First Crusades

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This writing assignment is based on the review of two articles, “Pope Urban II and the 1st Crusade” by Robert the Monk, and “Muslim Call for Resistance to the Crusaders”. These two documents would provide an insight into the action that prompted the conflict between the Christians in Europe and Muslims of the Seljuk Turks in 1100’s. In the first document “Pope Urban II and the 1st Crusade”, Robert the Monk, based his analysis on the sermon that Pope Urban II used to address the Christians before the Council of Clermont, France in the year 1095. This sermon was to encourage Christians to give up the fight they had among themselves, and pick up arms, in order to wage war against the Muslims with the objective of recovering the “Holy Land” in Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the accounts recorded in the article “Muslim Call for Resistance to the Crusaders’, by a Muslim author in Damascus, explained that the Muslims in Jerusalem at that time were also instructed to halt the fight between them and be prepared for a defensive war that would defy the possible attack by the Christians in France (Franks). Therefore, this paper would focus on how the sermon given by the Pope contributed to the “First Crusade” and the Muslims action towards the revolt.

Pope Urban II, born as Odo of Lager in 1042, was a great reformer who through his speech in Clermont, France initiated the course known as the “First Crusade”. Urban was called to papacy in 1088, and as a proficient man, he was able to use his knowledge and wisdom against his rivals. However, when the Seljuk Turks invaded Jerusalem and threatened to conquer the Byzantine empire and rule over Constantinople, the emperor at that time by the name Alexius I went before Pope to se...

... middle of paper ...

...he rich were to assist the trained soldiers through their wealth.

While the Christians in Europe were getting ready for the invasion, the Muslims on the other hand were urged to prepare for a defensive battle. However, during that period of time the Muslims were facing internal struggles which was primarily caused by their diminishing interest in the practice of Jihad. It was a struggle against unbelievers in the Islamic territories. Was the Jihad important to the Muslims that it caused such chaos among the Muslim brotherhood? Yes. In fact, according to the author of the article “Muslim Call for Resistance to the Crusaders,” he explained that it was the duty of every caliph to practice jihad. Therefore, when controversies arose among the brotherhood, Muslims perceived it to be a punishment from God, for they were neglecting their duty of practicing Jihad.

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