A.the pope called for the destruction of the eastern Orthodox church at Constantinople
B.When the Seljuk Turks took control of the Holy Land, it became more dangerous for Christians to travel there
C. Muslim caliphs wanted to overthrow the Jewish kingdom that had been established in Palestine
D.European merchants wanted to establish trading outposts in Muslim territories of the Middle east
The reason for the First Crusades was option B: When the Seljuk Turks took control of the Holy Land, it became more dangerous for Christians to travel there. The First Crusades were a series of military campaigns launched by Western European Christians, who were responding to the increased threats faced by pilgrims and the Byzantine Empire from the Seljuk Turks. The Seljuk Turks had taken control of Jerusalem and other key Christian pilgrimage sites in the Holy Land, making it difficult and dangerous for Christians to visit these places. The Pope, Urban II, called for the Crusades in 1095, urging Christians to take up arms and reclaim the Holy Land from the Muslim Turks. The motivations of the Crusaders were a mix of religious, political, and economic factors, but the primary reason was to secure safe access to holy sites and protect Christian pilgrims.
