It is human nature to wage war and fight. If someone believes something is theirs, they will fight for it. The Crusades, a series of brutal battles and sieges, were launched by Christians from 1095 to 1291. Although the manors were separate, the main unifying factor was the Roman Catholic Church, which had all the power. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The causes of the Crusades were manifold; however, the two most important causes were the differences between the Muslim and Christian religions and accounts of atrocities committed against Christians. Jerusalem was the holy land of Muslims because it was home to the Dome of the Rock. Jerusalem was holy land for Christians because it was the place where Jesus, the founder of Christianity, lived and preached. The second cause of the Crusades was the accounts of the horrific massacres and genocides that Muslims inflicted on Christians who lived in their territory. There were four main crusades; however, there were about five other smaller ones. Overall, they were relatively unsuccessful. The First Crusade began when the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I requested about three hundred well-trained soldiers from Western Christians for protection against the Seljuk Turks. He received around 10,000 poorly trained peasants, which was not what he wanted. So they were sent to the Muslim city of Nicaea and captured it, then they marched towards Antioch; he was finally captured after a long, exhausting siege. As for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Crusades, each of them failed to take Jerusalem. Although the Crusades were not directly successful, they proved to bring lasting improvements. Primarily, the Crusades opened the door to trade with the Orient. Along with trade, Christians acquired new navigational skills and tools, such as the magnetic compass. With more advanced ships and navigation, Westerners could travel further, leading to an explosion in exploration. New ideas in mathematics, science, literature, astronomy, and architecture were introduced to Christians. Exotic foods and spices from the East have become a luxury in Eastern European homes. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Wars and crusades lead to expansion, trade, and knowledge. The Crusades would lead to what is known as the Renaissance, or rebirth of Christian society. Even though the battle has been lost, the war can still be won.