How did Islam destroy the classical world?

[abaris]

Yeah the Crusaders were a mess. That is a part of history I am very sad about. And all because Yaweh told them to (supposedly).

That's one view I'm actually fighting against on both sides of the trenches. The grunts were motivated by religion, although even that is up for debate, since everyone dreamed about looting the Orient. But down from Urban it was actually much more political powerplay than religious endeavour.

If it wasn't that bloody, it would actually be funny. Urban, on his voyage to Clermont, heard about several bishops being captured for ransom by marauding knights. Also, the Byzantine emperor had called for military aid. With his call for a crusade, he wanted to give European knights a common cause as well as bringing the Greek Orthodox church to heel. That's the political background of the first crusade in a nutshell.