12th centuryReputable sourceWell documented
The Crusader States
On the timeline · around 12th century ·
What happened
In the wake of their conquest, the crusaders carved out a string of Christian states along the eastern Mediterranean, the greatest being the Kingdom of Jerusalem. A Frankish ruling class governed a diverse local population, built great castles, and lived in a precarious frontier world surrounded by Muslim powers.
Why it matters
The Crusader States were a remarkable experiment in European colonization far from home. Their survival — and their constant need for reinforcement — drove the later crusades and shaped centuries of contact between Europe and the Near East.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Kingdom of Jerusalem · Reputable source