The Burning Crusade refers to two things:
- the era that marks the reopening of the Dark Portal and the Second Alliance Expedition to Draenor, now Outland. During this era, the recently fel-addicted Sin'dorei joined the New Horde and the Draenei, who recently crash landed on Azeroth via the Exodar, joined the Grand Alliance. The era spanned from year 29 to 30 L.C., the event that marked the end of the era being the Battle for the Sunwell and the subsequent defeat of Kil'jaeden, in year 30.
- the war waged by the Burning Legion upon the universe to corrupt it.