A series of holy wars against Islam led by power-mad popes and fought by religious fanatics? Think again.

The Crusades were expeditions undertaken, in fulfilment of a solemn vow, to deliver the Holy Places from Mohammedan tyranny.

Contents The Crusades: Background The First Crusade (1096-99) The Crusader States and the Second Crusade (1147-49) The Third Crusade (1189-92) From the Fourth to the Sixth Crusade (1198-1229) End of the Crusades Print Cite Article Details: Crusades Author History.com Staff Website Name History.com Year Published 2010 Title Crusades URL http://www.history.com/topics/crusades Access Date October 29, 2016 Publisher A+E Networks Introduction The first of the Crusades began in 1095, when armies of Christians from Western Europe responded to Pope Urban II’s plea to go to war against Muslim forces in the Holy Land.

The Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople and created a major obstacle for the spice trade between Asia and Europe.

An exploration of town life in medieval England. How did town life differ from life in the countryside? (5.25 mins)

Why did medieval towns grow?

The majority of medieval cities and towns were founded between 11th and 14th centuries often for defensive purposes. Medieval cities and towns were often founded near castles or manors of feudal lords and near monasteries as well as on other attractive locations like near the woods (for firewood), shores of rivers and seas, and near the ruins of Antique cities where could have been found building material.

A second great factor in the passing of the Middle Ages was the rise of new towns

What was the scientific revolution?

In Stark's words, "Christian theology was necessary for the rise of science." Science only happened in areas whose worldview was shaped by Christianity, that is, Europe. Many civilizations had alchemy; only Europe developed chemistry. Likewise, astrology was practiced everywhere, but only in Europe did it become astronomy.That's because Christianity depicted God as a "rational, responsive, dependable, and omnipotent being" who created a universe with a "rational, lawful, stable" structure. These beliefs uniquely led to "faith in the possibility of science."So why the Columbus myth? Because, as Stark writes, "the claim of an inevitable and bitter warfare between religion and science has, for more than three centuries, been the primary polemical device used in the atheist attack of faith."

The 2016 Nobel laureates for physics, medicine and chemistry: all men, at least 65 years old and mostly over 72.

The introduction of the scientific method transformed society by using science and reason rather than political or religious dogma to explain natural phenomena.

The Scientific Revolution

The Great Schism, also known as the East-West Schism, was the event that divided "Chalcedonian" Christianity into Western (Roman) Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy

separation between the Eastern Christian churches (led by the patriarch of Constantinople, Michael Cerularius) and the Western Church (led by Pope Leo IX).

Great Schism on mend: Pope, Orthodox leader to show solidarity in visit with refugees in limbo in Greece

The head of the Roman Catholic Church and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church are to meet for the first time in nearly 1,000 years tomorrow.

His visit should not make us gloss over the very real issues facing both Catholics and Protestants

Causes of the Break

Donald Trump’s path of destruction has pushed the Republican Party to the cusp of a historic reckoning, an existential crisis that has left half of America’s political establishment in desperate need of new leaders, a new message, and even a common orthodoxy.