Causes Of The Crusades

The aspects and the motives of the crusades have caused heated debates where historians are determining the major motives of the Crusades. The Crusades were primarily caused by religious devotion, political gain and economic benefit. The question was that, which of the two factors had served as more of a catalyst. The Crusades were constructed on the basis of devoting to the religion of Christianity and leaders protecting their people and the future of their empire and leadership. Despite there being two motives, the aspect of religious devotion outweighs political gain and economic benefits.

The Crusades were foremost an expression of Papal authority. One of the factors in causing the Crusades was political gain and economic benefit. Pope
In the first Crusade, Muslim armies were taking over parts of the Byzantine Empire and now the Seljuk Turks had posed as a serious threat to the ancient capital of Constantinople. Emperor Alexius had sent a message to Pope Urban the second for assistance in protecting pilgrims and the future of his empire. Both these incidents illustrate how political gain had played a part in the beginning of the Crusades. Despite the Crusades have been started by the prospect of political gain and economic benefits, it was not as significant as the religious devotion displayed by individuals. On the other hand, men went on Crusades to relieve their state of poverty. The quote of “There were others who were oppressed by debts to other men or who sought to escape the service of their lords” highlights the economic benefit of going on the Crusade as Crusaders would be able to be relieved from the burden of having to repay back their debts. However this was supported by a hostile view of the Second Crusade, which meant that sections were exaggerated. Despite the Crusades have been started by the prospect of political gain and economic benefits, it was not as significant as the religious devotion displayed by
Popes were determined to recover Jerusalem, as they believed it was Christian territory. The Christians had seen Jerusalem as a significant place for Christianity as they described it as being “the centre of the earth”. This is because it was “glorified by his burial” and emphasises the importance of Jerusalem for Christians. Men who went and fought in Jerusalem also know as “the Holy Land” were given spiritual rewards which were to “have immediate remission of sins” therefore you were given a passport to heaven despite having committed multiple sins in the past. The result of the fall of Edessa to Muslims caused Pope Eugene the second to start the second crusade. Similarly to the First Crusade, the Muslims were still threatening to retake the Holy Land. The want and need for securing Jerusalem was a high priority for the Christians as it signified a meaningful place and symbolises their