The Crusades

The Crusades — Everything in One Place This page is your complete hub for the Crusades—the series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims (1096–1291) that reshaped medieval Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. Here you can explore the causes, major campaigns, leaders, sieges, and cultural encounters that defined this era. Perfect for students, history enthusiasts, and researchers, this page brings together videos, articles, maps, chronicles, and artifacts into one living archive. How it works: Drag and drop to reorder what matters most to you. Add your favorite links, videos, and sources. The more people move and add, the more valuable this page becomes for everyone. Explore & Contribute Origins & Causes: The call of Pope Urban II, the concept of holy war, pilgrimage, and the motivations of knights and kings. The Major Crusades: First Crusade (1096–1099): Capture of Jerusalem, establishment of Crusader States. Second Crusade (1147–1149): Failure in the Holy Land, campaigns in Iberia and the Baltics. Third Crusade (1189–1192): Richard the Lionheart, Saladin, and the struggle for Jerusalem. Fourth Crusade (1202–1204): The sack of Constantinople and Christian vs. Christian conflict. Later Crusades: Decline, Mamluk victories, and the eventual fall of Acre in 1291. Other Crusades: The Northern (Baltic) Crusades, Albigensian Crusade in France, and campaigns in Spain during the Reconquista. Leaders & Figures: Richard the Lionheart, Saladin, Frederick Barbarossa, Baldwin IV, Pope Urban II, and lesser-known knights and commanders. Life in Wartime: Pilgrims, knights, mercenaries, crusader castles, religious orders (Templars, Hospitallers, Teutonic Knights), and civilian experiences. Technology & Tactics: Siege warfare, castles, cavalry charges, naval blockades, and the clash of Islamic and European military systems. Primary Sources: Chronicles of Fulcher of Chartres, William of Tyre, Muslim historians like Ibn al-Athir, letters, charters, and artifacts. Legacy: The Crusades’ long-lasting impact on Christian-Muslim relations, trade, art, culture, and the shaping of Europe and the Middle East. Add Your Favorites Paste links to: Animated maps of the Crusader campaigns Documentaries and lectures on the Crusades Biographies of Saladin, Richard, and other key leaders Archaeological sites like Krak des Chevaliers and Jerusalem Primary chronicles and modern scholarly analysis Organize by Tags (Suggestions) #FirstCrusade #SecondCrusade #ThirdCrusade #FourthCrusade #HolyLand #Leaders #Castles #Knights #Templars #Battles #Strategy #PrimarySources #Reconquista #Legacy Community Notes This page is designed to cover the Crusades in their entirety—their faith, politics, and violence. Contributions should highlight multiple perspectives, including Christian, Muslim, and Jewish accounts, to provide a full and balanced picture of this turbulent era. Call to action: Drag. Drop. Make your Moves count. Build the most complete, living Crusades resource on the web—together.