Christian History Home > Issue 74 > A Deadly Give and Take
A Deadly Give and Take
Crusaders fought many terrible battles in the Middle East, but Muslims started - and won - the war.
Paul Crawford | posted 4/01/2002 12:00AM
Osama bin Laden called America's response to September 11, a "new crusade and Jewish campaign led by the big crusader Bush under the flag of the cross." He clearly meant to link the military campaign to European campaigns from a millennium ago, during which, the prevailing mentality holds, Christian warriors unjustly attacked Islamic possessions in and around Palestine.
By establishing this connection, though, the fugitive fanatic admits more than he alleges. In the Middle Ages, as in 2001, Islam struck first—and in such a way that the West would certainly respond.
Waves of conquest
Jerusalem has changed hands many times over the centuries, but the seventh century was particularly tumultuous. Pagan Persians stormed the city in 614. Eastern Christians, led by Byzantine Emperor Heraclius, reclaimed it by 630. Within a few years, though, Islamic forces had broken the Byzantine military and chased them out of Palestine.
Jerusalem surrendered to a Muslim army in 638. Construction began soon afterward ...
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