This statement referred to the practical implications of the concept of historical revisionism that implies that history is written from the perspective of the dominant class (Gundani 2004:76). George Orwell, in his famous publication Nineteen Eighty-four (Orwell 1949:37), declared that those who control the past also control the future, while people who control the present are the ones who are controlling the past. After the background to the historical setting of the Crusades, this article provides an overview of the changing viewpoints on this movement by describing the perspectives of the most prominent authors (exponents) who aired their views on the Crusades between the 16th century and the first part of the 21st century, finding that the negative perception runs like a thread through the last five centuries. These wars were both lauded and criticised and currently these two opposite perceptions still persist.

These 'holy wars', fought by members of the Roman Catholic Church, mostly against infidels ('unbelievers'), including the Muslims of the time, lasted for several centuries and had varied levels of success.

The notion and consequences of the Crusades are still influencing the modern Christian (and Muslim) pattern of thinking. Department of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology, University of South Africa, South Africa

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