Fighting for Holy Land: Muslims and Crusaders in the Medieval Middle East

The Crusades is a term used to describe a series of military campaigns that began in the late 11th Century. These operations were promoted by the Catholic Church and led by European lords and kings with the objective of (re)claiming for Christianity the Biblical sites of the Middle East.

However, these military expeditions were also the starting point of a new era in the History of Europe and the Middle East. The Crusades ignited the idea of ‘Holy War’, established short-lived Christian kingdoms in the Middle East and triggered a reaction by Islamic states to the Christian offensive that would re-shape the map of the Muslim World.

In this recorded Q&A, Dr Bruno De Nicola introduces new research exploring the origin, development and legacy of the Crusades from both a Christian and Muslim perspective.

It looks closely at the political, economic and social implications that the Crusades had in medieval societies, where cultural and religious diversity not only led to sectarian rivalries but also opened spaces of co-existence and collaboration.

This session is suitable for Year 12 or Year 13 students with an interest in history, politics or international relations. It is short (26 minutes!) and is available via the Visit Website link below.