(quick) the church launched how many crusades, or military expeditions, to the holy land? 4 8 15 30 3. why was the holy land named so by christians? that is where they thought god resided. it was good farm land. the first pope had been born there. it was sacred because jesus had lived and taught there. 4. the first christians to fight the muslims for the holy land were lords and their knights. common people led by peter the hermit. kings led by peter the hermit. members of the clergy.