The Crusades

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
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.

Acre
Acre

Acre is a historic walled port-city with continuous settlement from the Phoenician period.

Krak des Chevaliers
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 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)
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?
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?
What were the crusades?

Crusading took many forms. Historians grapple with how to define these holy wars—Muslim and Jewish sources help.

Selected Contributors