The Crusades: Crescent & The Cross [Blu-ray]

The first time I purchased this, disc 1 couldn't be read by my dvd player. I eventually purchased again and wish I hadn't bothered. Extremely inaccurate and one sided; all Christians are depicted as evil and does not accurately discuss life for non-muslims under muslim rule, and glosses over the context of the muslim conquest 400 years before. After watching about of the first disc I turned it off.

A more obvious bit of propaganda aimed at the western world by the followers of Islam could not possibly have been conceived. The Moslems are depicted as noble desert men fighting to survive against demonic hordes of flesh-eating monsters, while completing (and conveniently) ignoring the actual history of their people. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that many Moslems are just as offended. This is nothing at all like a fair and balanced report. I wouldn't give it any stars at all, were that permitted.

This History Channel series brings to life the gripping saga of the first three crusades. As is always the case, the format is a blend of actors playing historical figures and commentary by historians, both European and Arab. In the eleventh century, Europe was overpopulated and racked by warfare. The pope sought to unify Christendom by calling for a crusade. The first crusade (1096-99) produced startling results, culminating in the capture of Jerusalem. This was possible primarily because the Muslim city states of that era were fragmented and unable to cooperate. Inevitably, the Saracens reconciled their differences and launched a counteroffensive. The second crusade (1147-49) was abortive, and led to the Christians turning back after some military setbacks. The Saracens recaptured Jerusalem in 1187, although they still had to fight a defensive war against the third crusade in (1189-92). Both sides viewed the struggle as a holy war. Yet in the end, after a century of intermittent fighting, the crusades proved to be a strategic failure, with Middle East remaining under Muslim control.

I was disappointed to see what a slanted & biased political viewpoint this program was couched in. There is very clearly an agenda being bowed to here, where Islam is portrayed as benign, peaceful, & enlightened.

I recently saw The Crusades: Crescent & The Cross and I found it to be a good way to begin my study of the 200-year period during the Middle Ages that spawned the first three Crusades, culminating in Richard the Lionheart's failed attempt to take, and keep, Jerusalem from the Muslims. Although the producers presented both Christian and Muslim historians' points of view, I found a slight bias in favor of the Muslims as I watched this History Channel presentation of how and why, after 400 years of Muslim rule, the first Crusade to return Jerusalem to the Christians began. Overall, I enjoyed the presentation and it almost gives one the feeling of watching a narrated movie. The DVD presents the history of the three Crusades in two parts - Part One: The First Crusade and Part Two: The Second and Third Crusades. The audio and video quality of the DVD are very good to excellent, although there are no subtitles or captions and there are no extra features on the DVD. The DVD runs approximately 180 minutes and it contains a wealth of history and facts. For anyone interested in learning about the Crusades I recommend this DVD as a good overview of the historical conflict and battles between Christians and Muslims known these many centuries later as The Crusades.  The History Channel Presents: The Crusades - Crescent & the Cross [Blu-ray ]

Did not know much about the Crusades and instead of a book I thought watching a video would be better. Obviously a video is not as in depth as a book would probably be but did have a better understanding of the Crusades.

Not going to get the whole story..but for those that are not really knowledgeable at all on the Crusades..this gives a general IDEA about The Crusades. Requires further study ..and i dont think there are many film documentaries on the subject...so probably would require reading.A really nice thing about this documentary (Which most will enjoy) is it gives viewers actual film footage of how people would have dressed and weapons carried as well as the views of the actual areas of the world in which it happened and the specific places.

Provides a lot of detail that will likely surprise anyone who has an interest in this part of history. Be nice if it were available in a digital option

A docu/drama/action production commissioned by the The History Channel, narrated by Keith David.2 dvd's presented in a box set, disc 1 is 180 minutes long split into two parts. Part 1 gives us a comprehensive history of the 1st Crusade , with Part 2 compiling the major events of the 2nd & 3rd Crusades. The 2nd disc consists of bonus features.The whole series consists of reenactments of battles and some forthright interviews with esteemed historians, and there are plenty of CGI-enhanced visuals. The location work is pretty good giving the impression that the History Channel didn't skimp with their budget for this production.Region 1 box set , NO ENGLISH SUBTITLES. I took off a star with my rating for that absence. The History Channel is American, they usually know better.

No subtitles so very disappointed

Many people just don't know much about this past and it's connection to the present: and so our future, epecially our children's. This is a first class production and should be seen by all.

This dvd set is well narrated. The film and image montage is well done. They even have some nice interviews and historian information to qualify what's being shared. There's a lot of information that's well organized. It's delivered smoothly with maps that have colour and arrows to help keep the direction flowing easily. It only covers the first three crusades. It's a shame they didn't mention the other two. The fourth one is mentioned briefly on the bonus disc which covers the Knights Templar, but it's very brief, so there's still a big hole and info lacking on that end. But even missing the last two crusades, I did learn a lot of things I'd had wrong all this time, which is why I watch these dvd sets.

Excellent movie but concentrates on the errors of the crusades. It would have been better to also mention the actions of Muslims against Chistians