Did Saladin have WMDs when the Crusades invaded?

-The phrase "Weapons of Mass Destruction" was first coined by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1937 which referred then to the aerial bombing of Guernica in Spain. Later the term was used to describe nuclear, biological and chemical weapons that could kill thousands at one go. The Crusades began in 1096, long before such weapons existed. So the simple answer based on the original definition is, No.



During the Cold War and the Current War on Terror the definition changed to include, "any weapon that is designed or intended to cause death or serious bodily injury through the release, dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals, or their precursors", "any weapon involving a biological agent, toxin, or vector " and "ny weapon that is designed to release radiation or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human life.鈥?br>


So by this definition "Greek Fire"/naphtha and diseased animal bodies, would count.The phrase "Weapons of Mass Destruction" was first coined by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1937 which referred then to the aerial bombing of Guernica in Spain. Later the term was used to describe nuclear, biological and chemical weapons that could kill thousands at one go. The Crusades began in 1096, long before such weapons existed. So the simple answer based on the original definition is, No.



During the Cold War and the Current War on Terror the definition changed to include, "any weapon that is designed or intended to cause death or serious bodily injury through the release, dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals, or their precursors", "any weapon involving a biological agent, toxin, or vector " and "ny weapon that is designed to release radiation or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human life.鈥?br>


So by this definition "Greek Fire"/naphtha and diseased animal bodies, would count.Actually no, Saladin just had a lot of help from other empires. His empire kept expanding while the Crusades became more barbaric. Also the Crusade were tricked, forgot by who but they kidnapped Saladin's sister and raped/killed her. the Crusade had a good plan but they're numbers were 1 to 200 and the chance of winning was pretty bad. They were trying to protect the "Holly Land" as in the city built in the centre of the world and was honored to the god they believe in. In the end the Crusades surrendered the "Holly Land" and they were spared. Even though they lost many men, it was a huge war between two powerful empire.
Yes, they had mass-.destroyed large swathes of Southern Europe. They had previously hugely destroyed European culture (they occupied Spain and tried to occupy France, but thankfully, this failled).



Had the Arabs not previously invaded Europe, there would have been no crusades. I am not a Christian and I do not agree with any religion, but the crusades were conducted as much to save European culture from Islamic domination as to save the so-called "holy land". These were days when these two notions were intermingled in many people's minds.



Had the crusades not happened, we would be living in Europe now like the people, who are still under the Taliban in Afghanistan today.
No.



Muslim armies had conquered Syria, Persia, Palestine, Egypt, North Africa, Spain, Sicily, Southern Italy, Cyprus, Rhodes, Sardinia, Majorca, Crete, and Malta which had been some of the most heavily Christian areas in the world. The even came within 100 miles of Paris before being pushed back.



Thousands, and possibly millions, of Christians died during this drive to eventually bring the entire world under Islam.



The First Crusade was launched in 1095 by Pope Urban II to check the advance of the Muslims and regain control of the city of Jerusalem and the Holy Land.



If this defensive war was not fought then we would probably all be Muslim today.



I am sure that some atrocities were committed by individuals of both sides during this war but by most people's judgment this was a just war.



For more information, see:

+ The Crusaders by R茅gine Pernoud

+ The Decline of Eastern Christianity under Islam: From Jihad to Dhimmitude (1996) by Bat Ye鈥檕r

+ God鈥檚 Battalions: The Case for the Crusades (2009) by Rodney Stark

+ Islam at the Gates (2008) by Diane Moczar

+ Seven Lies About Catholic History (2010) by Diane Moczar

+ Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Crusa鈥?/a>



With love in Christ.
He had 'Weapons of Mass Distraction', namely the kebab.



Oranges and lemons too, might have frightened them off, until they learned they were edible.
Both sides carried unhealthy viruses and used bacteria to break sieges