Crusades: What did it achieve?

Watched 'Kingdom of Heaven' last night. Certainly not a bad film. But I left feeling sad. So much blood spilt over a little piece of dusty land. To what aim?

There really are all kinds of people in this world. Fundamentalists and fanatics exist in every religion, race and culture. And it takes just a small group to create havoc... much like a bad apple in a basket.

On a lighter note, I was telling my partner that if a woman had led both the Muslims and Catholics, there would be no bloodshed. Ha ha.

The movie made me wonder how often the phrase "God wills it/It's the will of God" had been used (or more likely, misused) over the centuries by all the nutters trying to achieve their own agendas. How dare they assume to know the mind and purposes of the Almighty? Unfortunately, this still happens today. And not just on a global, political scale.
The "will of God" excuse occurs in many churches, mosques, gatherings, meetings, demonstrations, conferences, etc etc etc. Who can truly fathom the will of God? What mere mortal can claim to understand the workings of the Creator?

The movie has made me keen to find out more about the crusades. Exactly what happened, where, when, how, who, why. But on the other hand, I dread the research I'll have to do. Because history and the interpretation of history is so very subjective. It really depends on who did the telling. What are the chances that a Muslim and Christian perspective of the crusades will turn out the same in all areas? How will I discern the truth?

Well, we all have to start somewhere. Time to read up.