Waging war and fighting is human nature. If someone believes that something is their property, then they will fight for it. The Crusades, a series of brutal battles and sieges, were started by Christians between 1095 and 1291. Although the manors were separate, the main unifying factor was the Roman Catholic Church, which held all the power. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayThe causes of the Crusades were multiple; however the two most important causes were the differences between the Muslim and Christian religions and the stories of atrocities committed against Christians. Jerusalem was the holy land for Muslims because it was home to the Dome of the Rock. Jerusalem was the holy land for Christians because it was the place where Jesus, the founder of Christianity, lived and preached. The second cause of the Crusades were the stories of the horrible massacres and genocides that the Muslims carried out on the Christians living in their territory. There were four major crusades; however, there were five more smaller ones. Overall they were relatively unsuccessful. The First Crusade began when the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I asked 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. Then, they were sent to the Muslim city of Nicaea and captured, then marched towards Antioch; he was finally captured after a long exhausting siege. As for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Crusades, each failed to conquer Jerusalem. Although the Crusades were not directly successful, they proved to produce lasting improvements. Mainly, the Crusades opened the doors to trade with the East. Along with trade came to Christians new navigational skills and tools, such as the magnetic compass. Thanks to more advanced ships and navigation, Westerners could travel farther, leading to an explosion of 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 families. Remember: this is just an example. Get a custom paper 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 if the battle has been lost, the war can still be won.