The Crusades are recognized as a failure, but influential in shaping the Western world. One can equate the Crusades to a modern-day war, such as Vietnam. Considered a failure by most, there was a learning experience from engaging in Vietnam, and takeaways that are invaluable. The Crusades followed this pattern and would shape the West moving forward. While the foundation was religion, the societal and commercial value that emerged from the Crusades would forever change the Western world and how civilization was structured. Religion held a critical role in developing the Crusades and re-shaping civilization, where Western influence would become an overwhelming force. The Christian Church had been established for six hundred years when followers
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The purpose was worshiping at the tomb of Jesus, known as the Holy Sepulcher (Phillips 2014). While the Mohammedan Arabs controlled Palestine, they allowed this form of worship. Enter the Seljuk Turks who were a more aggressive and demanding form of Mohammedans, and would make it more difficult for Christians to worship in these holy lands; it became forbidden and dangerous to do so (Phillips 2014). There was a common enemy, however, in the infidel Turks. The Pope would reach out to the feudal lords and the knights encouraging them to stop fighting the Christians and combine forces against the Turks. A holy war would be established with the aim of taking back the Holy Sepulcher (Phillips …show more content…
At the same time, one must recognize the Crusades not as a failure, but as a critical development in the history of Western civilization and culture moving forward. The implications of the Crusades are applicable to modern society and set a standard for enlightenment, learning, commerce, and other components that are recognized as critical to a modern society. Discounting the Crusades solely as a military expedition that did not fulfill its initial objective is inaccurate and diminishes what occurred and how it would change the landscape of the Western World moving forward (Asbridge
The purpose was worshiping at the tomb of Jesus, known as the Holy Sepulcher (Phillips 2014). While the Mohammedan Arabs controlled Palestine, they allowed this form of worship. Enter the Seljuk Turks who were a more aggressive and demanding form of Mohammedans, and would make it more difficult for Christians to worship in these holy lands; it became forbidden and dangerous to do so (Phillips 2014). There was a common enemy, however, in the infidel Turks. The Pope would reach out to the feudal lords and the knights encouraging them to stop fighting the Christians and combine forces against the Turks. A holy war would be established with the aim of taking back the Holy Sepulcher (Phillips …show more content…
At the same time, one must recognize the Crusades not as a failure, but as a critical development in the history of Western civilization and culture moving forward. The implications of the Crusades are applicable to modern society and set a standard for enlightenment, learning, commerce, and other components that are recognized as critical to a modern society. Discounting the Crusades solely as a military expedition that did not fulfill its initial objective is inaccurate and diminishes what occurred and how it would change the landscape of the Western World moving forward (Asbridge