Berber tribesmen, the Almoravids, establish a base at Marrakech from which they conquer northwest Africa and move into Spain

The Normans, as seen in the Bayeux tapestry, invade England in Viking longships with fortified platforms for archers

Norman earls are given territories on the marches of Wales, with the specific task of raiding their neighbours

Rodrigo Diaz, known as El Cid, drives out the Muslims and wins Valencia

Pope Urban II preaches the first crusade, urging the Christians of Europe to march east to recover Jerusalem from the Muslims

Peter the Hermit, an old monk on a donkey, leads the largest of the popular groups from Germany on the first crusade

Crusaders capture the holy city of Jerusalem and massacre the Muslim and Jewish inhabitants

The Assassins, a sect of Nizari Ismailis, begin to acquire strongholds in Persia

The crusaders now rule the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, the principality of Antioch and the counties of Tripoli and Edessa

The city of Edessa is captured by Zangi, a Mameluke general, in the first setback for the crusaders in the Middle East

Rival Berber tribesmen, the Almohads, evict the Almoravids from Marrakech and soon conquer the whole north African coast

Alfonso I takes Lisbon from the Muslims, with the unexpected help of some passing English crusaders

The second crusade is led east by two kings, Louis VII of France and Conrad III of Germany

Seville falls to the Almohads, from north Africa, who make it their Spanish capital

By the time Louis VII and Conrad III reach the Holy Land they have lost more than half their joint armies to Muslim attacks

Louis VII and Conrad III do grave harm to the Latin Kingdom by a feeble attack that merely alienates the previously friendly city of Damascus

After centuries of raiding the northern part of Sri Lanka, the Tamils establish a settled Hindu presence in the island

The inhabitants of Damascus surrender their city to Nur ed-Din, helping him greatly in his campaign against the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem

Normans land in Ireland, seize Wexford, and in the following year capture Waterford and Dublin

Henry II, the king of England, summons the Irish and Norman lords to do homage to him in Dublin

Saladin destroys the Christian army of the Latin kingdom in a battle below the Horns of Hattin

Saladin captures various Crusader fortresses and walled cities, including Acre

Saladin takes Jerusalem and treats the Christian inhabitants with a consideration unusual for the time

A year after succeeding to the throne of England, Richard I sets off east as one of the leaders of the third crusade

The third crusade suffers an early disaster when its first leader, the emperor Frederick Barbarossa, is drowned crossing the Calycadnus river