I'm currently writing an essay on Islamic history and I just got to the Crusades. My understanding is that Jerusalem was conquered by 'Umar, or Omar, from the Byzantines, and he treated the Christians and Jews there with respect. However, I've recently read that it was the Seljuk Turks that conquered it from the Byzantines, and that they treated the Christians and Jews horribly, and that's what sparked the first Crusade. Which is correct? Or am I completely misunderstanding the whole situation? I'm a little under the weather so my brain unfortunately isn't functioning at full capacity.
Also, if the Seljuk Turks were the ones to conquer Jerusalem, what did they actually do to the Christians and Jews?
Finally, any books or articles you can recommend on the early history of Jerusalem and the Crusades?
Thanks.
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