The term "Cathar" refers to a religious movement that emerged in the 12th century in southern France. Cathars believed in a dualistic worldview, seeing the material world as evil and the spiritual realm as good. They rejected the authority of the Roman Catholic Church and promoted a lifestyle of simplicity and asceticism. Catharism was characterized by its emphasis on personal spiritual experience and the belief in a divine spark within each individual. The movement faced severe persecution, culminating in the Albigensian Crusade (1209-1229), which aimed to eliminate Cathar beliefs and restore Catholic orthodoxy in the region.