The Crusades

The crusades were a series of military campaigns the Catholic church carried out between the 11th and 15th centuries against Muslims, pagans, and church opponents (Lock, 2006). Over the past few decades, historians have investigated the occurrence and motivations for the crusades. Some of the motivations for the crusades identified include the need to: capture Jerusalem, free and defend Christian territories, and protect Christians living in non-Christian territories. However, questions still arise on whether these were the motives of the religious and political leaders who called for the crusades or whether they also had particular hidden agendas (Lock, 2006). This article examines the evidence of the first crusade to determine whether it was meant to save Christianity or exploit them for personal gains. 

  

 the crusaders on a battleground 

 

The First Crusade (1096-1099)

 

 Pope Urban II

  Pope Urban II was the first religious and political leader to call for a crusade in Clermont, France. He cunningly crafted his rallying message for the crusade. He said that those who participated in the liberation of God’s Church from the hands of Muslims would be forgiven for their sins. He did this upon the request of Emperor Alexios I of Byzantine, who feared the advancing Seljuk Turks, who had taken over some of his southern territories and were approaching Constantinople. Pope Urban II quickly responded to this request for specific political reasons. He knew that the Byzantine empire was mainly dominated by the eastern church (the Orthodox Church). He saw Emperor Alexios I request as an opportunity he could not forgo to reach out to the Eastern church, which had differed significantly from the Western Church (Catholic Church) in the past. He believed that by helping the Byzantine empire and the Eastern Church, he would be able to unite both the Western and Eastern Churches under his leadership. 

Emperor Alexios I was also dishonest in his request for help against the advancing Seljuk Turks. He presented his problem with the Seljuk Turks so that the problem appeared grave, which was not the case (Mayer, The Mediterranean Region in 1095, 1988). In reality, he wanted help from the other western kingdoms to help him recover the territories he had lost in battles with the Seljuk Turks (Mayer, The Mediterranean Region in 1095, 1988). This is why he quickly demanded that all the territories recovered from the Seljuk Turks be given to him before he could agree to support the crusaders.

Moreover, most senior nobles indulging in the crusades were also dishonest in their motives. Most indulged in this course for honor, financial gains, and adventure. Examples of such men included Count Stephen of Blois, Prince Bohemond I of Taranto, and the crusaders who stayed in Jerusalem. 

Count Stephen of Blois would write letters to his wife, Adela of Blois, informing her of how he gained much wealth through gold, silver, and honors from his expedition (Phillips, 2015). These indicated his prime motive for indulging in the crusade. He was also quick to turn his men away from the purpose of the crusade, which was to advance forward and capture Jerusalem, upon learning that the Muslims were being reinforced by a large relief army (Phillips, 2015). 

 

 Prince Bohemond of Taranto. He felt betrayed by Alexios I during the crusade.

  Another case of self-interest was witnessed in Prince Bohemond I of Taranto. He refused to relinquish Antioch to Emperor Alexios I (Mayer, The Crusader States, 1099-1146, 1988). He claimed victory and the city. He argued that the failure of Emperor Alexios I to support the crusaders in the battle of Antioch had nullified the crusaders’ agreement with the emperor. Therefore, every battle won, together with the booty, belonged to the crusaders.

 

Finally, after the capture of Jerusalem, many crusaders returned home. A few remained in Jerusalem. Those remaining Crusaders had a plausible excuse that they were protecting the city. Apart from that, they made themselves the lords of Jerusalem and acquired holdings within the city (Riley-Smith, 2005). 

Conclusion

The crusades mainly exploited the peasants involved in or affected by it. Pope Urban II called for the crusades to enable him to increase his control over the Church; Emperor Alexios I used the crusades to recover lost Greek territories; Count Stephen of Blois and Prince Bohemond I of Taranto used the crusades to amass wealth, honor, and lands; and the crusaders used their victories to grab the wealth of people in the territories they conquered. In short, the religious and political classes exploited peasants by using them as armies for crusades to advance their interests. In contrast, some peasant crusaders exploited the natives of their conquered lands to amass wealth and acquire titles.

  

References

Lock, P. (2006). Routledge Companion to the Crusades. Abingdon-on-Thames: Routledge.

Mayer, H. E. (1988). The Crusader States, 1099–1146. In H. E. Mayer, The Crusades (pp. 60–61). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Mayer, H. E. (1988). The Mediterranean Region in 1095. In H. E. Mayer, The Crusades (pp. 6–7). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Phillips, J. (2015, May 5). The Crusades: A Complete History. Retrieved from History Today: http://www.historytoday.com/jonathan-phillips/crusades-complete-history

Riley-Smith, J. (2005). The Founding of the Settlements. In J. Riley-Smith, The Crusades: A Short History (Second Ed.) (Pp. 50–51). New Haven: Yale University Press.

   

Choosing a Speed Booster for Your Android Phone

We often need help with problems when our Android phones develop annoying sluggishness. Such situations usually require us to install the right speed booster in the phones that can instantly tune and turbo-charge them. Our Android phones work similarly to desktop computers, laptops, and notebooks. Like desktop computers and others, Android phones also have RAMs and processors, which determine how first they process information and are bound to experience failures at certain times. These failures occur when the RAMs of the android phones are full, or their processors are slow. Fortunately, many applications can help speed up Android phones by emptying their RAMs and making their processors work faster than before. Most importantly, consumers should know how to choose the best speed booster for their Android phones. Below is a list of steps one can take in choosing a speed booster for one’s phone

 Firstly, consumers should consider whether a speed booster is available for free or is being sold. Free Speed boosters or free versions of speed boosters usually have limited functions. That is, they can only clean your device occasionally. Additionally, they may not clean all file locations on your device. On the other hand, paid speed boosters or paid versions of speed boosters usually have many options for cleaning your device. They can regularly clean all file locations in your device as you think fit. Therefore, consumers should go for paid speed boosters or versions of speed boosters if they can afford them. 

 Secondly, consumers should consider whether the speed booster application has dubious functions, such as “RAM boosting,” or requires one to install other applications developed by the same company that developed the speed booster. Technically, it is impossible to boost RAM with an application. Additionally, installing many applications contributes to one’s phone’s sluggishness. Therefore, one should avoid speed boosters with dubious functions and other applications. 

These are the two significant factors customers should consider before they install a speed booster. They should analyze the speed boosters based on these two factors before they install them.

Best Hotels

It is the holiday season. You are looking for an ideal place to spend your time as you reflect on your past and dream of your future. Alternatively, you are having a long paid leave from work. You have eagerly waited for this time so that you can get away to a faraway place, which seems like a paradise and relieves you from the daily stresses of your life. You can do yourself a favor by choosing the best hotel that offers and caters to your safety and offers you a variety of fun and stress-relieving activities. 

 For many years, writers of luxury travel and specialists in the hospitality industry have analyzed many hotels concerning various factors, such as facilities, location, seclusion, design, services, and style. These factors have enabled them to identify the best hotels in the world. The latest review and analysis of hotels worldwide place the hotels discussed below in the best category. It would be best if you tried to visit some of them. 

Nihiwatu,Sumba, Indonesia

This hotel's primary difference is its fusion with the local Sumbanese traditional culture. It has an unrivaled connection to the Sumba people of Indonesia. The hotel's villas are designed and built according to traditional Sumbanese architecture. Ikat accents and thatched roofs characterize them. Moreover, nearly all the staff at the hotel are Sumba people, which gives you a new unique experience with another group of people. 

Sumbanese cuisine is one of the best. You will surely love the distinctly palatable seafood prepared by the Sumbanese chefs at the hotel. The hotel also offers guests a variety of activities, such as fishing, horse riding, and trekking to the spa. Its phenomenal surf break was the main reason for its construction at its present site. Surely it would help if you visited this hotel.

 Les Fermes de Marie, Megeve, France

This hotel reminisces a rural hamlet. It has a rustic charm capable of captivating anyone in love with the beauty of nature. The hotel is composed of old timber cabins that blend with the cabins of the rural folk in the region. The hotel has nine cabins with 70 rooms and suites, which are very comfortable. The cabins also have three restaurants serving French dishes, which are widely known for their palatability. Moreover, the hotel has a cowshed-chick spa and a ski shop. Guest who has participated in skiing in the mountains can soak their tired legs in the hot tub, which is situated outdoors. The hotel provides a beautiful scenery of cabins, fragrant pines, and stacked logs down the mountain. Guests can relax around open fires that give them warmth. Mont Blanc, arguably the finest cabin in the world, is part of the hotel. It has simple yet comfortable seating, a large open fire, and a beautiful garden. This hotel is great for tourists who fear traveling to faraway tropical lands.

 The Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace

If you seek the best service in the world, this is the right hotel. Its staff can help you create and host the best parties, romance, and marriage proposals. They will never disappoint you. On top of this, when it comes to style, it is one of the most stylish hotels across the globe. Its building is magnificent. The affluent residents of Budapest, who have some taste in art and beauty, abundantly love it. It was renovated in 2004 at 100 million Euros, which restored it to its original 19th-century grandeur. The hotel is adorned with beautiful works of art in the art-nouveau style. Moreover, the Zsolnay tiles on its floor blend perfectly with the building's art, and the wrought-iron Peacock gate affirms the majesty of the hotel. The location of the hotel is also perfect. It directly overlooks the Danube and the Chains Bridge. At night, observing the twinkling lights of Chains Bridge offer a serene atmosphere of happiness and composure. 

 UpperHotel, Hong Kong

If you intend to draw inspiration from art and architecture, this is the right hotel to visit. Upper House is a representation of modern beauty and elegance. The balance of stone and straw, light and angles, and water and nature are perfectly exemplified by this hotel. This created a peaceful feeling of belonging to guests. The hotel has a lawn and garden where guests can do yoga or attend evening cocktails. The guest rooms are situated on the 38th floor of the building. The rooms have simple, comfortable furniture. The walls are made of transparent glasses that allow light penetration. The high location of the rooms provides a perfect view of the city. The rooms have fridges that are well-stocked with wine and other non-alcoholic beverages. The top floor of the hotel has a large sitting room, café, restaurant, and bar that offer popular local dishes. If you want calmness and comfort, this is the right place. 

 Castello di Casole, Casole d'Elsa, Italy

Situated in the countryside, between Siena and San Gimignano, this hotel provides a good view of the beautiful serene countryside. Previously, the hotel was a castle with farmhouses spread around it. The former farmhouses have been converted into villas. Today, it is owned by Timbers Resorts. The hotel has 50 bedrooms. Their ceilings are made of beams, and their floors of terracotta. The stonework is exposed. The rooms are furnished with old Italian furniture made of lavish Italian fabrics. Their facilities are of top quality. the hotel hosts the renowned Ristorante Tosca, which prepares local palatable dishes and drinks, such as wine, olive oils, meats, and pasta. The hotel is also adorned with a lavish pool and spa. This is one of the best romantic hotels you will ever come across.

Many hotels across the globe offer quality services that customers want. The hotels discussed above are just a few of the many out there. However, I recommend you consider these hotels.