Particularize Based On Books The Crusades: The Authoritative History of the War for the Holy Land
Title | : | The Crusades: The Authoritative History of the War for the Holy Land |
Author | : | Thomas Asbridge |
Book Format | : | Hardcover |
Book Edition | : | Deluxe Edition |
Pages | : | Pages: 784 pages |
Published | : | March 9th 2010 by Ecco |
Categories | : | History. Nonfiction. Religion. War. Historical. Medieval. Medieval History |
Thomas Asbridge
Hardcover | Pages: 784 pages Rating: 4.16 | 3521 Users | 343 Reviews
Relation Supposing Books The Crusades: The Authoritative History of the War for the Holy Land
The Crusades is an authoritative, accessible single-volume history of the brutal struggle for the Holy Land in the Middle Ages. Thomas Asbridge—a renowned historian who writes with “maximum vividness” (Joan Acocella, The New Yorker)—covers the years 1095 to 1291 in this big, ambitious, readable account of one of the most fascinating periods in history. From Richard the Lionheart to the mighty Saladin, from the emperors of Byzantium to the Knights Templar, Asbridge’s book is a magnificent epic of Holy War between the Christian and Islamic worlds, full of adventure, intrigue, and sweeping grandeur.List Books As The Crusades: The Authoritative History of the War for the Holy Land
Original Title: | The Crusades |
ISBN: | 0060787287 (ISBN13: 9780060787288) |
Edition Language: | English URL http://www.harpercollins.com/thomasasbridge |
Rating Based On Books The Crusades: The Authoritative History of the War for the Holy Land
Ratings: 4.16 From 3521 Users | 343 ReviewsCrit Based On Books The Crusades: The Authoritative History of the War for the Holy Land
A fine and concise overview of a complex, two centuries long cycle of conquest - first Western, then Muslim. I say concise because even at nearly 700 pages of text, it's obvious that any given chapter of this book could itself be expanded into a more detailed volume.I'm casually familiar with medieval history and the crusades, but as it turns out, I didn't really know what a crusade was, how one was orchestrated, what the participants believed they were participating in, how crusades changedI have always been interested in the Crusades and I found this book to be a wonderful introduction to the subject. It covers two centuries of strife in the Middle East and the struggle for Jerusalem. Plus ca change.The Crusades were a chaotic series of expeditions inspired by papal exhortations and promises of forgiveness of sin through a just war - the innovative use of indulgences was to rebound a while later to massive effect. What caught me was the sheer incompetence of it all. Crusades were
Asbridge's account of the Holy Wars from 1095-1291 is a well written and engaging work. Asbridge has done what Rodney Stark, author of God's Battalions: The Case for the Crusades has done; he has written a history that reads more like a story. The highlights of this work are The First Crusade, especially Baldwin I of Jerusalem's conquests after 1099 and Saladin's history prior to The Battle of Hattin. The Second Crusade is passed over quickly (something common with most historians of this
An excellent, balanced, and well researched history of this very important topic. I especially loved how Asbridge shifted narrative between the Muslims and the Franks, giving both side's perspective. The section on Richard the Lionheart and Saladin was especially well done. I learned a great deal about the first four Crusades!
A very interesting read. It can get highly academic at times, but at least it stuck to the facts. Five stars.
Soundtrack for the book review: Veni Creator Spiritus was the Crusades anthem, which folks took to singing to pump up before battles and even as they were about to get slaughtered.In 1095 at the Council of Clermont, Pope Urban II bent history and conjured up the Crusades.Whoever wishes to save his soul should not hesitate humbly to take up the way of the Lord, and if he lacks sufficient money, divine mercy will give him enough. Brethren, we ought to endure much suffering for the name of Christ
Youd be hard pressed to find a topic more politically charged than the Crusades, especially as the world sloughs out of our War on Terror hangover, and fumbles into the terrorscape of cyber threats and subornment of the United States. People feel *really* strongly about what the Crusades should mean, and how they should be interpreted. The pressure to cleave to a political narrative when writing about this has to be incredibly strong.And it is to Asbridges credit that he resists it. Instead, he
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