Franks and Saracens : Reality and Fantasy in the Crusades

This is the first and only book to examine the Crusades from the added viewpoint of psychoanalysis, studying the hidden emotions and fantasies that drove the Crusaders and the Muslims to undertake their terrible wars. The reader will learn that the deepest and most powerful motives for the Crusades were not only religious or territorial, or the quest for lands, wealth or titles, but also unconscious emotions and fantasies about one's country, one's religion, one's enemies, God and the Devil, Us and Them, as well as the collective inability to mourn large-group losses and the collective needs of large groups such as nations and religions to develop a clear identity, to have boundaries, and to have enemies and allies. Motives which the Crusaders and the Muslims were not aware of were among the most powerful in driving several centuries of terrible and seemingly-endless warfare. This Is The First And Only Book To Examine The Crusades From The Added Viewpoint Of Psychoanalysis, Studying The Hidden Emotions And Fantasies That Drove The Crusaders And The Muslims To Undertake Their Terrible Wars. The Reader Will Learn That The Deepest And Most Poweful Motives For The Crusades Were Not Only Religious Or Territorial - Or The Quest For Lands, Wealth Or Titles - But Also Unconscious Emotions And Fantasies About One's Country, One's Religion, One's Enemies, God And The Devil, And Us And Them. The Book Also Focuses On The Collective Inability To Mourn Large-group Losses And The Collective Needs Of Large Groups Such As Nations And Religions To Develop A Clear Identity, To Have Boundaries, And To Have Enemies And Allies. Motives Which The Crusaders And The Muslims Were Not Aware Of Were Among The Most Powerful In Driving Several Centuries Of Terrible And Seemingly Endless Warfare. --book Jacket. Machine Generated Contents Note: Ch. One Us And Them -- Ch. Two Romans, Germans, And Berbers -- Ch. Three Frankish Myths Of Origin -- Ch. Four From Franks To Crusaders -- Ch. Five The Fantasy Of The Holy Roman Empire -- Ch. Six A Short History Of The Saracens -- Ch. Seven The First Crusade: A Pilgrimage To Resue The Holy Land -- Ch. Eight The Fantastic Kingdom Of Jerusalem -- Ch. Nine The Second Crusade: Persisting Fantasies -- Ch. Ten Templars And Hospitallers: Monkish Knights -- Ch. Eleven The Saracens Look At The Franks -- Ch. Twelve The Third Crusade: A Lion-hearted King In Search Of A Holy Land -- Ch. Thirteen The Fourth Crusade: Christians Massacre Christians -- Ch. Fourteen The Fifth Crusade: A Fantastic Invasion Of Egypt -- Ch. Fifteen The Sixth Crusade: Winning Jerusalem Peacefully -- Ch. Sixteen The Seventh Crusade: The Unhappy War Of Saint Louis -- Ch. Seventeen The Eighth Crusade: Saint Louis Fails Again And Dies -- Contents Note Continued: Ch. Eighteen The Ninth Crusade: The Last Fantasy -- Ch. Nineteen Aftermath: The End Of A Two-century Fantasy. Avner Falk. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This is the first and only book to examine the Crusades from the added viewpoint of psychoanalysis, studying the hidden emotions and fantasies that drove the Crusaders and the Muslims to undertake their terrible wars. The reader will learn that the deepest and most powerful motives for the Crusades were not only religious or territorial - or the quest for lands, wealth or titles - but also unconscious emotions and fantasies about one's country, one's religion, one's enemies, God and the Devil, Us and Them. The book also demonstrates the collective inability to mourn large-group losses and the collective needs of large groups such as nations and religions to develop a clear identity, to have boundaries, and to have enemies and allies. Motives which the Crusaders and the Muslims were not aware of were among the most powerful in driving several centuries of terrible and seemingly endless warfare. Motives which the Crusaders and the Muslims were not aware of were among the most powerful in driving several centuries of terrible and seemingly endless warfare. This book examines the Crusades from the added viewpoint of psychoanalysis, studying the hidden emotions and fantasies that drove the Crusaders and the Muslims to undertake their wars.