Why The Crusades were INSANELY Based (& justified) - a 💎🧵
Historically, after the Edict of Milan, Christianity spread far to the west and east of the Roman Empire becoming the dominant religion in the areas outlined in this map ⬇️
In the mid 600's arab warlords made their way out of the arabian peninsula and began conquering violently the lands around them - they brought with them their own religion: Islam.
They managed to spread even to southern Italy & France.
In response to centuries of islamic agression and opression of Christians within the HISTORICAL christan lands of North Africa, the Holy Land, Iberia and southern Italy the Christin Kings of Europe, under the support of the Vicar of Christ, decided to launch offensives to TAKE BACK their lands and free their people.
Enough was enough, if the situation in the west was dire, you can only imagine what was happening in the east to our brothers and the pilgrims in the Holy land.
In 1095 Pope Urban II calls the first crusade to take back the Holy Land and drive Islam out of Europe.
"Although, O sons of God, you have promised more firmly than ever to keep the peace among yourselves and to preserve the rights of the church, there remains still an important work for you to do. … For your brethren who live in the east are in urgent need of your help, and you must hasten to give them the aid which has often been promised them. For, as the most of you have heard, the Turks and Arabs have attacked them and have conquered the territory of Romania as far west as the shore of the Mediterranean… They have occupied more and more of the lands of those Christians… They have killed and captured many, and have destroyed the churches and devastated the empire… On this account I, or rather the Lord, beseech you as Christ's heralds to publish this everywhere and to persuade all people of whatever rank, foot-soldiers and knights, poor and rich, to carry aid promptly to those Christians and to destroy that vile race from the lands of our friends… Christ commands it." - Pope Urban II
The Crusades were successful.
The Goals were achieved. Europe remains Christian and for centuries our christian bretheren in North Africa and the Holy Land were free under European Rule.
If anything a new Reconquista and a new age of Crusades is what the world needs again.
Pax's video on the topic for a more indepth analysis:
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