Onward Christian Soldiers

By 1050 most of all Western Europe was formally Christian. Christians had accepted warfare to protect against threats, and to grow the faith. Feudalism prevails at this time, but for the next 200 years the Crusades will dominate. Without the abundance or recreational outlets and a social pressure to preserve and uphold anything that might be right with the world, the Crusaders filled their time by grouping together for a common cause. People by nature need to feel like they belong to something. It was not as simple as turning on the TV and becoming part of the Pepsi generation. In these days you had to put your money...or perhaps your life where your mouth/faith was. It was a dirty job, but someone felt that someone had to do it.

(Art: Byzantine Mosaic 1030, Hagia Sophia Cathedral, Istanbul)