Though the events leading up to the Crusades can be identified as far back as when the Muslim had first conquered the Holy Land in 637 AD, the aggression of the Turks against the Christians and the Byzantine Empire in the late 11th century can be argued to be the direct proximate cause leading to the Crusades. For one, the Turks looked to expand their territory and unfortunately came across Jerusalem, which was, at the time, an established Muslim community with a mix of Christians who were granted the right to pilgrimage; that is, a person’s journey to a holy site in search of a better understanding of God and his significance in life. Now, the result of the Turks’ decision to expand their territory to Jerusalem put the lives of every Muslims,
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However, with the invasion of the Turks, not only were Christians not able to perform their duty anymore, but they were also massacred in unimaginable ways: “…the Turks continued the slaughter, taking people captive, pillaging their homes and setting them on fire, destroying monasteries and churches, and desolating entire villages and towns.” (Hagg 81) Accordingly, this brutal slaughter of Christians without doubt infuriated other the Christian community, but especially the Pope Urban II. This event served as a major factor in compelling Pope Urban II into launching the Crusades not only to retrieve what they believe was rightfully theirs, but also as part of revenge. Furthermore, unfortunately, the aggression of the Turks was not limited to the conquest of Jerusalem and the impact it had on Christian pilgrimage. In fact, they also conquered nearby areas around the Byzantine Empire, which was a Christian empire, and slowly walked their way into it: “…Muslim forces had conquered Sicily, parts of the southern Italy, and the Balearic Islands, and they had made successful raids on Sardinia, Corsica, and the cities of Marseilles and Rome. (Backman 304) Here, the Turks was expanding their territory to further build their military strength and prepare for the fateful conquest of Byzantium. They had even set up their capital approximately a hundred miles away from it. Without doubt, it was only a matter of time until they would launch the invasion and perhaps manage to finally control most, if not, all the eastern Greek regions. Naturally, Alexius, who was the emperor of the Byzantine Empire during that time, had clearly no intention of letting his empire get devoured by the Turks. Knowing that he did not possess a military force that could rival the Turks, he sought for the help of Pope Urban II, who was the most powerful and
However, with the invasion of the Turks, not only were Christians not able to perform their duty anymore, but they were also massacred in unimaginable ways: “…the Turks continued the slaughter, taking people captive, pillaging their homes and setting them on fire, destroying monasteries and churches, and desolating entire villages and towns.” (Hagg 81) Accordingly, this brutal slaughter of Christians without doubt infuriated other the Christian community, but especially the Pope Urban II. This event served as a major factor in compelling Pope Urban II into launching the Crusades not only to retrieve what they believe was rightfully theirs, but also as part of revenge. Furthermore, unfortunately, the aggression of the Turks was not limited to the conquest of Jerusalem and the impact it had on Christian pilgrimage. In fact, they also conquered nearby areas around the Byzantine Empire, which was a Christian empire, and slowly walked their way into it: “…Muslim forces had conquered Sicily, parts of the southern Italy, and the Balearic Islands, and they had made successful raids on Sardinia, Corsica, and the cities of Marseilles and Rome. (Backman 304) Here, the Turks was expanding their territory to further build their military strength and prepare for the fateful conquest of Byzantium. They had even set up their capital approximately a hundred miles away from it. Without doubt, it was only a matter of time until they would launch the invasion and perhaps manage to finally control most, if not, all the eastern Greek regions. Naturally, Alexius, who was the emperor of the Byzantine Empire during that time, had clearly no intention of letting his empire get devoured by the Turks. Knowing that he did not possess a military force that could rival the Turks, he sought for the help of Pope Urban II, who was the most powerful and