Crusades and the Islamic World

The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated by European Christians from the 11th to 13th centuries aimed at reclaiming Jerusalem and other holy sites from Muslim control. They resulted in significant military and cultural interactions between Christians and Muslims, influencing trade, ideas, and the spread of knowledge. The Islamic world, often unified under powerful empires like the Seljuks and later the Ottomans, largely resisted these invasions. The Crusades left a complex legacy of conflict, cooperation, and cultural exchange, shaping the relationships between Christians and Muslims for centuries.