Ottawa residents were recently afforded a unique opportunity to enrich their understanding of an era whose common knowledge is decidedly imbalanced: the Crusades.

While in the Western world, the Crusades evokes mental pictures of gallant Christian knights on horses led by King Richard the Lionheart, fighting for their religion, the recent Cordova Academy workshop on July 10 demonstrated that the Crusades were in fact quite different than we have been made to believe. The 'lion' in King Richard's epithet, for example, had nothing to do with any bravery he may have possessed.

Billeted as a workshop in the sense of it being an educational seminar as opposed to an accredited course, the lecture was supported throughout by images and maps referenced from over 130 books, including books which were written at the time of the Crusades or compiled from reports of eyewitnesses to the Crusades.

Brother Mohamad Jabara, Headmaster of the Cordova Academy, held the attention of over 150 people that attended -- including several non-Muslims -- with his introduction of the historical causes of the Crusades. The common understanding that religious motives prompted the Crusades was refuted many times through the course of the presentation.

History has proved that the main factor behind the Crusades was economics. Viking raiders from the North had attacked and destroyed villages along Europe’s coastlines and waterways leaving the Europeans weakened but defensive.

In their militarization, the Europeans recognized the organization and superiority of the Muslim armies from the South. At the time, the area under Muslim control had already extended across Spain (Andalusia). With the Europeans appreciating the support and defence the Muslim army provided against Viking raids, it was a simple matter for the Muslim armies to expand the borders of their land into large parts of Europe.

What was a revelation to many...was the thought-provoking idea that although the Crusades were a major event in the timeline of European history, they were a minor event in Islamic history

The Pope, who had both religious and political power in Europe at the time, had for 100 years paid tribute funds to the Muslim caliphate in exchange for Muslim protection. And while the expansion of Muslim rule into Europe was welcome at first, resentment, envy and greed began brewing. So it was explained that this additional land and power under Muslim control caused a group in Rome to seek division among the Muslims. Groups began to break off from the Catholic church in order to grab and hold power. And as we are well aware from other history lessons, a house divided cannot stand.

Brother Mohamad explained that while the fall of the Roman Empire left Europe with neither organization nor culture, throughout this time and until after the Crusades, the Islamic world continued to develop technology and trade, and was well-known for its advancements and riches.

Christians and Jews alike enjoyed freedom of religion and movement in the Muslim world. An example of this respect is the fact that after divisive leader destroyed the most special church in the Holy Land, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Muslim caliphate paid for the reconstruction of the church.

Another proof that religious reasons did not factor largely in the promotion of the Crusades was the ransacking and abuse heaped on the Unitarian Christians of the Balkans. These poor, fellow Christians suffered so much evil at the hands of each Crusade as King Richard’s armies passed through the Balkans on their way to attack the Muslim world.

What was a revelation to many at the Cordoba Academy workshop was the thought-provoking idea that although the Crusades were a major event in the timeline of European history, they were a minor event in Islamic history. By the end of the Crusades, which lasted a little over 200 years, all the land that had been taken in these wars was reclaimed and back in the capable hands of the Muslim caliphate.

During the course of the presentation, listeners were educated on the lives of the two well-known heroes of the Crusades, Nurraddin and Salahuddin Al-Ayyubi, may Allah have mercy on them. Emphasis was put, however, on the motivation and knowledge that led these two great men to their successes: the work and teachings of the scholar Al Ghazzali, may Allah have mercy on him, who was the reviver of the Deen (religion) that Allah had sent for that time in Islamic history.

While Salahuddin performed well on the battlefield and showed great courage and chivalry to his enemies, he and Nurraddin both helped eradicate the deviant ideas of the Mutashaabihah (anthropomorphists) from influencing the Islamic world.

The workshop ended with a detailed summary of major events in each of the nine Crusades. As it turned out, most of the wars were an embarrassment to the Crusaders and accomplished little.

Unfortunately there was no time for questions at the end of the workshop. Nevertheless, many attending were satisfied to have filled their hearts and their notebooks with a more balanced view of this period in the world's history.

Those who missed the event can only hope that Cordova Academy will offer recordings of the lectures.