Mr.Krishi Pothur Essay Example
Mr.Krishi Pothur Essay Example

Mr.Krishi Pothur Essay Example

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  • Pages: 8 (2177 words)
  • Published: May 2, 2018
  • Type: Analysis
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The book review, titled "The First Crusade and the Idea of Crusading," examines the concept of crusading in the Middle Ages. Despite facing various challenges like poverty, declining birth rates, famine, and disease, Europe remained committed to crusading.

During the Middle Ages, crusading was similar to the "hip hop" culture in that it provided a way for people to show their loyalty to God and devotion through Monasteries. Europeans had a deep connection with Christianity, which led soldiers from Medieval Europe to prioritize reclaiming the holy land where Jesus Christ was born and died. The first Crusade started when Pope Urban called on European armies to protect Byzantine territories and regain control of the Holy Land after it was taken over by Saracens from the Egyptian Caliphate.

Despite limited information, Jonathan Riley Smith

...

offers a comprehensive depiction of the Crusades, enabling us to visualize their true nature. He delves into crusade culture and its significant impact on social classes, while emphasizing the primary objective of the Crusades: to liberate churches from plundering Muslim armies and safeguard Eastern Christians' freedom to worship their Christian god.

The holy land was recognized by Pope Urban as an opportunity to bring it into European Christendom, leading to a temporary unity of Europe and establishing Christian dominance in Jerusalem. This was achieved by expelling different Arabic and Turkish ethnic groups. As a result, people of Christendom had the chance to attain salvation through participating in either the Pigrimage or the Crusade of the Crusader Heyday. Nevertheless, it is crucial to acknowledge that leaders of these social classes pursued financial and political advantages from the outcomes

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of the crusade.

In the past, the modern-day region including Israel, Jordan, and Syria was known as the holy land or the Kingdom of Heaven. Unfortunately, the first Crusade transformed it into a violent battleground, causing enduring conflict between people from Eastern and Western regions. It is essential to comprehend the motives behind the Crusades, one being to free Eastern Christendom's churches and prevent Turkish and Saracen armies from reclaiming control over the previously captured Holy land.

According to Riley (pg. 20), the Crusade had two main objectives: the liberation of baptized members of churches and the freedom of a specific location. Pope Urban openly endorsed the crusade due to this primary goal. The Pontificate-led Crusade aimed to free not only Christianity in the Holy Land but also other Christian regions under Islamic rule, such as Moorish-ruled Spain until the Spanish Reconquest.

Although Urban's message served as motivation for people to join the Crusades, the spiritual benefits they believed awaited them were also important. These rewards included Heaven and the honor of fighting for God. The Crusading Culture introduced Latin terms like "Exercitus Domini" or "militia christi," which referred to the army of god and knights of Christ, showing that their cause went beyond Europe, the church, and its pilgrims – it was ultimately for the Christian God and Jesus Christ.

The Church had successfully deceived individuals into thinking that taking part in a crusade implied fighting for God. Despite the numerous horrors and significant loss of life in the Holy land, people maintained unwavering faith in the notion that crusading or undertaking a pilgrimage to Jerusalem could lead them to

Heaven. This belief was particularly strong among ordinary peasant soldiers, who believed that killing a Muslim, especially in the Holy land, would ensure eternal salvation for their souls.

The initiators of the first Crusade had hidden agendas for beginning it, which was not surprising in that era. However, these motives were not apparent to the public who were disillusioned with the idea of crusading as a way to find refuge. Pope Urban played a significant role in commencing the war, although it is not clear whether he strongly believed that conquering the holy land through almost genocidal warfare against the Jewish and Islamic communities would liberate the Eastern Churches.

The text explores the clarity of oppression and salvation in Europe, resulting from an individual's unification efforts. This individual successfully united all of Europe, which was previously divided into warring political entities, specifically the constantly embattled Germanic Principalities.

The ulterior motives of the Crusader lords and Knights were primarily driven by monetary gain. Many knights became incredibly wealthy through various means, such as selling food to the Crusaders or acquiring financial benefits from conquering cities on their way to their main target. According to Riley, some individuals profited from the misfortune of desperate men in need of food, while others managed to preserve their existing wealth. It remains a topic of debate among historians whether this monetary gain was a byproduct or the ultimate goal of the Crusaders. Additionally, after successfully capturing the Holy Land, the Crusaders established a new Kingdom and the nobles gained political power through subjective dukedoms and counties under the rule of King Baldwin. This further enhanced their

status and influence within the kingdom since they had both European holdings and newly acquired ranks through their participation in the Crusade.

The lords, including minor ones in the new Kingdom, frequently had access to a valuable "by product" called the Crusades. Alongside the Pontificate and Crusader lords, even lay people and commoners who joined as pilgrims or regular soldiers had their own reasons for participating. While their primary focus was undoubtedly fighting for God and securing their Salvation, they also viewed the Crusades as a chance to escape from 10th century Europe - a period plagued by famine and disease that could strike at any time.

During the 10th century in Europe, specifically France and England, the general population faced fear due to multiple problems like civil war, famine, a high death rate, and a plague. These challenges resulted in people losing hope. The intense fear motivated individuals to abandon their farms and participate in the crusades with the hope of attaining a better life and being closer to God, as these natural disasters were less prevalent there (pg 39).

When it comes to ulterior motives, people often associate them with deception and dishonesty. However, in the case of the church, Crusaders, and common people, their hidden agendas were not entirely negative. The church benefited from leading the Crusades and even gained profits from them (according to Riley, all spoils were distributed among lords, the poor, and most importantly, the clergy). Additionally, by organizing Crusades and addressing ongoing threats from Islamic armies such as Turkey Minor, the Holy Land, and Spain; the church played a crucial role in unifying Europe.

justify">The Crusaders made sure to divide any plunder they acquired during their conquests among the clergy and the poor, in line with the Christian beliefs of that era. They believed that going on a pilgrimage would provide them with hope for escaping Purgatory and entering heaven, similar to peasants and laypeople. Nevertheless, they also embarked on these voyages to evade the challenges they would encounter by remaining in Europe instead of committing themselves to the Cause.

The first crusade showcased the unique dynamics between the clergy and the general population, highlighting the emergence of a mini culture. This interdependence among social classes within the crusades was evident, with the clergy and higher-ranking individuals serving as spiritual guides for the Crusades. The lords and knights, in particular, played a crucial role as the backbone of the Crusader armies, directing the actions of the peasants who fought alongside them. Ultimately, this protection indirectly benefited Lay people, European Christian Pilgrims on their journey.

This particular culture had a short lifespan of a few centuries and established a system that elevated the Church and its priests to the top of the social hierarchy. It is remarkable to observe how Pope Urban rallied immense support for the Crusades, similar to modern political candidates campaigning in each American state during elections. As Riley explains, "He followed up on his tour of France, as we have seen, with embassies or letters to Genoa, Bologna, Pisa, and Milan, and the crusade was on the agenda of councils he held at Bari" (pg. 1). This illustrates how the Pope persuaded both masses and their respective leaders (such as kings, dukes, and lords)

to adopt a Crusading mentality, thus demonstrating the extent of the Church's control over Europe's people. Examining different social classes' economic status is also intriguing; during the Crusades clergy tended to be wealthiest group while lower down Medieval Social Pyramid members of society faced increasing financial instability.

In the Crusading Social class, it was easier to break free of the chain and achieve a different position regardless of one's Socioeconomic class. This was made possible by the Holy Land becoming a center of learning and commerce, even amidst the violent battles that were happening. The Crusades enabled individuals from any social class, particularly the lower classes, to attain financial stability. However, the Church continued to hold dominion over these men as they were the authority in a Holy war like the Crusades.

The relationship between the Church and the lower social classes is described as a subtle tyranny concealed by the Church's strong determination to fight for God. However, it is still unclear whether this determination was truly for the Church or for God. The answer can be interpreted in either way and could also be a combination of both, considering the Church's peak dominance during the Timeline of European History. Nevertheless, the Church failed to adequately train these passionate soldiers to eliminate the remnants of Islamic barbarism, resulting in many of them dying in a horrifying manner during the war.

The brutality witnessed during the Crusades was unimaginable, resulting in countless innocent lives lost solely due to religious beliefs. The actions of the Crusaders led to numerous casualties that would be considered war crimes today, including thousands of Jews and Muslims

who were not combatants but ordinary civilians. It is important to acknowledge that both the Crusaders and the Church bear responsibility for these atrocities.

The Church viewed Muslims as allies of the Devil and believed that their actions always led to destruction. According to Riley, two brothers traveled to Jerusalem in order to seek God's grace through pilgrimage and also put an end to the corruption caused by pagan and immoderate behavior. This behavior had already oppressed, captured, and killed numerous Christians in a violent rage. This demonstrates how Crusaders saw Muslims and Jews as "savages" or "barbarians." Despite these derogatory terms, the Crusaders still committed terrible acts and carried out genocidal actions when capturing cities defended by Muslims. However, it was primarily the Church that encouraged this conduct among its devoted followers against any non-Christian population. Therefore, accountability for their deeds cannot solely be attributed to the Crusaders.

The Crusaders and Clergy genuinely believed in fighting for God, rather than seeking personal gain or other advantages that came with the invasion of present-day Israel. The Crusades allowed knights and commoners to show their loyalty to the Church and their dedication to the Christian faith.

The Crusades led to the emergence of a mini crusading culture in Europe and Jerusalem, fostering greater interconnectedness among different social classes. These expeditions served as both an escape from reality and an opportunity for individuals to embark on a physical and spiritual adventure. People were attracted to the Holy Land with the goal of witnessing God's presence, supporting the church, and engaging in warfare against Muslim armies and inhabitants of cities like Tyre and Jaffa. While

defending the Church and freeing Eastern Christians was the primary motivation for these Crusades, there were also hidden agendas involved. The first Crusade, for example, aimed to unite all of Europe under Church leadership by having Kings and their governments pay homage. Additionally, there was a defense of the Byzantine Empire led by Emperor Alexios I Komnenos who represented the last remnants of the once-great Roman Empire. Another objective was to liberate Christians living under Muslim rule in regions such as Southern Spain during the Early Middle Ages.

The concept of Crusading lost its appeal following the failed endeavor to reclaim Jerusalem, resulting in a decline in popularity. The subsequent crusades lacked the same level of dedication as the initial one and instead prioritized financial gain. Ironically, during one crusade, Constantinople was sacked, contradicting the Crusaders' purpose of safeguarding it.

The Children's crusade involved numerous children trying to conquer the Holy Land. However, most of them were either sold as slaves or abandoned the crusade and established themselves in new lands or returned to Europe before achieving their goal. Nonetheless, the Crusades promoted global trade and the exchange of ideas between Eastern and Western philosophies. This suggests that the Crusades were not completely harmful. Additionally, they provided hope for individuals enduring severe poverty during the Middle Ages.

The Crusades had a significant impact on the Middle Ages and how they were perceived. It is incredible that a single person's words could rally an entire continent to participate in a "Holy War" for unfamiliar but sacred land. The phrase "Dues vult" (God wills it) resounded throughout much of the Middle Ages.

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