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Preparations for Medieval Battle
Medieval Pitched Battles
Medieval Fortifications
Medieval Siege Warfare
Medieval Water Supplies
Medieval Supplies and Logistics
Medieval Weapons & Armour
Medieval Weapons Technology
Medieval Communications
Medieval Military Organisation
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The crusades were a series of military expeditions promoted by the papacy during the Middle Ages, initially aimed at taking the Holy Land for Christendom. The concept of a crusade had been developed in the eleventh century partially as a result of organised Christian forces fighting Muslims in Sicily and Spain. The Holy Land had been in the hands of the Muslims since 638, and it was against them that the crusades were, at least nominally, directed. Expansionism along with desire for adventure, conquest and plunder seem to have been influential.
The main crusades spanned more than two centuries (1096-1300). These extended military raids were to some extent changes that had taken place outside Europe, most notably the expansion of Islam. Christian holy wars such as these bear a resemblance to the Moslem practice of the jihad, which by then had become a very successful Islamic institution. By translating the notion of a "holy warrior" into Christian terms, Medieval popes created crusaders, "knights of Christ." and new religious orders composed of fighting monks most notably the Knights Hospitaller and Knights Templar.
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Bladed Hand Weapons: Swords: Arming Swords, Broad Swords, Falchions, Long Swords. Daggers & Knives: Anelaces, Stilettos, Poingnards, Rondels
Blunt Hand Weapons: Clubs and Maces, Morningstars. Holy Water Sprinklers, Flails, War Hammers, Horsemen's Picks
Polearms: Quarterstaves, Spears, Winged Spears, Lances, Pikes, Corseques, Fauchards, Glaives, Guisarmes, Halberds, Danish Axes, Sparths, Bardiches, Pollaxes, Mauls, Becs de Corbin
Ranged Weapons.: Franciscas, Javelins, Bows, Longbows, Crossbows, Arbalests, Guns, Hand Cannons , Arquebuses
Artillery: Pierriers - Sone throwers, Traction Trebuchets, Counterweight Trebuchets, Onagers and Mangonels, Ballistas and Springalds
Artillery Cannons, Bombards, Petards
Other Siege Weapons
Armour: Chain Mail, Plate Armour
Horses
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