer the consquences?(in fact in Turkey, Christians who had lived for hundreds of years in the Capadoccia region were forced to leave---LESS THAN 100 YEARS AGO!)
And what about Moorish, medieval Spain? That was certainly a farflung arm of Islam,,heading for the heart of Europe.
2008-01-01 06:10:01 · answer #1 · answered by hodekin2000 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lot of the answers saying no, are based the bad rap the Crusade are getting in todays political correct teachings.
The real answer is yes, in that it united Europe into fending off the more Muslim expansion before it got deep into Europe.
Those lands in the Middle East that the Muslims had conquered used to be Christian lands. Europe was in the dark ages and could do nothing while those lands were being conquered. Its silly to think that the Muslims would have stopped their conquest unless something formidable opposed them.
The way the Crusades are seen today by most people is skewed by political correctness and not based on true history.
Just look at some of the answers painting Islam as a peace loving society and making the Crusader to be a one sided evil, that was not the case at all. When the Muslims were already attacking Europe and conquered Spain and invaded France prior to this.
I hope you can see what I'm talking about when I mentioned the bias towards the Crusades based of political correctness rather than historical fact.
2007-12-31 20:19:23 · answer #2 · answered by YAadventurer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, it's a bit more complicated than that. It may be that Charlemagne stopped the Muslim advance in the Pyrenees in the 9th century - The Crusades in the Middle East concentrated the Muslims time and trouble there - but- it was the Golden Horde that made it as far as Vienna ( in 17 th century - and the crusades as such were over by then) and had to return to vote for a new khan. So it wasn't just the "official ' crusades. - the Black Death also played a part.... There is no simplistic answer.
Regards
Rosie
2007-12-31 22:47:42 · answer #3 · answered by Rosie S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no not really. the crusades where only sent by the pope to the holy land because he fears that the holy land becomes a Muslim region so he sent the crusades. crusades didn't save Europe because Muslims are not interested in Europe but only the territories at the Mediterranean sea. if the muslims are really interested at europe, then the Ottoman Empire must have conquered it but no attacks of the muslims in europe have been recorded in history. if there are any, those are not attempts of taking europe.
2007-12-31 20:47:16 · answer #4 · answered by pao d historian 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, the Muslim advance into Europe had already stopped. However they still controlled the area that is now Israel, which contains many christian holy sites. The Crusades were intended to recapture this holy land. The Crusades were a later counter attack.
2007-12-31 19:02:59 · answer #5 · answered by rohak1212 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The singular event that saved Europe from being Muslim was the victory at Tours by Charles Martel.....
2008-01-01 06:14:29 · answer #6 · answered by Its not me Its u 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most definitely not.
Maybe the First Crusade helped the Byzantines push the Turks back a bit in Asia Minor, but the Fourth Crusade greatly weakened Byzantium, and by the time the Crusades were over, it was on its last legs and the Turks were poised to advance into the Balkans.
The Crusades did have a spinoff in accellerating the reconquest of Spain from the Moors.
2007-12-31 18:10:00 · answer #7 · answered by gravybaby 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
blaagggg.....I agree somewhat with Robert..
2007-12-31 17:42:06 · answer #8 · answered by abagtha_778 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
No, the crusades and European defense of Islamic expansionism were quite different. It is true that the high water marks of Islamic expansion were the whole of the Iberian peninsula and Vienna. That being said, the crusades were offensive campaigns designed to rid Europe of degenerates and criminals while simultaneously enriching the papacy and upper classes.
2007-12-31 17:39:11 · answer #9 · answered by Chris 6 · 4⤊ 2⤋
yes.
if the crusades had not happened or the outcome was different, the US and most of Europe would be a Muslim nation, not Christian.
2007-12-31 17:36:57 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 5⤋