Armstrong 10-13

Well, chapter 10 was my least favorite chapter, although I can see why it is relevant. Helped me understand a suppose a little better why Christians began fighting harder for Jerusalem after the mass killing and exile.
I really enjoyed finally reading about Muhammad and the Islamic religion. I enjoyed how Muhammad believed that they (as a faith) should not disgrace the earlier religions and basically let them do as they please. I am also glad that I finally know why the prayers are toward Mecca and not Jerusalem. Another thing I found interesting was how they would not build on other religious sites and actually choose to settle a less prosperous land. I also enjoyed the similarities of making Jerusalem an official holy city by bringing the Black Stone from Mecca to Jerusalem just like the Arc of the Covenant had been in earlier times.
The main thing that stood out to me though was how each religion would try to "out do" each other like when the Christians decided to make a building taller than the Dome of the Rock. Or when there was a mosque build in a "Christian" territory.
The chapter about the Crusades was also a fairly new topic to me. I mean, I knew what they were but not into this much depth. Besides the killing I almost found this chapter comical. They Crusade back to Jerusalem to take it over because it belonged to them spiritually. Yet, once they succeed in this task they all leave and the city becomes underpopulated? Then once they are there, this place that has such a large connection to them... the only way they felt like they belonged was to mass produce buildings instead of having the spiritual connection. Just seemed like an odd way to leave a holy war... by leaving your "holy" city.