In this book Norman Housley, one of the most distinguished historians of the medieval period, provides an authoritative introduction to the crusades. Drawing on 30 years' experience, Housley steers readers through the key historical debates. Almost every aspect of the long and complex history of crusading has been the subject of energetic discussion, and Housley's account addresses issues ranging from the definition of 'crusade', through the origins and character of the First Crusade, to problems explaining and interpreting the later crusades. The author also reviews two debates that relate to the entire crusading experience: the intentions and motivations of the crusaders; and what the consequences of crusading were for European society and government in the Middle Ages, and for the relationship between Catholic Christianity and other faiths.