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.

---

Discover More

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Crusades

Lebanon is brimming with archaeological finds showcasing its rich history over thousands of years, from the Phoenician, Persian, Roman and Byzantine periods, the Crusades, and Arab and Islamic sultanates and empires.

From Barron's ● Aug. 29, 2026

The Crusades, for example, sped development of international finance and spurred creation of double-entry bookkeeping.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 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

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