Islam is in the midst of a battle for the hearts and minds of it's followers. You have the extremists who want to take the book literally and in many cases out of context and you have those who approach the religion with more of a modern perspective. I don't think the religion itself is at a tipping point where radical beliefs are threatening to take control but the recent events in the history of Islam seem to indicate that radical beliefs are on the rise and in the cases of some nations are under complete control of the radicals.
in fact a lot of it was for economical reasons. If Constantinople fell, then the rest of europe would lose trading power in the middle east with the rise of the turks.
first off, 45K, and second off... making 25K a year isn't a disadvantage. money in no way, shape, or form defines my happiness. i can make the best out of most situations.
please enlighten me on how that is gross simplification.
muslims killed travelers on their land, europe saw that as a reason to go protect their economic interests in that area using Christianity as the figurehead, how is that overly simplified?