70 THE ORIGINS OF FREEMASONRY FROM ANCIENT TIMES TO THE MIDDLE AGES
The Influence of the Muslim World
Crusaders and Templars, and through them the Western world, were
subject to the overall influence of Byzantium and particularly that of its
secular institutions, notably the collegia. But occurring at the same time
was Islam's powerful ascendancy and its influence was as profound as
that of the Byzantine Empire. Nor was it limited to the operative plane
of construction. Born from a social and practical viewpoint, its effects
overflowed widely into the speculative, intellectual, and spiritual
domains until its message was propagated, just like that of Byzantium,
throughout the entire Christian West.
It is important to note that there was never a constant state of war-
fare between the the Christian and Muslim camps. In fact, a strong,
neighborly relationship was created between them. There were even
alliances concluded between the two sides. The necessities of war led
the Crusaders to profit from the divisions that existed among the "infi-
dels" and to exploit the offices of one to combat the others—so much
so, in fact, that the first lessons learned from the Muslims were prima-
rily utilitarian and military.
From the very beginning of the First Crusade, the Franks reached a
military understanding with the Fatimids of Egypt against their com-
mon enemy, the Turks. The Fatimids were far from viewing the
Frankish invasion adversely because they deemed that it would stop
the advance of the Turks in the direction of Egypt. Arab historian Ibn
al-Athir accused the Fatimids of having summoned the Franks into
Syria in order to use them as defense against the Turks. In 1099 the
Crusaders signed an accord with the emir of Tripoli, Ibn Ammar, which
stipulated that they would spare the city in return for the emir's deliv-
ery of three hundred pilgrims who had been held captive in his city;
15,000 bezants; and food, supplies, and guides. The emir even went so
far as to promise the Crusaders that he would convert to Christianity.^20
Other alliances were similarly concluded. In 1100 a veritable modus
vivendi, both political and economic, was established between the Franks
and the Arabs in Palestine. In 1102 the grand master of the Assassins (see
page 74) sent an ambassador to Baldwin, King of Jerusalem.
In 1138 the Christians allied with the Turks of the kingdom of
Damascus, which was ruled by Ainard. Together they subsequently set