Islamic Crusades 1: The Occupation of Constantinople

NOTE: WHY DO I USE THE WORD "CRUSADE"?

In the two years since I posted this series I have received messages from many Christians stating that they are offended by the word "crusade" (a derivation of "cross") being associated with Islamic violence. I chose to use that word because The Crusades are something that most in the post-modern, politically correct West recognize as "evil." Many westerners are still not acquainted with the real meaning of words like "jihad," "shariah," "dhimmis", etc. Hopefully in 2010 more people DO understand the true meaning of those words.

In short, I chose the word "crusades" to highlight that Christians were not the only ones who fought religious wars of conquest. My intention was not to insult Christianity. Christianity is a religion of peace that is sometimes used by extremists to justify violence. Islam is a religion of war. I pray for the day when these videos are no longer needed. Until that day I will keep the name "Islamic Crusades."

BLOG:
http://occidentalsoapbox.blogspot.com/2008/09/islamic-crusades-episode-1-occu...

Welcome to Islamic Crusades, Episode 1: The Occupation of Constantinople. In the intro to this series, I quoted Bill Clintons 2001 address in which he cited the Crusades as a root cause for the 9/11 attacks, and specifically singled out the sack of Jerusalem in 1099 as an example of Western brutality that still poisons our relations with the Muslim world today. In this video I will tell the story of the merciless siege, destruction and exploitation of a great Christian city. The atrocities were at least as horrific as those in Jerusalem; men, women and children were massacred, the city was burned and looted, and ancient Christian churches were destroyed or converted into Mosques. It not only marked the fall of a city, but the death of a culture, and the end of a 1,100 year old empire. This terrible event occurred in 1453 AD, 354 years closer to our own time than the siege of Jerusalem; yet it is not used by Christians to justify violence, it is not cited as motivation for Christian suicide bombers to kill civilians, in fact you would be hard-pressed to find it mentioned anywhere in the public discourse. Heres the story.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Islamic
• Crusades
• jihad
• Constantinople
• Greeks
• Armenians
• Istanbul
• Turkey
• Christians
• Jews
• Muslims
• Byzantine
• Empire
• Rome
• Ankara
• Greece
• Hellas
• Athens
• Armenia
• Yerevan
• Catholic
• pope
• orthodox
• islam
• hagia
• sophia
• saint
• eastern
• southern
• europe
• expansion
• genocide
• war

[SilkRouteTrader]

If given a chance, 99% of Arabs will drink the blood of Turks and vice versa.

[OccidentalSoapbox]

@SilkRouteTrader Persians would do the same to Arabs or Turks.

[aoeaoae]

Great work! This needs to be said again and again, in the face of the disgrace that is the today's education system in the West - and mostly, the muslim PR that is the Western TV "news".

[eidius1989]

cities have been razed and looted since ancient times. Alexander and Persepolis a prime example.

[georplagian]

Thanks,A good needed video.I took history in H.S.in the 60's. When Roman history was being discussed up to the time (600ad) when Eastern Roman Empire was transforming into the Byzantine Christian part of the Empire.That discussion was interupted with of the rise of Islam & how they gobbled up the Middle East where other Christian cities stood.We're told that some historians said the taking of Constantinople was a major stab to Christianity & taking of Haigia Sophia was it's heart. Geo.

[MrDenocan]

He issued a proclamation: the citizens of all ages who had managed to escape detection were to leave their hiding places throughout the city and come out into the open, as they were remain free and no question would be asked. He further declared the restoration of houses and property to those who had abandoned our city before the siege, if they returned home, they would be treated according to their rank and religion, as if nothing had changed.

-----George Sphrantzes

[Envaldig]

He forgot to mention how Constantinople never recovered its former glory after the fourth crusade. :(

[vudu8ball]

Who did what to whom first sounds like a bunch of kids arguing. There are no clean hands in history. The idea that one racial or religious group has the moral high ground is rediculous. The question is what are we going to do now? How are we going to behave to each other now and in the future. This is the lesson and wisdom of the South African Truth Commisions.

[evildnalor]

armenia and ani, was a tragedy and genocide. When The Armenian Church and Bagruti emmisaries went to Constantinople to ask for help against the Muslims, to try to forge an alliance. The Byzantine empire attacked the Armenian empire and left them with not enough military might to deal with the Islamic invasion, were so many were killed. Constantinople in the end, was Cain. Not Able.

[evildnalor]

Muslims, most notable Suleiman and others, allowed freedom of religion. In fact the tax they had to pay was less than what many Christian kings would charge their serfs. In Estonia Christian teutonic nights who should have stood for something, rape, pillaged, burned and killed a bunch of people to. Constantinople was a hive of plague, prostitution, poverty, crime, were the rich were few and the poor were millions. The Turks did a better job, despite what we have all ways said about them.

[historyfathead]

@Search4diabetescure He's not a penis lover he just like big tits who happen to be black.