Richard I leaving England for the Crusades 1189. Painting by Glyn Warren Philpot
Introduction –
The Crusades of the medieval times
have rather proved to be a contentious subject matter, especially given
its association to religious fanaticism. But beneath this veneer of
political analogy (that tends to be exaggerated), we must understand
that Crusades, while embodying a clash of cultures, also resulted in
various spheres of cultural synthesis – via trade networks, adoption of
habits and dresses, and even architecture. So without further ado, let
us tread the path of objective history and present to you – the origins,
political scope, and the military nature of the Crusades, from circa
late 11th century AD to late 13th century AD.
