The Massacre of Jews by Crusaders Near the Temple Mount by Muslim Historians

The Christian Church's balance of power shifted from Constantinople in Turkey to Rome, from where the next bloody chapter in history began.

Jerusalem played a central role in the initiation of the Crusades. 

A series of religious wars fought in the Middle Ages aimed at retaking the Holy Land and the city of Jerusalem from Muslim control. 

The First Crusade was proclaimed by Pope Urban II in 1095 CE, in response to a plea from Christians in Constantinople who were besieged by Muslims. 

The Pope guaranteed those who sign up; a place in heaven, the absolving of sins, and plenty of booty.

Making their way through Europe to Constantinople, the crusaders murdered almost half of the European Jews. 

After securing Constantinople and conquering Antioch in Turkey, the crusaders reached Jerusalem in 1099 CE. 

The conquest of Jerusalem resulted in a blood bath, with many crusaders dying. 

Muslim Chronicler, Ibn Al Qalanisi, described the fierce battle in which thousands of Muslim men, women, and children were slaughtered. 

The crusaders then gathered the Jews in the Cave synagogue near the Western Wall and burned them alive. 

12th-century Arabian writer, Sibt Ibn al-Jawzi, corroborated the event: 

"The slaughter in the city was terrible. They gathered the Jews in their synagogue and then set it on fire." 

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