What historical era does the first Assassin's Creed game primarily depict?

The first Assassin's Creed game primarily depicts the era of the Third Crusade.

Its historical storyline is set in 1191, when Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad carries out missions across the Levant. The game visits cities associated with the conflict, including Jerusalem, Acre, and Damascus, while also using Masyaf as an important Assassin stronghold.

The Third Crusade lasted from 1189 to 1192 and involved European rulers attempting to recover Jerusalem from Ayyubid control. The game uses this historical backdrop for its fictional conflict between the Assassins and Templars, combining real places and leaders with invented characters and events.

This setting is different from the Renaissance Italy of Assassin's Creed II and the French Revolution of Assassin's Creed Unity. The word “first” here refers to the original 2007 game, not the earliest historical period shown anywhere in the wider franchise.