Optional support of Deep Podcast: / deeppodcastiran Instagram: / deep.podcast Telegram Channel: Https://www.telegram.me/deeppodcast The Crusades from the perspective of the Easterners by Amin Maalouf Abdul Reza Hoshang Mahdavi What were the reasons for the Crusades? Undoubtedly, the Crusades played a critical role in the history of the East and the West. We can consider these wars as the main manifestation of the conflict between the two religions of Islam and Christianity. This important event includes nearly two centuries of Islamic and European history. But it is not possible to understand this important event without knowing the cause and motives of this war. Muslims who lived during the Crusades, that is, from the emirs and rulers of Muslim regions to Muslim writers, all believed that behind the curtain of this war, there were religious reasons. was They believe that it was the Christians who were influenced by the harsh words of the Pope and other Christian elders, and that it was these Christian elders who ignited the war, calling the Pope the religious leader of the Western world, and the unity they were looking for happened. This unity between Christians became the beginning of the crusades, the religious motive was the main reason for the invasion of the crusaders. But there was another factor. A factor that history has not paid much attention to. A factor called Iqsad. Economic and social factors in Europe at that time were in a dire situation. The society has been unbridled. People were poor and helpless, and the system of feudal lords and landowners had created a big gap between the rich and the poor. All these events happened in Europe and no matter what the European rulers did, they could not bring a single piece of bread to the table of their citizens. Trade and commerce played a very prominent role in the creation of the crusades. In order to make more profit and strengthen their relations with eastern merchants, Western governments sent a large naval fleet to help the forces of Eastern Europe and helped the Crusaders in occupying the main areas of Syria. Genoese merchants played a key role in the occupation of Antioch and Venetian merchants in the occupation of Jerusalem in 1099 AD. Genoese forces had an active presence until the end of the crusades, even in the occupation of Tripoli that happened in 1099 AD, the footprints of Genoese were clearly visible. In 1202 AD, the Crusaders were in their fourth war. It was during this war that the Crusaders signed a bilateral cooperation agreement with the Duke of Venice. According to this treaty, it was decided that Venice would provide a naval fleet to the crusaders and receive 100,000 marks in return. So it is clear that economic and commercial goals were one of the main reasons for the crusade in Islamic lands. In the words of the English writer, Edward Palmer Thomson: The Crusades were the first colonial experience of the West, which was carried out for the realization of all-round economic exploitation. The First Crusade - the fall of Jerusalem from the south of France under the command of Raymond IV from the north of France under the command of Hugo I from France to Belgium , Germany, Hungary and Constantinople under the command of Godfrey Boyne and finally, the Normandy Corps from southern Italy under the command of Bohemond I. The first conflicts took place in today's Türkiye, which was associated with the victory of the Christian forces. The crusaders besieged the city of Antioch, the Muslims had a stunning resistance, but with the betrayal of one of the city's Christians, the commander of the operation, Bohemund I, was able to enter the city with his forces, and Antioch and its surroundings fell into the hands of the Christian forces. The Second Crusade - Imad al-Din Zangi The conquest of Raha by Imad al-Din Zangi led the crusaders to enter the second crusade. The Second Crusade took place at the instigation of a French priest, the rulers of Germany and France agreed, and the European forces again set off towards Asia Minor. The first conflict with the Seljuk forces was in the city of Konya. The Christians could not follow the Muslims, that's why they changed their route and went to Jerusalem from the sea. After consulting with the crusader king of Jerusalem, they besieged the city of Damascus, but this siege did not lead anywhere and they could not reach Damascus. Thus, in 1148 AD, the Second Crusade ended with the defeat of Christians and Europeans. The Third Crusade - Saladin Ayyubi In Ashura 567 AH, which coincides with Shahrivar of 550 AH, Saladin Ayyubi established the independent Ayyubid state after the death of the last Fatimid caliph. Salah al-Din Ayubi followed his policy in accordance with the previous Han commander, especially Nur al-Din Zangi. During this period, Quds was out of Muslim control. In 565 AD, a Muslim caravan was attacked and Saladin decided to take revenge on the Christians. He settled Arab tribes i