The four Crusader States of the Near East (1097-1291) were a fascinating group of societies strung out from north to south along the Levantine coastline and into its hinterland. These were lands where many roads, agendas and aspirations met. On the coast there were the great maritime metropolises such as Acre and Tyre where goods arrived from across the Eurasia and Africa. Pearls from south-east Asia, silks from China, food from Egypt, textiles from Western Christendom, these port cities drew traders from many distant lands. Then there were tens of thousands of Jewish, Muslim and Christian pilgrims travelling to the Holy Land, seeking to visit Jerusalem and the region’s many other sacred sites. Amongst these shrines there were the great fortresses of the Crusader States engulfed by the ongoing momentum of the wars which stretched across the region. This talk will discuss the turbulent and vibrant world of the Crusader States.

It will discuss:

- what everyday life looked like in this era covering themes such as diet, disease, and architecture.

- how the rulers of the Crusader States viewed and treated the highly diverse range of communities within their borders.

- how the Crusader States’ culture and artwork developed during the Twelfth and Thirteenth century, adopting many local styles and influences.

- the impact of the region’s ongoing wars in shaping these powerful military states.

Date: Thursday 16 September

Time: 7pm start online with Q&A's afterwards

Tickets cost £6 for members of Heritage Lincolnshire and £8 for non-members. There is a discounted ticket that covers all 4 talks in this series. Please go to https://www.heritagelincolnshire.org/shop/tickets/ for more information on all tickets.

Talk series is as follows:

1. Ships and navigation at the time of the Crusades - Thurs 15 July

2. The early Crusades viewed from Islamic perspectives (1099-1174) - Thurs 12 August

3. Daily life in the Crusader States - Thurs 16 September

4. The Fourth Crusade: the fall of Constantinople - Thurs 14 October