[R. Scott]

I was taught that the Crusades were a bad thing...an attempt by the Church to consolidate its power.

I was taught that they were the only way the Pope could get the European knights to quit killing each other – he had them focus their attention outside Europe.

[Dark Skies]

...he had them focus their attention outside Europe.

That was also part of what I had learned.

I have always loved that period in European history (from 1000 to 1500+) and have loved reading about it. Obviously, recent experience with Islam is requiring me to rethink all I thought I knew...glad I didn't major in that stuff.