I am reading this book on the Crusades, the many quests to reclaim the Holy Land during medieval Europe. The overwhelming takeaway from the book is my astonishment at the massive carnage done in the name of god. (A supposedly all-powerful, benevolent god.) Though I guess it isn’t secret that in the history of the Catholic Church, there’s much blood on its hands.
Muslims on the other side of the belligerents list are no better in terms of cruelty inflicted.
Of course, we can’t take our modern lens to view history. To the populace of the Middle Ages, large casualty events by sword blades might be a normal thing. Potential terror that would paralyze modern humans is simply the price of doing business way back in those days. We can’t imagine living in city where every few years another siege army comes to wreck havoc. Men are expendable. Women tradable. Children disregarded.
And yet people of the medieval period carried on living. Far simpler times, I suppose. The only salient things in life is enough food to eat, and a roof over the head. There’s nothing more than that. Even if the next day some Venetian ships might show up on the town coastline, ready to plunder your city. Danger is something you accept.
I suppose the citizens of Ukraine in this current war with Russia can relate. Amidst many bombs and tragedy, Ukrainians must keep it moving. Stomach needs to be fed, homes need rebuilding, should it be unfortunately destroyed.
Those of us sitting pretty in the first world have lots to be thankful for. It seems petty to complain about big city crime when medieval people’s very existence hangs on so delicately.
How do you do?