For an A-Level student studying the Crusades, the video game Crusader Kings III can actually be surprisingly useful. It’s a game I’ve been playing recently, and although it is not always historically accurate, it helps me understand the political and religious world of medieval Europe and the Middle East in a more interactive way than a textbook alone.

One of the main ways the game helps is by showing the importance of religion in medieval society. In CK3, the Pope can call Crusades, rulers gain prestige through religious warfare, and piety is used as a currency for internal politics. This reflects the Crusades that I learned in lessons, where religion was deeply tied to politics and power. Playing it, I also learned how difficult it was for Christian rulers to cooperate, despite sharing the same faith, which mirrors the divisions we saw between leaders during the First, Second and Third Crusades.

The game also demonstrates the feudal system clearly, which is a difficult concept to wrap one’s head around. Players must manage vassals and their rebellions, alliances, marriages and succession crises, all of which were major factors affecting Crusader states. This can help students better understand why kingdoms like Jerusalem were often politically unstable and the complex political landscape of the 12th century.

In addition, CK3 shows the geographical scale of the Crusades and of medieval Europe. Travelling across Europe and the Middle East in-game highlights the logistical challenges that not only the crusaders faced but the player must too, including long, dangerous journeys, supply issues, and the difficulty of holding territory far from home.

However, the game should not be treated as a fully accurate source. It simplifies many historical events and allows unrealistic alternate histories. Despite this, Crusader Kings III is still a valuable supplement to A-Level History because it makes medieval politics, religion and warfare easier to understand. While I don’t play the game specifically to sympathise with the medieval warriors that I learn about, it’s an important feature of A-level History to be able to visualise what happens so that you can better remember and comprehend it.