Jerusalem is one of the holiest cities in the entire world. Home to holy places, synagogues, mosques, and churches, millions of people visit the city of Jerusalem. It is also a place of conflict as the three major world religions view Jerusalem as one of the sacred places for their religion. In addition, history has shown that each of these religions wanted to take control of Jerusalem, and destroyed the holy sites belonging to the others. Finally, none of the religions want others to control the region and wish they themselves had sole power over the city.
To begin, there are three major world religions that view Jerusalem as a holy city. Those religions are Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. They all have specific reasons for viewing it as such a holy city. Christianity views it as a holy city because “it is where the young Jesus impressed the sages at the Jewish Temple” (Document 2). The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is also a very holy site to the Christians in Jerusalem. This is such a holy site to Christians because it contains the last five stations of the Cross and was divided among several denominations, each responsible for its own section (Document 4). Jerusalem is also a very holy site for Jews. According to Document 2, the Jews view Jerusalem as the “Biblical Lion,” the “City of David,” the site of “Solomon’s Temple,” and the capital of the Israelite Nation. The Western Wall is the holiest spot for Jewish life. When the Romans destroyed sections of Temple Mount, the Western Wall was one of the few surviving sections. For years, Jews across the world made the trip to Palestine and went to the Western Wall to thank god (Document 6). Finally, the religion of Islam also views Jerusalem as a holy city. One famous holy site, “The Dome of the Rock,” is the third most important holy site to Islam. It “marks the site from where Prophet Muhammad made his Miraaj or Night Journey into the heavens and back to Makkah” (Document 5). The structure stands as one of the greatest achievements of Islamic architecture. Next, the “Siege of …show more content…
A crusade is a military expedition which was enforced by the Europeans and Christians in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries to recover holy land from the Muslims. The crusade that is going to be discussed is the one in 1187. About 900 years ago, there was a Muslim military and political leader named Saladin. His goal was for Islamic conquest of Jerusalem and other Holy Land cities in the near east. At the same time, a group called the Crusaders with King Richard I of England wanted to regain the Holy Land from the Muslims and take control of Jerusalem. A war called the Battle of Hattin started on July 4th between these groups. The Muslims led by Saladin won the war and took control of Jerusalem and its holy cities. They captured Guy of Lusignan, the King of Jerusalem, and then helped kill Saladin’s enemy. The remaining captured Christians were sold on the slave markets. In September of 1187, Balian of Ibelin, a crusader of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, created 60 new knights to fight Saladin with. Knowing this, Saladin impacted the holy sites of Judaism by attacking the Tower of David and the Damascus Gate. Muslims were in control for a long time
To begin, there are three major world religions that view Jerusalem as a holy city. Those religions are Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. They all have specific reasons for viewing it as such a holy city. Christianity views it as a holy city because “it is where the young Jesus impressed the sages at the Jewish Temple” (Document 2). The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is also a very holy site to the Christians in Jerusalem. This is such a holy site to Christians because it contains the last five stations of the Cross and was divided among several denominations, each responsible for its own section (Document 4). Jerusalem is also a very holy site for Jews. According to Document 2, the Jews view Jerusalem as the “Biblical Lion,” the “City of David,” the site of “Solomon’s Temple,” and the capital of the Israelite Nation. The Western Wall is the holiest spot for Jewish life. When the Romans destroyed sections of Temple Mount, the Western Wall was one of the few surviving sections. For years, Jews across the world made the trip to Palestine and went to the Western Wall to thank god (Document 6). Finally, the religion of Islam also views Jerusalem as a holy city. One famous holy site, “The Dome of the Rock,” is the third most important holy site to Islam. It “marks the site from where Prophet Muhammad made his Miraaj or Night Journey into the heavens and back to Makkah” (Document 5). The structure stands as one of the greatest achievements of Islamic architecture. Next, the “Siege of …show more content…
A crusade is a military expedition which was enforced by the Europeans and Christians in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries to recover holy land from the Muslims. The crusade that is going to be discussed is the one in 1187. About 900 years ago, there was a Muslim military and political leader named Saladin. His goal was for Islamic conquest of Jerusalem and other Holy Land cities in the near east. At the same time, a group called the Crusaders with King Richard I of England wanted to regain the Holy Land from the Muslims and take control of Jerusalem. A war called the Battle of Hattin started on July 4th between these groups. The Muslims led by Saladin won the war and took control of Jerusalem and its holy cities. They captured Guy of Lusignan, the King of Jerusalem, and then helped kill Saladin’s enemy. The remaining captured Christians were sold on the slave markets. In September of 1187, Balian of Ibelin, a crusader of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, created 60 new knights to fight Saladin with. Knowing this, Saladin impacted the holy sites of Judaism by attacking the Tower of David and the Damascus Gate. Muslims were in control for a long time