The Crusades : the authoritative history of the war for the Holy Land

'Asbridge can't help but tell a ripping yarn, often breezily dramatic, whipping the narrative along' The Times A superb and definitive one-volume account of the Crusades, the impact of which still resonates to this day. In the eleventh century, a v ast Christian army , summoned to holy war by the Pope, rampaged through the Muslim world of the eastern Mediterranean, seizing possession of Jerusalem , a city revered by both faiths. Over the two hundred years that followed this First Crusade, I slam and the West fought for dominion of the Holy Land , clashing in a succession of chillingly brutal wars, both firm in the belief that they were at God's work. The Crusades tells the story of this epic struggle from the perspective of both Christians and Muslims, reconstructing the experiences and attitudes of those on either side of the conflict. Mixing pulsing narrative and piercing insight, it exposes the full horror, passion and barbaric grandeur of the crusading era. 'A dramatic and powerful look at both sides of the story' Sunday Times 'A compelling narrative... A masterful conclusion' Observer From a renowned historian who writes with "maximum vividness" (The New Yorker) comes the most authoritative, readable single-volume historyof the brutal struggle for the Holy Land.Nine hundred years ago, a vast Christian army, summoned to holy war by the Pope, rampaged through the Muslim world of the eastern Mediterranean, seizing possession of Jerusalem, a city revered by both faiths. Over the two hundred years that followed, Islam and Christianity—both firm in the belief that they were at God's work—fought for dominion of the Holy Land, clashing in a succession of chillingly brutal wars: the Crusades.For the first time, this book tells the story of that epic struggle from the perspective of both Christians and Muslims. A vivid and fast-paced narrative history, it exposes the full horror, passion, and barbaric grandeur of the Crusading era, leading us into a world of legendary champions—such as Richard the Lionheart and Saladin—shadowy Assassins, poet-warriors, and pious visionaries; across the desert sands of Egypt to the verdant forests of Lebanon; and through the ancient cities of Constantinople, Cairo, and Damascus.Drawing on painstaking original research and an intimate knowledge of the Near East, Thomas Asbridge uncovers what drove Muslims and Christians alike to embrace the ideals of jihad and crusade, revealing how these holy wars reshaped the medieval world and why they continue to influence events today. In The Eleventh Century, A Vast Christian Army, Summoned To Holy War By The Pope, Rampaged Through The Muslim World Of The Eastern Mediterranean, Seizing Possession Of Jerusalem, A City Revered By Both Faiths. Over The Two Hundred Years That Followed This First Crusade, Islam And The West Fought For Dominion Of The Holy Land, Clashing In A Succession Of Chillingly Brutal Wars, Both Firm In The Belief That They Were At God's Work. For The First Time, This Book Tells The Story Of This Epic Struggle From The Perspective Of Both Christians And Muslims, Reconstructing The Experiences And Attitudes Of Those On Either Side Of The Conflict. Mixing Pulsing Narrative And Piercing Insight, It Exposes The Full Horror, Passion And Barbaric Grandeur Of The Crusading Era. One Of The World's Foremost Authorities On The Subject, Thomas Asbridge Offers A Vivid And Penetrating History Of The Crusades, Setting A New Standard For Modern Scholarship. Drawing Upon Painstaking Original Research And An Intimate Knowledge Of The Near East, He Uncovers What Drove Muslims And Christians Alike To Embrace The Ideals Of Jihad And Crusade, Revealing How These Holy Wars Reshaped The Medieval World And Why They Continue To Echo In Human Memory To This Day. In the 11th Century, a vast Christian army, summoned to holy war by the pope, rammpaged through the Muslim world of the eastern Mediterrannean, seizing possession of Jerusalem, a city revered by both faiths. Over the 200 years that followed, Islam & the West fought for domination over the Holy Land, clashing in a series of brutal wars A one-volume history of the Crusades to the Holy Land - telling this fascinating and bloody story from both Christian and Muslim perspectives for the first time An astonishingly assured, convincing and gripping one-volume history of the Crusades to the Holy Land