When Prof. Phillips notes that the crusaders had multiple motivations (e.g. doing it for devotion to God and also for personal honor or civic pride), let's not make the mistake of thinking that the crusaders were being self-contradictory, or that the religious motivation was cynical and insincere. Think about the construction of the Gothic cathedrals. The people of a city built a cathedral to honor God, and at the same time an impressive cathedral reflected well on their city. The motivations reinforced each other. What made the bravery in battle so honorable, and what gave the city so much civic pride, was the very fact that they saw the cause to be so religiously important.
A good motive, as in any war scenario, was the ability to throw off social norms like someone who ventures off on holidays. Let's not forget these crusaders are young or in their prime. Being a stranger in a strange land has a libertary effect. With religious sanction and ease of access to penance only makes it more enticing.
Seems a good question would be: How have the countries returned to Christianity fared over the last few centuries and today? Are they free, prosperous, peaceful?
I actually often find the motivation behind the events more intriguing than the events themselves. prof. Phillips is particularly good at this which is what I enjoy his tv work and books so much.
200 year Christian kingdom in the heart of the Islamic empire that coincided with the end of the golden age. Not every goal was completed, look at Jerusalem now lol.
When Prof. Phillips notes that the crusaders had multiple motivations (e.g. doing it for devotion to God and also for personal honor or civic pride), let's not make the mistake of thinking that the crusaders were being self-contradictory, or that the religious motivation was cynical and insincere. Think about the construction of the Gothic cathedrals. The people of a city built a cathedral to honor God, and at the same time an impressive cathedral reflected well on their city.
The motivations reinforced each other. What made the bravery in battle so honorable, and what gave the city so much civic pride, was the very fact that they saw the cause to be so religiously important.
A good motive, as in any war scenario, was the ability to throw off social norms like someone who ventures off on holidays. Let's not forget these crusaders are young or in their prime. Being a stranger in a strange land has a libertary effect. With religious sanction and ease of access to penance only makes it more enticing.
"Devotion alone" = The first WMDs 😂
I think it is shocking that he didn´t mention that the whole thing started because the Eastern Romans asked for help from the Pope.
The more their motive changed the more they failed . The earlier crusaders were successful but later ones a failure .
Seems a good question would be: How have the countries returned to Christianity fared over the last few centuries and today? Are they free, prosperous, peaceful?
It's one of the first instances of god gold and glory.
I actually often find the motivation behind the events more intriguing than the events themselves. prof. Phillips is particularly good at this which is what I enjoy his tv work and books so much.
How badly they failed 😂😂😂😂
200 year Christian kingdom in the heart of the Islamic empire that coincided with the end of the golden age. Not every goal was completed, look at Jerusalem now lol.
Actualy they saved holy grave, and noone since tried to destroy it...
Is Iberia a muslim land nowadays?? What about the Baltic, did they continue to pratice paganism??
Yet, they saved Europe from Islamic aggression. Thank You Crusaders.