What has been the legacy of the Crusades in Europe and across the Muslim world in modern times? Why is the evolution of the Saladin legend throughout history so remarkable? In this talk, Carole Hillenbrand argues that whilst the word ‘crusade’ is still used today with little heed to the historical context in which it first appeared, it is abundantly clear at both a scholarly and more popular level that there is now a continuing and genuine interest in discovering more about the phenomenon of the Crusades in the Middle Ages and especially Islamic perspectives.

Her article, ‘The evolution of the Saladin legend in the West’ (2006) is available.

Speaker: Professor Carole Hillenbrand FBA, Professor of Islamic History, University of St Andrews; Professor Emerita of Islamic History, University of Edinburgh

Transcript: https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/podcasts/10-minute-talks-saladin-crusades-medieval-modern-perspectives