From: bivalve (bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com)
Date: Mon Nov 18 2002 - 12:09:17 EST
>I've been reading recently about the crusades, where "good
>Christians" slaughtered all the Muslims (including infants) in a
>mosque where they were, supposedly, under protection.<
The Crusades certainly left a good deal to be desired as far as the
Western contribution. Although it was claimed that the remaining
Christians in Palestine requested help, it seems more likely that the
business interests of prominent nobles was the main impetus at the
start. Additional actions of dubious merit were the attacks by
crusaders on Byzantines (Eastern Orthodox) and the crusade against
the Hussites (Czech proto-Protestants), the latter probably involving
killing some of my relatives by crusaders.
However, the modern attempts to make the Crusades into an early
example of Western imperialism tend to neglect to note that the
Muslims had previously invaded and conquered Christian regions such
as North Africa, Spain, Palestine, and other parts of the Near East.
Treatment of Christians under Muslim rule varied from good to poor,
as usually the case for subject peoples. After the last crusaders
weakened the Byzantine Empire, the Muslims invaded eastern Europe as
well.
1066 and All That points out that the Muslims fired at the crusaders
despite the prominently visible red crosses on their uniforms.
Richard, on his way to Palestine, went to Paris and turned south,
earning the name Gare de Lyon.
Dr. David Campbell
Old Seashells
University of Alabama
Biodiversity & Systematics
Dept. Biological Sciences
Box 870345
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 USA
bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com
That is Uncle Joe, taken in the masonic regalia of a Grand Exalted
Periwinkle of the Mystic Order of Whelks-P.G. Wodehouse, Romance at
Droitgate Spa
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