“Run Quickly to help your brothers living across the Eastern shores.” That’s what Pope Urban II said after the end of his historical speech.
There was no need for Crusade. Pope Urban II tried to portray Muslims as Inhuman and the race that is demolishing Jerusalem’s holiness. Muslims indeed ruled Jerusalem since the 7th century.
It is a Historical debate that whether this Crusade was necessary or not.
Byzantine Empire faced a serious threat from the Turks Muslims. Still, it was totally political and trading related, but there was no direct threat to Christendom.
There is no specific claim available that can mention the vengeful motivation of Pope Urban II. Inspiring vengeance is not a very Christian thing to do, yet it happened in the Western part of the Roman Empire.
Before ending the Prerequisites for understanding the first Crusade, we first need to learn about the Regions and the Geography of that era.
(Remember: Don’t Confuse timelines. Here we are talking about the Geographical historical geography of Roman Empire, which is 700-1000 years before the era of Pope Urban II and The First Crusade).
The Great Roman Empire
Augustus Caesar proclaimed himself as the Emperor of the Great Rome in 31BC. It was 31 years before the Birth of the Christian prophet or Messenger, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus was born in Jerusalem, and the ocean of his teachings started from this place. Jerusalem was also part of the Great Roman Empire.
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At first, the Roman Empire followed the Pantheon Gods. These gods were Jupiter, Juno, Mars, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Apollo, Diana, Minerva, Ceres, Vulcan, and Vesta. These twelve gods of the Roman Pantheon were the center of the Roman faith.
They share similarities with Greek Olympus Gods.
This would classify them as the Pegan (Followers of Religions other than Abrahamic religion). They also share the worship traits with the Vikings, but their Empire was much more extensive and more prosperous than Vikings; nothing can compare to the glory and wrath of the Roman Empire of that time.
If we try to calculate the net worth of Augustus Caesar, even for his era, his net worth would be more than 5 trillion dollars. This is enough to show you how powerful he was.
This Empire included Spain, Southern Britain, France, southern Britain, Italy, Israel, Egypt, northern Africa, and Turkey.
The Byzantine Empire
The Great Roman Empire was significantly large. It was difficult to rule this massive Empire, so Roman Emperor Diocletian decided to divide the Roman Empire into two Parts.
Byzantine was the eastern half of the great Roman Empire. The Western side of roman Empire consisted of the true Roman Empire.
Constantinople: A city with historical conflicts
Constantinople was a Natural harbor, enriched with the beauty of treading and Political prowess. It was the Prime Geographical region that connected Europe and Asia. Before the Great Roman King Constantine 1st, Constantinople was recognized as the Byzantium.
Constantinople was the jewel of the Byzantine Empire.
When Constantinople renounced his faith and agreed to become Christian in 325 CE, he changed the name of Byzantium to Constantinople. So, the City Constantinople became the Prime part of the Christian faith.
Constantine I
King Constantine 1st chose Byzantium as the “New Rome” and changed the name of Byzantium to Constantinople. And then Constantinople was the New Capital city of the Roman Empire.
King Constantine 1st bought a power transition in Roman Empire. He then moved the seat of power from the western side of Roman Empire to the Eastern Roman Empire.
Many countries change their Capital cities in today’s era and shift their seat of power from the old capital city to the new capital city.
The old capital of the Roman Empire was Mediolanum.
He established New Rome in the name of Jesus Christ, and many people were influenced by his decision. So the Eastern part of the Roman Empire started following the Christian faith.
Eastern vs. Western Roman Empire
I hope now it is clear to you that the Eastern side of the Roman Empire was Byzantine. The western side of the Roman Empire was later referred to as the Holy Roman Empire (Although there is no specific name to the Western side of the Roman Empire).
Two emperors were ruling the Eastern and the Western part of the Roman Empire.
When we speak about the fall of the Roman Empire, we are actually talking about the fall of the Western Rome Empire.
In 476 CE, the Monarchism of Western Roman ended, and later on, People started accepting the Christian Faith.
Byzantine Empire Survived the next 1000 years even after the fall of Western Roman Empire in 476 CE
Historical Western Roman Empire
The Western side of Roman Empire was consisted of,
Latin was the primary language of the Western side.
They Worshipped the pantheon gods.
- Iberia
- South Britain
- North Africa
- Germany
- France
- Italy
Historical Eastern Roman Empire
The Eastern Side of Roman Empire Consisted of,
Greek was the primary language of the Eastern Side.
They were devoted Christians
- Turkey
- Levant
- Egypt
- Balkans
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