The Crusades Crescent & The Cross

The Crusades unfurls two centuries of war, two cultures impassioned by belief, and one land to stage it all – an epic of human drama cast in the name of the holy. Once called the Levant, the area encompassing modern day Israel and parts of Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey fell under the siege of Christian soldiers in 1096 AD. Galvanised by Pope Urban II, waves of Christian warriors fought their way from Europe to the Holy Land intent on wresting it away from Arab occupiers. Countless battles, amazing feats, and unforgettable characters forged legends and legacies, but clear victory remained elusive. Only the 13th century and a new menace from Asia finally brought an end to conflict.