Why would people leave home to fight in a distant land? Some just hoped to save their souls or to do what they thought God wanted. They thought that God would look favorably on them for fighting his enemies, I am just fighting for my family pride, but some were just bored and want something adventurous to do. Most of us crusaders died because we had to travel very long distances to get to the holy lands, and we lost most of our army on the way. Also our warriors were not prepared to fight in the desert climate, so it was very difficult. Although the crusades failed, they changed Europe forever. Europeans would travel to the holy lands and learn about products such as, rice, cotton cloth, apricots, etc. Most kings increased their power because many nobles and knights had died in the Holy Land. Although the crusades changed everyone's lives, I made it home to my wife and kids, brought great pride to all of my family, and help change history forever.