Articles in this Issue
Objections to Crusades Answered
An experienced crusade preacher defends holy war
The Children’s Crusade
They innocently headed for the Holy Land, not knowing they would never return.
The Crusades: Did You Know?
Little Known Facts about the Crusades.
Bloody Pilgrimage
As the crusaders assaulted Jerusalem, the holy and savage joined hands.
How Could Christians Do This?
Why followers of the Prince of Peace waged war.
Why You Should Crusade
Bernard of Clairvaux, who wrote the beautiful essay On Loving God, also urged Christians to fight for Christ. Here are some excerpts from a letter written in 1147.
The Crusades: A Gallery of Martial Monks & Holy Kings
The great preachers, planners, and fighters of the Holy Land crusades.
The Muslim Defense
Christians thought they had liberated Jerusalem from infidels. But what did Muslims think?
Puzzling Encounters
Usama ibn Munqidh was emir of Shizar in the twelfth century, when Christians occupied much of the Holy Land. Here are three accounts of his experience with the clash of cultures.
Women of the Cross
The devout, combative, and scandalous women who shared in the Crusades.
Long Journey to Jerusalem
Whether by land or sea, a crusade to the East was difficult and dangerous.
The Fighting Monks
In the new religious orders, Christians blended poverty, chastity, and military fervor.
Holy Violence Then and Now
A historian looks at the causes and lingering effects of Christian warfare.
The Crusades: Recommended Resources
The last few decades have seen a resurgence of crusades studies. Here are several of the many fine works available.