Crusades Dbq

In 1095, a series of medieval battles, also known as the crusades, began between the Christians and Muslims. Pope Urban II delivered an influential speech to the knights and soldiers to fight and win the “Holy Land” back. He used convincing language as he supports the benefits of war. He states that by doing this, they will be doing God’s desire, giving them a sure passage into heaven, he also says that if whoever kill anyone that is not Christian, will be rewarded; therefore he is using religious ideals to motivate the citizens to battle. After his speech, a large amount of people started their journey to the Holy Land. The main motive behind the crusades was financial gain, but was also religious principles and prizes in the background.

For many of the partakers in the Crusade, The pogroms that were conquered demonstrate the financial gain of the crusades.

The crusaders also attacked many different cities to gain more money for the Catholic Church. On the crusades there was a number of opportunities for individuals to get money for themselves by conquering small areas. The main purpose why they conquered cities was to take everything that the previous government possessed. A French crusader sent a letter to his wife in 1098 saying, “My dear wife, I now have twice as much silver, gold and riches as I had n I set off for this Crusade.” Most crusaders went for financial gain, and left their family and loved ones behind so that they could obtain more money and riches to bring back. This shows that one of the reasons for the crusades was for grater financial gain and when the continuation of the crusaders also gave the church more funding and in doing this gave them more power, money was the equivalent of power and this power gave Urban a higher stance and more accesses to political

power.

To obtain more trust and to thrust for him self he used religion to get a better himself if he knew by using religion the people where more likely to resinate with what he was saying. To start of his enticing speech he calls them sons of God and places them in a religiously difficult place by saying “there remains still an important work for us to do” as if to say that they have not worked to the a stranded worthy enough for the lord at their job is not done. He also says, “preserve the rights of the church” saying that the church has lost its rights and by fighting in this power hungry war they will regain and preserve Christianity. Urban used his highly established religious podium to sway the devotion and loyalty of devout Christians, he vindictively twisted the words of God for his own growth used a façade and it worked.

To conclude the crusades, it was just another way to gain financial power and by using religion as a loophole he caressed and charmed the people to fight. He uses false words to create a war, and two of the main10 commandments clearly states, “You shall not lie, and you shall not lust what others have.” Therefore, it cannot be God telling The Pope this since he is obviously breaking the 10 commandments. Pope Urban II motivates the knights and soldiers, and other people to go and win the “Holy Land” back, by using persuasive language and also religious ideals.