Weren't the crusades an eventually response to the Muslim encroachment of Europe? I am no historian, but the number I heard was appoximately 100 years after the first Muslim inroads into Europe. Maybe others can enlighten us.
The muslims started encroaching on Europe when they invaded Spain in 711, but the First Crusade wasn't launched until 1095 when the Byzantine Emperor sent an appeal to the Pope asking for volunteers to fight the seljuk turks. An appeal for volunteers was transformed into a huge religious movement which led, ultimately, to the recapture of Jerusalem from the muslims.
I am Portuguese, the Moors showed up on the Iberian penisula about 700 or 710. Portugal was not free of the Moors until about 1200 and Spain in 1492.
I know Greek people who still have family histories of what the Turks did to the Greeks and that goes back to the early or mid 19th century. Then there are the Armenians who suffered the first genocide of the 29th century at the hands of the Turks.
I am Portuguese, the Moors showed up on the Iberian penisula about 700 or 710. Portugal was not free of the Moors until about 1200 and Spain in 1492.
I know Greek people who still have family histories of what the Turks did to the Greeks and that goes back to the early or mid 19th century. Then there are the Armenians who suffered the first genocide of the 29th century at the hands of the Turks.