Luciano Anastasia's review of my first article on the Crusades
"The Crusades, often misunderstood in modern times, were primarily defensive wars initiated in response to centuries of Muslim conquests and the persecution of Christians. These conflicts arose from the need to protect Christian lands, pilgrims, and Eastern Christians from ongoing Muslim aggression. The article emphasizes that the Crusaders were driven by religious devotion and a sense of self-preservation rather than mere conquest. It challenges modern perceptions, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of the motivations behind the Crusades."

https://historymedieval.com/revisiting-the-crusades-defense-faith-and-survival/?fbclid=IwY2xjawE5xCtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHecQTQyuzYqHJt3kEF7dbCXFyAEbr21K-NYlQYmlEDifywqakULYqBhRuA_aem_6kAMk9MbjapU-C-j34X4Kw


Religious Motivators: Faith, Relics, and the Crusader States
https://historymedieval.com/religious-motivators-faith-relics-and-the-crusader-states/

The second article in my series of seven on the Crusades has been published

Religious Motivators: Faith, Relics, and the Crusader States
https://historymedieval.com/religious-motivators-faith-relics-and-the-crusader-states/

Very nice articles.  Sadly most people won’t take the time to learn about the reality of certain topics. I remember some years ago groups of Anglo type young people went to some primarily Muslim country and went around apologizing to people on the street for the crusades.   Sad.  Writers like Runciman haven’t helped the ignorance for sure.  That and some crusades had more noble intentions than others.

HulaguBookSacker wrote:

Very nice articles.  Sadly most people won’t take the time to learn about the reality of certain topics. I remember some years ago groups of Anglo type young people went to some primarily Muslim country and went around apologizing to people on the street for the crusades.   Sad.  Writers like Runciman haven’t helped the ignorance for sure.  That and some crusades had more noble intentions than others.

Agreed, it is sad, and also utilized for political purposes. We exaggerate the sins of our fathers and ignore our own. Knowledge is power!

The third article in my series on the Crusades has been published.

Sins of the Crusaders – For the Love of Money?
https://historymedieval.com/sins-of-the-crusaders-for-the-love-of-money/

My latest article on the Crusades addresses the claim that the Crusaders were racist and bigoted towards Islam.

Racism in the Crusades: Fact or Fiction?
https://historymedieval.com/racism-in-the-crusades-fact-or-fiction/

Luciano Anastasi
Challenging Anti-Jewish Racism Claims in the Crusades by Jeb Smith This article revisits the often-assumed connection between the Crusades and widespread anti-Jewish racism, focusing on Count Emicho's infamous mob during the First Crusade. While some Crusaders did commit atrocities against Jewish populations, the article argues that these acts were isolated and not representative of the Crusades as a whole. It emphasizes that many Christian leaders, including local bishops and even the Pope, actively condemned the violence and took steps to protect Jewish communities. Notably, influential figures like Saint Bernard of Clairvaux preached against harming Jews during the Second Crusade. Furthermore, the article places the violence in the broader context of medieval society, suggesting that opportunism and lack of planning, rather than outright racial hatred, drove much of the anti-Jewish violence. The Crusades, it argues, were not a systematic movement against Jews but a complex historical event influenced by various social, political, and economic factors. Ultimately, the author contends that anti-Semitism increased more significantly after the Crusades, particularly with the rise of nation-states in the Renaissance.
https://historymedieval.com/challenging-anti-jewish-racism-claims-in-the-crusades/

HulaguBookSacker wrote:

I remember some years ago groups of Anglo type young people went to some primarily Muslim country and went around apologizing to people on the street for the crusades.

Such historical apologies are invariably vacuous and, of course, almost never come accompanied by any form of recompense which any genuine apology should include. Often the receivers of such historical apologies are left more bemused than anything else. These apologies can also come from many different (and weird) directions. For instance in the early 1990s I seem to remember some young Austrian chaps on horseback and dressed in armour being filmed arriving at the gates of Buckingham Palace. They had ostensibly ridden all the way from Vienna to London to deliver a letter of apology for the arrest and imprisonment 800 years ealier of Richard Coeur de Lion in the 1190s. He had been imprisoned, following the Third Crusade, first by Leopold, Duke of Austria and then by Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor. Henry had extracted a gargantuan ransom in return for Richard's release. Needless to say that the 20th Century equivalent of the sum (had it been repayed) would have made even the well-stocked treasury of the German Bundesministerium der Finanzen baulk, let alone that of Austria. The reaction of many Londoners to the stunt tended to go along the lines of "Richard what? Leopold who?".

Luciano Anastasi -Islam’s Golden Age: Misconception or Reality? by Jeb Smith

This article critically examines the portrayal of medieval Islam in modern narratives, particularly in films like Kingdom of Heaven and academic discussions. The author argues that the Islamic world of the medieval era is often depicted as peaceful, enlightened, and tolerant in contrast to the aggressive, barbaric Crusaders. However, a closer look at Islamic conquests, religious warfare, and the treatment of non-Muslims challenges this perspective. The article delves into the origins of Islamic violence, tracing it back to the actions of the Prophet Muhammad and the Qur’an’s instructions on warfare. It also explores the systemic mistreatment of Christians, Jews, and other minorities under Islamic rule, countering the image of Muslim rulers like Saladin as enlightened and just. The narrative emphasizes the need to question and re-examine modern depictions of medieval Islam, suggesting that much of its celebrated tolerance may be a myth.
https://historymedieval.com/islams-golden-age-misconception-or-reality/#google_vignette