No, Europeans before the Crusades did not believe that all humans were of Germanic descent or Caucasians. The concept of race and racial classifications, as we understand them today, did not exist in the same way during that time period. The modern concept of race and racial categories, including "Germanic" and "Caucasian," emerged much later in history.
During the medieval period, which includes the time of the Crusades (11th to 13th centuries), people's identities were primarily shaped by their social status, language, religion, and regional affiliations rather than modern racial classifications. The medieval worldview was more focused on religious and cultural differences rather than race-based distinctions.
Europeans during the Crusades encountered and interacted with a wide range of people from different regions, including the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. They encountered various ethnicities, such as Arabs, Turks, Persians, and Africans, among others. These encounters led to cultural exchanges and, unfortunately, conflicts during the Crusades, which were driven by religious, political, and territorial motives.
The idea of race as we understand it today, with its modern racial classifications and hierarchies, started to develop much later during the era of European colonialism and the Age of Enlightenment, from the 15th century onwards. It was during this period that Europeans began to categorize people based on physical attributes and social hierarchies, leading to the creation of racial theories that often served to justify colonization, exploitation, and slavery.
It is crucial to recognize that the concept of race and its historical development is a complex and sensitive topic, and interpretations of historical attitudes towards race should be approached with caution, considering the context and evolution of human thought over time.