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Crusades

Cultural  
  1. A series of wars fought from the late eleventh through the thirteenth centuries, in which European kings and warriors set out to gain control of the lands in which Jesus lived, known as the Holy Land. At that time, these areas were held by Muslims. The Crusaders conquered Jerusalem (see also Jerusalem) in 1099 but failed to secure the Holy Land, and they were driven out by the late thirteenth century. Nevertheless, the Crusades had several lasting results, including the exposure of Europeans to the goods, technology, and customs of Asia.


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The Crusades left a legacy of bitterness against Europeans and Christians among Muslims.

Example Sentences

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The great Derek Jacobi plays the titular 12th century monk who was once a soldier of the Crusades.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 8, 2026

Christendom, in the medieval world of the Crusades, was Europe against the Islamic world.

From Slate Apr. 9, 2026

Critics sought to link his tattoos of symbols from the Crusades with far-right extremism.

From BBC Mar. 11, 2026

This idealized view is also far more sympathetic than modern perceptions of other medieval events, including the Crusades, which are now linked with coercion and brutality.

From Science Daily Nov. 23, 2025

She had swam away, her serpentine head undulating on the surface Hke a swimming grass-snake, and the King had hailed a passing ship which looked as if it were off to the Crusades.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

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