There are several reasons for the start of the Crusades. The rapid expansion of Islam leading to the Holy War is one of the main causes. Western Europe is the main region where Christian concept took root and grew into Holy War. Even with the close measures of the Islamic Kingdoms, Byzantine Christians, never found value in waging or condoning war. Within a century of Constantine I’s rule, “[c]hristians in government found themselves faced with questions of life and death, war and peace” (Madden 2). But unlike Constantinople, the clergy of the Western roman empire, used the appeal of defending the birthplace of christianity; as a means to solicit large sums of nobility to participate, the clergy offered indulgences for their war …show more content…
There was, therefore, nothing to differentiate the crusades from any other wars fought against infidels” (Madden 201). The crusades were either irrelevant or unnoticed throughout Muslim culture until later on in history. Long term socially, the Arab nationalists and Islamists were united in their assertion that colonialism was in truth just a means of western exploitation. Long term politically, the crusades served to unify the Middle Eastern people and a greater sense of nationalism was seen throughout the people. “Generations of Arab school children have been taught that the crusades were a clear case of good versus evil… Arab leaders continue to evoke this recovered memory of Saladin… The great and heroic leader led the Muslims to victory capturing Jerusalem and defeating the invaders” (Madden 203). As for the economical long term effects of the crusades on the Middle East, the book states, “The Muslim world was growing to ever new heights of power and prosperity long after the destruction of the crusader states in 1291” (Madden