Political and Religious impact of the Crusades.

Submitted by Michael S (United States), Apr 16, 2016 at 15:35

Hi, Moh

I think the main impetus for the First Crusade, was so that the rulers of Europe would go to war at the Pope's bidding. It set a precedent, having repurcussions that lasted until at least 1648 (the end of the Thirty Years War). Ironically, the one who, probably more than any other, thwarted the Papal ambition was a Roman Catholic cardinal, Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal-Duke of Richelieu and of Fronsa, advisor to the King of France.

One could draw a comparison betweeen the Crusades and the present Jihad:

1. Jihadists are committed, essentially, to killing themselves in the name of Allah while commiting murder and other atrocities. The crusaders were encouraged to stay very much alive, and conquer territory. In return, they would receive eternal pardon from punishment in Purgatory.

2. The Pope was internationally recognized as a religious and political ruler. The present "Calif", whose name I can't even remember, is considered by all to be a renegade.

3. The crusades were a cooperative venture among the European powers; the only cooperative venture concerning Da'esh is two alliances AGAINST it.

That should suffice to show that there were great differences between the Crusades and today's Jihad. There were also similarities, of course, but these are trivial: Both movements, for instance, involved soldiers and weapons; and both were transnational movements. So were George W. Bush's interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq., World War II and the Congo Wars. As I say, the resemblance is trivial.

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