Here's the thing about the Crusades, which were a series of military expeditions from parts of Europe to the eastern coast of the Mediterranean. The real reason they feature so prominently in history is because we've endlessly romanticized the story of the Crusades. We've created this simple narrative with characters to root for and to root against, and it's been endlessly idealized by the likes of Sir Walter Scott and their knights with swords and lion hearts. No, Stan, lion hearts. Thank you. [♪ INTRO MUSIC ♪, as the video plays throughout the video, with the title of the video being read aloud.] Let's start by saying that initially the Crusades were not a holy war on the part of Europeans against Islam, but in important ways, the Crusades were driven by religious faith.