From the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Cambridge, Professor Jonathan Riley-Smith discusses the cultural and historical context of the crusades, why they occurred, and the inconsistencies in modern interpretation.

Religion in history: conflict, conversion and coexistence - Audio

The crusades

The coexistence of multiple religious communities has been a source of both opposition and diversity since the very foundation of human civilization. This album explores the interaction of competing communities in compelling depth, highlighting periods and cities that experienced turbulence, and occasionally harmony, from such an intermingling of beliefs and ideas. A huge historical range, from the very beginnings of early Christianity to modern-day Africa, is rigorously examined in cultural, social and ideological terms. This material forms part of The Open University course AA307 Religion in history: conflict, conversion and coexistence.

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Religion in history: conflict, conversion and coexistence - Audio