The Crusades: Salvation or Exploitation? Name Institutional AffiliationThe Crusades: Salvation or Exploitation? Crusade comes from the French word 'croisade' which literally translates as 'the condition of being marked by a cross'. Describes maneuvers primarily on religious, social or political issues. The origin of the Crusades can be traced back to around 1054, when the Roman Catholic Church invaded Muslims in Türkiye. The Church convinced its believers that agreeing with the church and fighting its cause would absolve them of sin or overlook their sins. It essentially became a Holy War to reconquer the “Holy Land” from the Muslims. Over a period lasting up to two centuries, various powers unite to intensify the struggle to conquer the Holy Land. These included the aspiration of the Popes to obtain the "spiritually consecrated canonical role" of Rome and the entrepreneurial ambition of Italian merchants. Christian and Muslim leaders realized that the Holy War plan could be exploited to demand programs of solidarity and military action, including to accelerate the imposition of autocratic governments. In this way, Crusader warfare sought to shape and direct violence. In essence, this ended up serving the ruling class. Those involved in the struggle for stewardship of the Holy Land truly believed that their activities were tied to divine purposes. Popes Innocent III and Urban II supported the crusades to assert their power, while also hoping to help Christians navigate their way to salvation. (Asbridge, 2010) The role of propaganda, particularly sermons, in creating public representation was crucial. The now consolidated coordination by the Papacy favored the growth of the propaganda... of paper... of religion, thus exploiting the innocent souls who sought God through promises of remission and forgiveness of sins. Acts of war led to the destruction of property, loss of life, rape, and slavery, all in the name of saving the souls of those who believed. The Crusades ended up exploiting man's desire to be at peace with his God, rather than for the actual salvation of souls. References Asbridge, T. (2010). Crusades: The War for the Holy Land UK. Simon and Schuster UK Ltd. Christiansen, E. (1997). The Northern Crusades (Vol. 927). Penguin UK.Maier, C. (2004). Propaganda and ideology of the crusade: model sermons for preaching the Cross. Cambridge Taesoo, Y. (2006). Minjung Theology: Toward a Second Reform. Asia Christian ConferenceRiley-Smith, J., & Riley-Smith, J.S.C. (2005). The Crusades: A History. Continuous.