The Holy War The Crusades and their impact on the world today "Karen Armstrong"

In the year 1095, Pope Urban II called the Christian warriors to raise the cross banner and their swords to fight the Muslim Turks who had swept through the eastern regions of the Byzantine Empire in Anatolia and Asia Minor, and to recapture the city of Jerusalem from Muslim control. The first Crusades were a holy war that united the forces of European kingdoms against a common enemy. The Crusades became a material for a romantic legend, but in reality, they were a series of brutal battles fought in the name of religion and piety to strengthen the power of the Western Church. Today, the feeling of the legacy of religious violence they left behind is evident as the ancient conflict between Christians, Jews, and Muslims continues. Karen Armstrong delves into the minds of kings, sultans, popes, saints, and pilgrims, skillfully presenting the Crusades from the perspective of the three religious heritages and their profound and ongoing impact.