The Crusades

The Crusades were a religious, political and miltary conflict between the three great powers of the 11^th, 12^th and 13^th centuries: Catholic Europe, the Muslim world and the Orthodox Byzantine Empire. The birth of Islam had a profound effect on the beginning of the Crusades, as the Muslim faith began to spread to the West and Muslim troops began to invade other countries. The decline of the Byzantine Empire also contributed to the Crusades, while Pope Urban II was the man who actually called for the First Crusade. In just 50 minutes, you will find out how the Crusades shaped interreligious relations in Europe for decades to come and understand their profound influence on the face of the continent.

This straightforward and informative book provides a thorough discussion of the key moments in the Crusades, including Louis IX’s crusades and the Children’s Crusade. It also features a full biography of the key protagonists of the Crusades, a valuable introduction to the political and social context and an evaluation of the impact of the Crusades, giving you all the essential information about this vital period in the history of the world.

About the Crusades

The Crusades were a series of religious and political wars in the Middle Ages against Islam. They were sanctioned by the Latin Church: the First Crusade, during which the Holy Land was seized and the Crusader states were created, was called for by Pope Urban II. The Crusades enabled the West to make great strides in many different domains, such as algebra, science and philosophy, which up until that point had been dominated by the Arabic world. The progress that these religious wars brought would eventually lead to the European Renaissance.

This clear and accessible 53-page book is structured as follows:

• Introduction to the Crusades
• Context
  • The birth and progression of Islam
  • The decline of the Byzantine Empire
  • In the name of Christ
• Biographies of the key protagonists of the Crusades
  • First Crusade
  • Third Crusade
  • Sixth Crusade
  • Seventh and eighth Crusades
• The Crusades
  • The First Crusade (1096-1099)
  • The Second Crusade (1147-1149)
  • The Third Crusade (1189-1192)
  • The Fourth Crusade (1202-1204)
  • The Children’s Crusade (1212) and the Fifth Crusade (1217-1219)
  • The Sixth Crusade (1228-1229)
  • The Seventh (1248-1254) and Eighth (1270) Crusades
• Impact of the Crusades
  • A world changed forever
  • New knowledge
  • A fight that continued
• Summary