Crusades were religious wars undertaken by Christians.
Their goal was to capture Jerusalem from Muslims.
c. 1095–1291 C.E.
Beginner's Guide
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Material culture of the Crusades
This chapter explores how crusading, as both a militant action and a powerful idea—to travel and restore the Holy Land to Christian sovereignty—had a profound impact on medieval visual culture.
Krak des Chevaliers
These two castles represent the most significant examples illustrating the exchange of influences and documenting the evolution of fortified architecture in the Near East during the time of the Crusades
The impact of the crusades
The Crusades played a major role in European territorial expansion and also militarized the Western church.
The when, where and who (of crusading)
A timeline, the theatre of war, the targets, and the participants—the basics of crusading are covered here.
How was crusading justified?
Crusaders saw their enemies as a threat to God, and many went to war to make amends for their own sins.
What were the crusades?
Crusading took many forms. Historians grapple with how to define these holy wars—Muslim and Jewish sources help.
