Few military campaigns changed the course of history more than the long, bloody Holy Crusades that lasted for two centuries. Initially spurred on by the Catholic Church's desire to control the holy city of Jerusalem, the Crusades would see the loss of countless lives, the rises and falls of numerous kingdoms, the demise of one of Europe's most important cities, the starts of long-lasting secret societies, and a permanent shift in the geopolitics of the Eurasian continent. Popes, kings, merchants, and peasants all had a hand in these righteous wars, and understanding their history is understanding the history of modern Europe.
Intrigued? Read on to learn all you need to know about the Crusades.