why did people join the Crusades. Need 3 answered: Because they wanted their sins forgiven, or they wanted to spread christianty, or they wanted to gain land,riches and treasures or they wanted to convert to Hinduism or the king told them to do it?
People joined the Crusades for a variety of reasons, and motivations often overlapped among individuals. Out of the options provided, the following three were significant factors for many participants:
1. **Because they wanted their sins forgiven**: One of the most powerful incentives for joining the Crusades was the promise of spiritual benefits. The Pope promised indulgences, which were assurances of reduced penance or forgiveness of sins, to those who took up the cross and joined the Crusades. The idea of fighting for God and the church provided a strong religious motivation that resonated with the medieval mindset, where salvation and the afterlife were of paramount concern.
2. **They wanted to spread Christianity**: Crusaders were often motivated by a desire to reclaim the Holy Land, including Jerusalem, which was under Muslim control. For many, the Crusades were seen as a holy mission to restore Christian access and control to these sacred sites. Additionally, they aimed to support the Byzantine Empire, which had requested assistance against Turkish advances, and to stop the spread of Islam in the region.
3. **They wanted to gain land, riches, and treasures**: The potential for material gain was also a significant lure for many who joined the Crusades. Nobles, knights, and even commoners saw the expedition as an opportunity to acquire land, wealth, and titles in the Near East. Kingdoms established by Crusaders, such as the Kingdom of Jerusalem or the County of Tripoli, offered new possibilities for those who could not inherit or acquire land in Europe due to primogeniture or overpopulation.
The remaining options did not play a role in the decision to participate in the Crusades:
- **They wanted to convert to Hinduism**: Conversion to Hinduism was not associated with the Crusades, as Hinduism was not a significant factor in the religious or political contexts of the Crusades. The Crusades were specifically Christian campaigns primarily against Muslim-held territories, and there was no organized effort to convert people to Hinduism.
- **The king told them to do it**: While feudal obligation and loyalty to a liege lord or king certainly played a part in recruitment for the Crusades, it was not the sole determining factor for participation. Not all Crusaders went because a king commanded them; many went of their own volition, spurred by religious fervor, the promise of indulgences, or personal ambition. However, in some instances, particularly during the later Crusades, kings like Louis IX of France did lead the expeditions, and their subjects and vassals joined them out of feudal duty.