Complex sentence: It started in 12th-century France to combat the spread of religious sectarianism, in particular the Cathars and the Waldensians, and was later expanded to other European countries, as well as throughout the Spanish and Portuguese empires in the Americas, Asia and Africa.
Split into simpler sentences: It started in 12th-century France to combat the spread of religious sectarianism, in particular the Cathars and the Waldensians. Its geographic scope was expanded to other European countries, as well as throughout the Spanish and Portuguese empires in the Americas, Asia and Africa.