This book is based on an in-depth filmed conversation between Howard Burton and Jay Rubenstein, Professor of History and Director of the Center for the Premodern World at the University of South Carolina, which provides us with fascinating insights into medieval society. How did the First Crusade happen? What could have suddenly caused tens of thousands of knights, commoners and even nuns at the end of the 11th century to leave their normal lives behind and trek thousands of miles across hostile territory in an unprecedented vicious and bloody quest to wrest Jerusalem from its occupying powers? Jay Rubenstein, historian of the intellectual, cultural, and spiritual worlds of Europe in the Middle Ages at USC, carefully explores those questions based on his extensive research while discussing the Apocalypse: the crusaders’ sincere belief that the end of the world was approaching and their opportunity to participate in the last stage of the divine plan. This carefully-edited book includes an introduction, The Glorious End, and questions for discussion at the end of each chapter: I. Becoming a Medievalist - Suddenly fashionable II. Guibert of Nogent - From overlooked to oversimplified III. Armies of Heaven - Subheading IV. Considering Impact - On history and historians V. Moving On - Or perhaps not This book is available in paperback and hardcover as part of the 5-part Ideas Roadshow Collection, Conversations About History, Volume 2, which also includes conversations with Linda Colley, John Elliott, Maria Mavroudi and Richard Janko. About Ideas Roadshow Conversations: Presented in an accessible, conversational format, Ideas Roadshow books not only explore frontline academic research but also reveal the inspirations and personal journeys behind the research.