The Crusades

In the Medevil ages religion was a key factor in everyday life. Sin was to be avoided like the plague ( which in this time was very important.) The first crusades were undertaken by European nations to help the Byzantine empire that was facing the advancing armies of the Seljuk turks. The Popes during these times saw the Muslim kingdom as political enemies and offered indulgences ( forgiveness of sins) to warriors who fought for Christandom. Other people than Muslims came under attack as well. These peoples were usually under the Popes order of excommunication, meaing they were rejected from the fold of the church and had to be removed so that God's will could be carried out unhendered.