The Crusades: Helpful yet Harmful

It is undeniable that the Crusades were a turning point in world history. They brought Europe out of the Middle Ages and feudalism, setting the stage for the creation fo kingdoms and eventually the world's first nations. As Jerry Bentley says, the Crusades also brought cultural diffusion and syncretism between Europe and the Islamic World. Europeans gained knowledge of Muslim mathematics, science, medicine, and even stained glass. However, there were some obvious negatives regarding the famous holy wars. The first that they were, well, wars! Christians massacred the Muslims inhabiting the Holy Land which they were trying to claim. Why did the unprovoked Europeans decide that pilgrimages weren't good enough and that they had to try and steal the Holy Land? I blame it on Pope Urban. He gave Christians the idea that Muslims were bad people and didn't deserve the Holy Land. Really, all he was looking for was more power and a chance to finally control Europe. Well, though not pointless, not of the Crusades were successful. This could be viewed as good and a bad thing: sure, Christians didn't get the Holy Land, but what if they had? What if the Middle East became like Europe? What if Muslims were forced out and had to dominate another part of the world? Everything in history from that point on would change. Its an interesting thought to see someplace like England or Italy owning the Middle East, with the Pope controlling it. And as for the Pope back in medival times, well, he pretty much lsot power. Which, once again, could be good and bad. If you're Catholic, then maybe you wouldn't mind the idea of the Pope controlling Europe. Personally, I'm glad that he doesn't and that individual kingdoms were able to develop since they weren't weighed down by the Church. Lastly, the Cursades were harmful because they obviosuly created a bad relationship between Christians and Muslims, which still lingers today. Muslims obviously were mad with Christians who attacked them for a bad reason. Some Muslim radicals still have harsh feelings towards Christians and Jews. This could have derived from the struggle over the Holy Land, or simply wrong interpretations of the Koran and bending its rules to try and get away with things that no religion would approve of. Even so, out of these effects of the Crusades good thigns were able to happen, like the rise of nations. I think that it was very selfish of Christians to participate in the Crusades. They should have left the Muslims alone and tried to live in ahrmony. Instead, they ruined it for everyone. But at least Christinanity lost power so nations could rise!