The Historical Association: The Memory and Legacy of the Crusades in the West

This lecture explores the medieval crusading movement and its reach across different theatres of conflict, from the Holy Land to Iberia, the Baltic and the campaigns against the Ottoman Turks. It looks at how crusading activity developed, what it meant in the medieval world, and how it shaped the wider history of western Europe and its relationship with the Middle East.

The talk also considers how the crusades were remembered after the movement ended, including the negative views of the Enlightenment and the renewed interest in the nineteenth century through literature and travel. It then traces how crusading imagery continued into the twentieth century, including its use during the First World War, and how that legacy has persisted in different forms to the present day.

The lecture is delivered by Professor Jonathan Phillips of Royal Holloway, University of London.