"The Real History of the Crusades" Topic

"Misconceptions about the Crusades are all too common. The Crusades are generally portrayed as a series of holy wars against Islam led by power-mad popes and fought by religious fanatics. They are supposed to have been the epitome of self-righteousness and intolerance, a black stain on the history of the Catholic Church in particular and Western civilization in general. A breed of proto-imperialists, the Crusaders introduced Western aggression to the peaceful Middle East and then deformed the enlightened Muslim culture, leaving it in ruins. For variations on this theme, one need not look far. See, for example, Steven Runciman's famous three-volume epic, History of the Crusades, or the BBC/A&E documentary, The Crusades, hosted by Terry Jones. Both are terrible history yet wonderfully entertaining.

So what is the truth about the Crusades? Scholars are still working some of that out. But much can already be said with certainty. For starters, the Crusades to the East were in every way defensive wars. They were a direct response to Muslim aggression — an attempt to turn back or defend against Muslim conquests of Christian lands…"
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Amicalement
Armand

One of the last links you posted the author flatly stated that it is "disproven" that the crusades were "defensive".

I tend to be very suspicious on any "historian" who claims to have the truth "in every way", regardless of the direction of their claims.

I have to admit, though, that I would love to lock these two up in a room and only let them out when they have found a consense on the crusades. I would not wait for that, though :-)

What about 'Hey – we've got a lot of underemployed armed thugs hanging about – let's send them somewhere a LONG way AWAY'

stain on the history of the Catholic Church in particular and Western civilization in general. A breed of proto-imperialists, the Crusaders introduced Western aggression to the peaceful Middle East and then deformed the enlightened Muslim culture, leaving it in ruins. For variations on this theme, one need not look far. See, for example, Steven Runciman's famous three-volume epic, History of the Crusades

This guy has clearly never read Runciman.

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

No reputable scholars today write about the Crusades in the way you described Armand. Claiming otherwise is just creating strawmen.

More revisionist crap.

Glup!…

Amicalement
Armand