The 10th Crusade?

Join me on a brief excursion into Medieval History (and a tad beyond)

In the year 1076, Muslims captured Jerusalem, the holy city in Israel where the religions of Jews, Christians and Muslims, were latterly spawned. For Jews, Jerusalem takes them back to the days before David, Solomon et al. For Christians, Christ spent most of His life there and was crucified on nearby Mount Calvary. For Muslims, Muhammad, who founded the Islamic faith, is memorialized by the Dome of the Rock. It is believed that he prayed there and was lifted to heaven from the Rock. Abraham too, the beloved patriarch of Jews and Muslims, spent much time on the Rock - indeed, it was exactly there, where he almost sacrificed his son, Isaac.

From 1096 to the latter days of the 13th century, the Christians of Europe mounted nine major military campaigns (The Crusades) in valiant attempts to restore their place in Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the Middle East became densely populated by Muslims and to such an extent that the burgeoning land trade routes from Europe to China and the Indies became blocked, a major setback to the then prospering European economy.

To emerge from Islam's stranglehold, naval explorers from Italy, Spain, Portugal and England took to the seas to search for maritime routes to the Indies. But as intrepid as they were, it was by accident that they discovered the "New" World, a serendipitous find that forged a lead for the "Infidels" with which Islam could no longer compete. May I point out, that like on the uniforms of their armies, most of these European vessels carried sails on which the Crusader's Cross was very conspicuously emblazoned! One might call this "Infidel" age of discovery and incredible growth, the 10th Crusade! Noteworthy about this staggering triumph over Islam, it didn't require a single Muslim casualty!

Please draw from the above some added perspectives to what you may already know about this centuries old war between Islam and its "Infidel" enemies. How much more time and prescient resolution will it take to bring the dehumanizing, immolating aspect of this conflict to an end? Hopefully, the democracies that we are currently endeavoring to establish in the heart of Islam will make it possible for voices of moderation and prudence to be propagated and heard. Conceivably, we are also helping to create an environment in which Muslim women (like women of the West) will find the strength to fully assert themselves!

Comments: