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Cruciadele: O istorie a luptelor pentru Țara Sfântă
Incursiune într-o epocă a splendorii, aventurii și credinței.
Autorul ne înfățișează, cu concizie, dar și cu detalii picante, o lume exotică, populată de împărați și de regi puternici, de templieri damnați, de generali lacomi și de țărani ambițioși.
La sfârșitul toamnei anului 1095, papa Urban al II-lea ținea la Clermont, în Franța, un discurs fulminant, care avea să însuflețească și apoi să pună în mișcare întreaga Europă. Aproape 150 000 de oameni au răspuns apelului papal. Cu toții și-au lăsat în urmă toate bunurile lumești spre a întreprinde ceea ce părea a fi o misiune nebunească. Aveau să mărșăluiască câteva mii de kilometri printr-un teritoriu ostil și să recucerească pentru creștinătate Ierusalimul, orașul sfânt al lui Dumnezeu. În ciuda tuturor piedicilor, au reușit acest lucru, făurind în inima lumii islamice un avanpost creștin care va dura aproape două secole.
Poate că nicio altă perioadă istorică nu este mai greșit înțeleasă decât cea a Cruciadelor. În acest volum remarcabil, Lars Brownworth prezintă cu obiectivitate și cu un indiscutabil talent literar întreaga poveste a acestor expediții fascinante. Surprinde perioada de la prima ciocnire dintre creștinătate și Islam, disputată pe pământurile arse de soare de la Yarmuk, până la căderea ultimului stat cruciat. În paginile cărții prind viață unele dintre cele mai faimoase personaje ale Evului Mediu – Richard Inimă de Leu, Frederic Barbarossa, Saladin, Eleanor de Aquitania, Ludovic cel Sfânt, legendarul Preot Ioan și mulți alții. De asemenea, volumul cuprinde și hărțile edificatoare pentru desfășurarea cruciadelor.
Autorul ne înfățișează, cu concizie, dar și cu detalii picante, o lume exotică, populată de împărați și de regi puternici, de templieri damnați, de generali lacomi și de țărani ambițioși.
La sfârșitul toamnei anului 1095, papa Urban al II-lea ținea la Clermont, în Franța, un discurs fulminant, care avea să însuflețească și apoi să pună în mișcare întreaga Europă. Aproape 150 000 de oameni au răspuns apelului papal. Cu toții și-au lăsat în urmă toate bunurile lumești spre a întreprinde ceea ce părea a fi o misiune nebunească. Aveau să mărșăluiască câteva mii de kilometri printr-un teritoriu ostil și să recucerească pentru creștinătate Ierusalimul, orașul sfânt al lui Dumnezeu. În ciuda tuturor piedicilor, au reușit acest lucru, făurind în inima lumii islamice un avanpost creștin care va dura aproape două secole.
Poate că nicio altă perioadă istorică nu este mai greșit înțeleasă decât cea a Cruciadelor. În acest volum remarcabil, Lars Brownworth prezintă cu obiectivitate și cu un indiscutabil talent literar întreaga poveste a acestor expediții fascinante. Surprinde perioada de la prima ciocnire dintre creștinătate și Islam, disputată pe pământurile arse de soare de la Yarmuk, până la căderea ultimului stat cruciat. În paginile cărții prind viață unele dintre cele mai faimoase personaje ale Evului Mediu – Richard Inimă de Leu, Frederic Barbarossa, Saladin, Eleanor de Aquitania, Ludovic cel Sfânt, legendarul Preot Ioan și mulți alții. De asemenea, volumul cuprinde și hărțile edificatoare pentru desfășurarea cruciadelor.
282 pages, Paperback
First published April 4, 2017
128 people are currently reading
557 people want to read
About the author
Lars Brownworth
20 books206 followersLars Brownworth is an author, speaker and broadcaster based in Maryland, USA.
Mr. Brownworth created the genre-defining 12 Byzantine Rulers podcast, which prompted the New York Times to liken him to some of history's great popularizers. His recent book titled Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western Civilization, is available in bookstores and online. He answers questions on his Finding History blog, speaks at conferences and is currently working on a new podcast that brings to life the reign of the Normans.
Mr. Brownworth created the genre-defining 12 Byzantine Rulers podcast, which prompted the New York Times to liken him to some of history's great popularizers. His recent book titled Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western Civilization, is available in bookstores and online. He answers questions on his Finding History blog, speaks at conferences and is currently working on a new podcast that brings to life the reign of the Normans.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
February 12, 2019
Consistent with its title, this is a short history. It is nice to read a history that doesn't get bogged down in endless details about every battle that took place. It does give a general overview of the impetus and the results of each crusade. What struck me most about that time period is how dependent on individuals the success or failure of a campaign was. So often the early death of a key figure completely changed the balance of power and how fragile those lives were.
January 14, 2019
連續將這位拉爾斯．布朗沃思（Lars Brownworth）所寫的「中古歐洲三部曲」的第三冊給讀完了。不得不說，這位作者的「說故事」功力的確不錯，適切地抓到重點，將許多紛雜繚亂的各方事蹟講得十分清楚，讓人讀了相當過癮，順便增加許多歷史方面的知識。三部曲的前兩部，主要講中世紀維京人的擴張，以及其接下來成為「諾曼人」之後在西歐各地的發展（不曉得是原作是否如此。其實前兩部《諾曼風雲》和《維京傳奇》二書，出版社的編序和其描述的時間是相反的……）。而這第三部，則以扼要的篇幅，完整交待了歐洲「十字軍東征」的始末。我不得不說，對於沒有認真接觸過維京、諾曼、十字軍東征歷史的讀者而言，本書絕對是值得一讀的入門好書。
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好話說完，以下開始談些對出版社比較不中聽的話了。
正如前面所說的，布朗沃思的這「三部曲」，對於「入門」的價值很高；但與那部在國內大受歡迎的房龍一樣，他們的作品只有「領進門」的作用（這項作用當然也很重要），但書中夾帶的更深一層的「史觀」，就不太像話了。特別是在《諾曼風雲》和《十字軍聖戰》二書中，作者對於「非歐洲文明」的偏見相當強烈。只要是歐洲文明與其東方的伊斯蘭的對抗上，作者的文筆便呈現出這種嚴重的曲筆了。在談到「耶路撒冷大屠殺」一事，作者在第六章〈黃金之城耶路撒冷〉，耗費不少篇幅加以「翻案」︰
「……儘管這完全違背了他們所宣稱的基督教原則，但以當時頗殘暴的標準而言，十字軍有權屠殺平民百姓。……儘管有繪聲繪影的駭人傳聞，但某些卻是十字軍自己編造出來的故事，而且看來他們似乎沒有屠殺百姓。許多城民肯定已經逃掉了，因十字軍缺乏人手包圍全城……有的城民則付了贖金而得饒過一命。……死亡的總人數實際上無法確知，但當代的希伯來記載說是三千人左右，根本算不上一般所稱的大屠殺。……在大多數情況下，這些紀錄被現代人不加辨別地採用，此番劫掠耶路撒冷被視作十字軍滔天大罪的表徵。但不管怎樣，從當時的標準來看，奪取耶路撒冷的經過並不算是特別的殘酷。」
布朗沃思在當今通行的歷史材料與研究中，寫出這段話不得不算真是「奇葩」。在主流學界都認為這群法蘭克人過於兇殘的情況之下，作者居然可以自行腦補，說「你們的材料都是錯的，只有我的推測較合理」。我可以同意三千人這個數字，太過灌水是有問題的，畢竟在視野之內屍體堆積所造成的心理震撼，五百人和十萬人的感覺是差不多的。但翻來覆去要論證「十字軍沒有恣意屠殺耶路撒冷的老百姓」，作者的證據實在太單薄了；更何況三千人的濫殺算不算屠殺，作者以「和傳統相比沒那麼糟糕嘛」來開脫，就是很低級的筆法了。
---
而本書在接下來介紹有名的「第三次東征」時，一般材料都會以「兩個英雄（獅心理查 vs 撒拉丁）的交手」來著手，但布朗沃思卻非常有趣，完全忽視撒拉丁的立體描述，光講他開戰與殺害基督教士兵的事，甚至連攻下耶路撒冷之後，撒拉丁有名的「無贖釋放」的施恩，作者只以輕描淡寫的「有能力買回自由的人可以這樣做，其他人則賣為奴隸」兩句話打發過去——除非布朗沃思再像前面所寫「十字軍沒犯下耶路撒冷大屠殺」一書多作些考據，否則那麼多其它材料所寫撒拉丁對基督徒的仁慈，作者卻完全胡謅出這麼簡單兩句話，我覺得這只能算是布朗沃思刻意的曲筆了。正如房龍所寫的歷史一樣，對於歷史人物或事件描寫最大的污衊並不是寫他們怎麼壞，而是根本忽視略過不談。
而本書最後的結論，正好呈現作者這種對伊斯蘭的偏見。現代歐美史學界在談這段文明衝突時，即使是偽裝，總是要作番基督教軍事入侵的反省。但作者卻很努力地說，「我們」基督徒並不需要覺得不好意思，因為當時「他們」穆斯林根本就在不在意我們的進出，所謂的宗教思想的衝突與接下來的仇恨報復是假的。然後，就算沒有十字軍入侵，「他們」穆斯林還是會拼命地擴張到歐洲來，所以才有鄂圖曼土耳其帝國，所以「我們」並不需要理會那段被現代歐美「歪曲」的史觀作出任何反省。看看「我們」後來重新揚眉吐氣時，也沒有對鄂圖曼土耳其幹過什麼壞事呀。
如果是二十年前的我，應該會將這套書給買下來，並常常拿出來複習一番。但臭老九思想累積多了，這套書（尤其是「歐洲中心偏見」最強烈的《十字軍聖戰》），應該只當作可供資料參考的其中之一種罷了。
---
好話說完，以下開始談些對出版社比較不中聽的話了。
正如前面所說的，布朗沃思的這「三部曲」，對於「入門」的價值很高；但與那部在國內大受歡迎的房龍一樣，他們的作品只有「領進門」的作用（這項作用當然也很重要），但書中夾帶的更深一層的「史觀」，就不太像話了。特別是在《諾曼風雲》和《十字軍聖戰》二書中，作者對於「非歐洲文明」的偏見相當強烈。只要是歐洲文明與其東方的伊斯蘭的對抗上，作者的文筆便呈現出這種嚴重的曲筆了。在談到「耶路撒冷大屠殺」一事，作者在第六章〈黃金之城耶路撒冷〉，耗費不少篇幅加以「翻案」︰
「……儘管這完全違背了他們所宣稱的基督教原則，但以當時頗殘暴的標準而言，十字軍有權屠殺平民百姓。……儘管有繪聲繪影的駭人傳聞，但某些卻是十字軍自己編造出來的故事，而且看來他們似乎沒有屠殺百姓。許多城民肯定已經逃掉了，因十字軍缺乏人手包圍全城……有的城民則付了贖金而得饒過一命。……死亡的總人數實際上無法確知，但當代的希伯來記載說是三千人左右，根本算不上一般所稱的大屠殺。……在大多數情況下，這些紀錄被現代人不加辨別地採用，此番劫掠耶路撒冷被視作十字軍滔天大罪的表徵。但不管怎樣，從當時的標準來看，奪取耶路撒冷的經過並不算是特別的殘酷。」
布朗沃思在當今通行的歷史材料與研究中，寫出這段話不得不算真是「奇葩」。在主流學界都認為這群法蘭克人過於兇殘的情況之下，作者居然可以自行腦補，說「你們的材料都是錯的，只有我的推測較合理」。我可以同意三千人這個數字，太過灌水是有問題的，畢竟在視野之內屍體堆積所造成的心理震撼，五百人和十萬人的感覺是差不多的。但翻來覆去要論證「十字軍沒有恣意屠殺耶路撒冷的老百姓」，作者的證據實在太單薄了；更何況三千人的濫殺算不算屠殺，作者以「和傳統相比沒那麼糟糕嘛」來開脫，就是很低級的筆法了。
---
而本書在接下來介紹有名的「第三次東征」時，一般材料都會以「兩個英雄（獅心理查 vs 撒拉丁）的交手」來著手，但布朗沃思卻非常有趣，完全忽視撒拉丁的立體描述，光講他開戰與殺害基督教士兵的事，甚至連攻下耶路撒冷之後，撒拉丁有名的「無贖釋放」的施恩，作者只以輕描淡寫的「有能力買回自由的人可以這樣做，其他人則賣為奴隸」兩句話打發過去——除非布朗沃思再像前面所寫「十字軍沒犯下耶路撒冷大屠殺」一書多作些考據，否則那麼多其它材料所寫撒拉丁對基督徒的仁慈，作者卻完全胡謅出這麼簡單兩句話，我覺得這只能算是布朗沃思刻意的曲筆了。正如房龍所寫的歷史一樣，對於歷史人物或事件描寫最大的污衊並不是寫他們怎麼壞，而是根本忽視略過不談。
而本書最後的結論，正好呈現作者這種對伊斯蘭的偏見。現代歐美史學界在談這段文明衝突時，即使是偽裝，總是要作番基督教軍事入侵的反省。但作者卻很努力地說，「我們」基督徒並不需要覺得不好意思，因為當時「他們」穆斯林根本就在不在意我們的進出，所謂的宗教思想的衝突與接下來的仇恨報復是假的。然後，就算沒有十字軍入侵，「他們」穆斯林還是會拼命地擴張到歐洲來，所以才有鄂圖曼土耳其帝國，所以「我們」並不需要理會那段被現代歐美「歪曲」的史觀作出任何反省。看看「我們」後來重新揚眉吐氣時，也沒有對鄂圖曼土耳其幹過什麼壞事呀。
如果是二十年前的我，應該會將這套書給買下來，並常常拿出來複習一番。但臭老九思想累積多了，這套書（尤其是「歐洲中心偏見」最強烈的《十字軍聖戰》），應該只當作可供資料參考的其中之一種罷了。
August 10, 2018
A great introduction to the history of the crusades, not without mistakes but very accessible and thoroughly engaging.
I appreciated the inclusion of maps, sources and a list of the major players of the different crusades, but disappointed by the lack of even the simplest timeline.
I have read so far three books of Brownworth and enjoyed them all, I’m planning to read Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western Civilization next. I have added Brownworth to the list of my favourite authors and I would highly recommend his books.
I appreciated the inclusion of maps, sources and a list of the major players of the different crusades, but disappointed by the lack of even the simplest timeline.
I have read so far three books of Brownworth and enjoyed them all, I’m planning to read Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western Civilization next. I have added Brownworth to the list of my favourite authors and I would highly recommend his books.
November 16, 2017
Another superb historical account from Lars Brownworth. Brownworth is an exceptional storyteller, gifted at unearthing and telling *the story* behind what many other historians would dryly present as a series of dates, characters, and events. Throughout, the reader is impressed with not just what happened, but also the characters’ heroics, follies, machinations, tragedies — in short, their utter humanity. I was so engrossed that at times I found myself shouting at the book, “No! Don’t do it, you idiots!!” — particularly when the dispirited and crazed Crusaders attack and plunder Constantinople, their own ally and only bulwark against widespread and irreversible defeat. Brownworth also persuasively dispatches the prevailing myths of the Crusaders being a bunch of ragtag western barbarians attacking the more enlightened eastern Muslims (by and large they weren’t), and of the Crusades ultimately causing the cultural decline and jihadist terrorism of the Muslim world (they didn’t). The editing is a bit sloppy, with numerous distracting grammatical errors, but this is not strictly the author’s fault and does not diminish the book’s power and overall excellence.
March 24, 2022
An Unbiased Overview (Tldr at the bottom)
Lars Brownworth has straight up become one of my favourite authors. His books on the Norsemen and Normans were both fantastic and interesting reads but this book outdoes it. I went from knowing fragmented pieces of information about a controversial and heavily demonised topic, to a whole interesting panorama of the middle ages. If you do end up picking this up I'd suggest getting his book on the Normans or listening to his podcast on them, if only for the information on Frederick Barbarossa the 2nd and the Emperor Alexios.
You only need to read the conclusion of this book to see the unbiased nature of the work. It feels as if he didn't even consider the idea of sides/moral stances (which would be easy to do) and instead wrote an informed history based on the predecessors and events leading up to the crusades and after them.
If you've at any point been interested in this time period this book will serve you well. I'd love to see Lars tackle the Republic of Venice, as his descriptions of Enrico Dandolo has gotten me hungry for more of it.
Tldr; Lars writes in a way that very few history authors do. I don't know how he does it but every book he has written has been entertaining as apposed to draining. If you're interested in the middle ages then this book is a must. It's an unbiased overview, a panorama of the crusades.
Lars Brownworth has straight up become one of my favourite authors. His books on the Norsemen and Normans were both fantastic and interesting reads but this book outdoes it. I went from knowing fragmented pieces of information about a controversial and heavily demonised topic, to a whole interesting panorama of the middle ages. If you do end up picking this up I'd suggest getting his book on the Normans or listening to his podcast on them, if only for the information on Frederick Barbarossa the 2nd and the Emperor Alexios.
You only need to read the conclusion of this book to see the unbiased nature of the work. It feels as if he didn't even consider the idea of sides/moral stances (which would be easy to do) and instead wrote an informed history based on the predecessors and events leading up to the crusades and after them.
If you've at any point been interested in this time period this book will serve you well. I'd love to see Lars tackle the Republic of Venice, as his descriptions of Enrico Dandolo has gotten me hungry for more of it.
Tldr; Lars writes in a way that very few history authors do. I don't know how he does it but every book he has written has been entertaining as apposed to draining. If you're interested in the middle ages then this book is a must. It's an unbiased overview, a panorama of the crusades.
April 28, 2019
Succinct and interesting. Lars hits all the major points of the crusades without belaboring any one aspect or losing sight of the whole story.
December 22, 2020
What this book offers is mainly a short narrative history of the Crusades. Given that depending on one's count there are either eight or nine crusades, to cover them all and the periods in between (and after) them in under 250 pages means that the coverage is very short. To be sure, there are longer and more complete histories of this period, but this particular book offers the reader an understanding of the narrative thread of the Crusades and this is worthwhile, especially since the course of the Crusades is rather confusing to many people and many of the Crusades, especially the later ones, are not well understood. And the quality of this book, despite its flaws (including the hostility of the writer for certain figures within the Crusades history), is that it helps to give the reader an understanding of what is not well understand and that is well worth appreciating. Any time a book is able in a short space to provide a worthwhile summary of an interesting period in history, that is the sort of book that I can at least cautiously recommend to readers who need a basic summary of the Crusades.
This book is between 200 and 250 pages with more than twenty short chapters. After a cast of characters and list of maps, the book begins with a prologue that discusses the Muslim invasion of the Holy Land in the 7th century. After that the author discusses the context of the Crusades in the pen and the sword (1). Then there is a look at the people's crusade and the prince's crusade as part of the first crusade (2, 3), as well as the long march through Anatolia (4), the siege of Antioch (5), the capture of Jerusalem (6), and the establishment of the Crusader Kingdoms (7). The Field of Blood takes a chapter (8), as well as the gathering storm (9) that led to the call for the Second Crusade (10) and the response of Europe to this (11). Then the division between Crusader States (12) and the rise of Saladin (13) is followed by a look at the Third Crusade (14), the heroism of Richard Lionheart (15), as well as the horrors of the Fourth Crusade (16), and the disasters of the Children's Crusade (17). The rest of the book discusses the sixth crusade (18), seventh crusade (19), Mongols (20), and the eighth and ninth crusades (21), after which the book ends with the discussion of the fall of the Crusader States, as well as a bibliography.
There are at least a couple of insights that this book can provide to the reader that are worth the time it takes to read this book. For one, the author spends a great deal of time in a very small book talking about the different struggles over power and leadership. The struggle over power and leadership both hindered and prolonged the Crusades, especially because the struggle for power affected all of the parties involved in the Crusades, including the Crusaders, the Byzantines, European nations hindered from supporting Crusading efforts because of their infighting, as well as the Muslims themselves. Similarly, when talking with the leaders of the Crusades, the author judges them based on how their advice and participation helped out the Crusader states or not, pointing out that very few Crusades ended up being effective. The other aspect that the book does a very good job at pointing out is how complicated the Crusades and their goals were. The first and third and ninth (?) crusades were relatively successful largely because they were pointed at the area of interest and did a good job at strengthening the Crusader states as well as possible. Quite a few of the other crusades were sent in other directions and it ended up weakening the effort to hold onto the Outremer, whether the distraction was in Lisbon (2nd Crusade), Zara and Constantinople (4th Crusade), Egypt (5th and 7th Crusades), and Tunis (8th Crusade).
This book is between 200 and 250 pages with more than twenty short chapters. After a cast of characters and list of maps, the book begins with a prologue that discusses the Muslim invasion of the Holy Land in the 7th century. After that the author discusses the context of the Crusades in the pen and the sword (1). Then there is a look at the people's crusade and the prince's crusade as part of the first crusade (2, 3), as well as the long march through Anatolia (4), the siege of Antioch (5), the capture of Jerusalem (6), and the establishment of the Crusader Kingdoms (7). The Field of Blood takes a chapter (8), as well as the gathering storm (9) that led to the call for the Second Crusade (10) and the response of Europe to this (11). Then the division between Crusader States (12) and the rise of Saladin (13) is followed by a look at the Third Crusade (14), the heroism of Richard Lionheart (15), as well as the horrors of the Fourth Crusade (16), and the disasters of the Children's Crusade (17). The rest of the book discusses the sixth crusade (18), seventh crusade (19), Mongols (20), and the eighth and ninth crusades (21), after which the book ends with the discussion of the fall of the Crusader States, as well as a bibliography.
There are at least a couple of insights that this book can provide to the reader that are worth the time it takes to read this book. For one, the author spends a great deal of time in a very small book talking about the different struggles over power and leadership. The struggle over power and leadership both hindered and prolonged the Crusades, especially because the struggle for power affected all of the parties involved in the Crusades, including the Crusaders, the Byzantines, European nations hindered from supporting Crusading efforts because of their infighting, as well as the Muslims themselves. Similarly, when talking with the leaders of the Crusades, the author judges them based on how their advice and participation helped out the Crusader states or not, pointing out that very few Crusades ended up being effective. The other aspect that the book does a very good job at pointing out is how complicated the Crusades and their goals were. The first and third and ninth (?) crusades were relatively successful largely because they were pointed at the area of interest and did a good job at strengthening the Crusader states as well as possible. Quite a few of the other crusades were sent in other directions and it ended up weakening the effort to hold onto the Outremer, whether the distraction was in Lisbon (2nd Crusade), Zara and Constantinople (4th Crusade), Egypt (5th and 7th Crusades), and Tunis (8th Crusade).
October 21, 2025
3.9 ✨
Foarte ok pentru începători, stilul de scriere este ca și cum ai asculta un podcast. Nu e foarte detaliată, nu e greoaie, e chiar plăcută și amuzantă pe alocuri.Totuși,după ce am citit și alte cărți de specialitate scrise de istorici se observă foarte bine anacronismele și lipsa de aparat critic în această carte. Are niște concluziile eronate și face comentarii la adresa unor conducători sau a unor situații.. destul de stupide. Se observă că nu este un istoric și că nu e de profesie,ci doar vrea să informeze. De entertaiment.
E structurată clar și cronologic.Are hărți. Recomand pentru începători sau pentru cei care doresc să afle informații despre subiect într-o manieră lejeră.
Foarte ok pentru începători, stilul de scriere este ca și cum ai asculta un podcast. Nu e foarte detaliată, nu e greoaie, e chiar plăcută și amuzantă pe alocuri.Totuși,după ce am citit și alte cărți de specialitate scrise de istorici se observă foarte bine anacronismele și lipsa de aparat critic în această carte. Are niște concluziile eronate și face comentarii la adresa unor conducători sau a unor situații.. destul de stupide. Se observă că nu este un istoric și că nu e de profesie,ci doar vrea să informeze. De entertaiment.
E structurată clar și cronologic.Are hărți. Recomand pentru începători sau pentru cei care doresc să afle informații despre subiect într-o manieră lejeră.
April 5, 2022
The #1 lesson to be learned from kings in distant lands leading armies into battle to conquer is that "Pride comes before a downfall."
My favorite king is the leper king, whom Ridley Scott made a movie about. The crusades and Byzantium have the most amazing history of legendary battles between Saladin and Richard the Lion heart.
My favorite king is the leper king, whom Ridley Scott made a movie about. The crusades and Byzantium have the most amazing history of legendary battles between Saladin and Richard the Lion heart.
January 5, 2025
Introduction
"In Distant Lands: A Short History of the Crusades" by Lars Brownworth offers a concise yet comprehensive narrative on one of the most tumultuous periods in medieval history. Known for his engaging storytelling and historical accuracy, Brownworth navigates through the complex web of military campaigns, political intrigue, and cultural clashes known as the Crusades. This book not only explores the wars themselves but also delves into the motivations, characters, and outcomes that shaped the interactions between Christianity and Islam in the Middle Ages.
Chapter by Chapter Summary
Introduction:
Brownworth sets the stage for the Crusades by explaining the religious fervor of the time and the context of Pope Urban II's call to arms in 1095 at the Council of Clermont.
Chapter 1: The First Crusade
Details: Begins with the initial call to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim control. Describes the People's Crusade led by Peter the Hermit, which ended disastrously, and the subsequent successful campaign by the nobility.
Spoilers: Key events include the siege of Antioch and the Battle of Ascalon, leading to the establishment of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Figures: Peter the Hermit, Alexius I Comnenus, Godfrey of Bouillon, Bohemond of Taranto.
Chapter 2: The Kingdom of Heaven
Details: Chronicles the establishment and early years of the Crusader states, including the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the County of Edessa, the Principality of Antioch, and the County of Tripoli.
Spoilers: Highlights the reign of Baldwin I and the precarious peace under Baldwin II. Discusses the rise of the Knights Templar.
Figures: Baldwin I, Baldwin II, Baldwin of Bourcq, Raymond IV of Toulouse.
Chapter 3: The Second Crusade
Details: Examines the reasons for the Second Crusade, primarily the fall of Edessa, and the failed attempts to regain it.
Spoilers: This crusade, led by figures like Louis VII of France and Conrad III of Germany, ends in failure due to poor leadership and strategic errors.
Figures: Louis VII, Conrad III, Nur ad-Din, Bernard of Clairvaux.
Chapter 4: The Third Crusade
Details: Focuses on the response to Saladin's capture of Jerusalem, leading to the involvement of Richard the Lionheart, Philip II of France, and Frederick Barbarossa.
Spoilers: The crusade resulted in military stalemates but diplomatic achievements like the Treaty of Jaffa, allowing Christian pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
Figures: Richard I (Richard the Lionheart), Saladin, Philip II, Frederick Barbarossa.
Chapter 5: The Later Crusades
Details: Covers the Fourth, Fifth, and subsequent Crusades, including the infamous sacking of Constantinople and the Children's Crusade.
Spoilers: The Fourth Crusade diverts to Constantinople, leading to the Latin Empire. The Fifth Crusade has several battles but ultimately fails.
Figures: Innocent III, Frederick II, Louis IX, John of Brienne.
Chapter 6: The End of an Era
Details: Discusses the decline of the Crusader states and the Mamluk conquest of Acre in 1291, effectively ending the Crusader presence in the Holy Land.
Spoilers: The last remnants of the Crusader states fall, marking the end of the Crusades as a series of Holy Wars.
Figures: Baybars, Qalawun, Edward I of England.
Epilogue:
Reflects on the legacy of the Crusades, how they shaped modern perceptions of conflict between the Christian and Muslim worlds, and the cultural exchanges that occurred despite the warfare.
Main Historical Figures Mentioned
Pope Urban II
Peter the Hermit
Godfrey of Bouillon
Baldwin I and II
Bohemond of Taranto
Alexius I Comnenus
Saladin
Richard the Lionheart
Frederick Barbarossa
Louis IX of France
Innocent III
Frederick II
Critical Passages
"In the late fall of 1095, Pope Urban II gave a speech in Clermont, France, and set all of Europe into motion." - This sets the historical context for the beginning of the Crusades.
"Against all odds they succeeded, creating a Christian outpost in the heart of the Islamic world that lasted for the better part of two centuries." - Highlights the surprising success of the First Crusade.
"The Second Crusade was a disaster from beginning to end, a lesson in how not to conduct a military campaign." - Summarizes the failure of the Second Crusade.
"Richard and Saladin were two of the greatest commanders of their age, and their mutual respect was evident even in the heat of battle." - Describes the dynamic between two key figures of the Third Crusade.
"The Fourth Crusade, meant to liberate the Holy Land, ended up sacking Constantinople, one of Christendom's greatest cities." - Points out one of the most controversial events of the Crusades.
Conclusion
Lars Brownworth's "In Distant Lands" is an engaging and enlightening read that does an excellent job of distilling the complex history of the Crusades into an accessible narrative. His focus on key figures and pivotal events while providing a broader historical context makes this book valuable for both newcomers to the subject and those with a deeper interest in medieval history. The book successfully navigates the ethical and moral complexities of the Crusades, offering a balanced view without oversimplifying the religious and cultural dynamics at play.
Ratings Breakdown
Content Quality (5/5): Brownworth's grasp of the material is evident, with each chapter providing depth without overwhelming the reader with minutiae.
Narrative Style (5/5): The storytelling is engaging, almost cinematic in its vivid portrayal of events and personalities.
Research and Accuracy (5/5): Well-researched with a clear dedication to historical accuracy, though accessible to a general audience.
Impact and Insight (4/5): Provides significant insights into the motivations and consequences of the Crusades, though some might wish for more in-depth analysis of the cultural exchanges.
Readability (5/5): The book is exceptionally well-written, making a potentially dense subject matter enjoyable and easy to digest.
Overall Enjoyment (5/5): For those interested in history, particularly medieval or military history, this book is highly enjoyable.
Total Rating: 4.8/5
This book stands as a testament to Brownworth's skill in making history not only informative but also compelling, ensuring that the reader comes away with a richer understanding of the Crusades and their enduring legacy.
"In Distant Lands: A Short History of the Crusades" by Lars Brownworth offers a concise yet comprehensive narrative on one of the most tumultuous periods in medieval history. Known for his engaging storytelling and historical accuracy, Brownworth navigates through the complex web of military campaigns, political intrigue, and cultural clashes known as the Crusades. This book not only explores the wars themselves but also delves into the motivations, characters, and outcomes that shaped the interactions between Christianity and Islam in the Middle Ages.
Chapter by Chapter Summary
Introduction:
Brownworth sets the stage for the Crusades by explaining the religious fervor of the time and the context of Pope Urban II's call to arms in 1095 at the Council of Clermont.
Chapter 1: The First Crusade
Details: Begins with the initial call to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim control. Describes the People's Crusade led by Peter the Hermit, which ended disastrously, and the subsequent successful campaign by the nobility.
Spoilers: Key events include the siege of Antioch and the Battle of Ascalon, leading to the establishment of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Figures: Peter the Hermit, Alexius I Comnenus, Godfrey of Bouillon, Bohemond of Taranto.
Chapter 2: The Kingdom of Heaven
Details: Chronicles the establishment and early years of the Crusader states, including the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the County of Edessa, the Principality of Antioch, and the County of Tripoli.
Spoilers: Highlights the reign of Baldwin I and the precarious peace under Baldwin II. Discusses the rise of the Knights Templar.
Figures: Baldwin I, Baldwin II, Baldwin of Bourcq, Raymond IV of Toulouse.
Chapter 3: The Second Crusade
Details: Examines the reasons for the Second Crusade, primarily the fall of Edessa, and the failed attempts to regain it.
Spoilers: This crusade, led by figures like Louis VII of France and Conrad III of Germany, ends in failure due to poor leadership and strategic errors.
Figures: Louis VII, Conrad III, Nur ad-Din, Bernard of Clairvaux.
Chapter 4: The Third Crusade
Details: Focuses on the response to Saladin's capture of Jerusalem, leading to the involvement of Richard the Lionheart, Philip II of France, and Frederick Barbarossa.
Spoilers: The crusade resulted in military stalemates but diplomatic achievements like the Treaty of Jaffa, allowing Christian pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
Figures: Richard I (Richard the Lionheart), Saladin, Philip II, Frederick Barbarossa.
Chapter 5: The Later Crusades
Details: Covers the Fourth, Fifth, and subsequent Crusades, including the infamous sacking of Constantinople and the Children's Crusade.
Spoilers: The Fourth Crusade diverts to Constantinople, leading to the Latin Empire. The Fifth Crusade has several battles but ultimately fails.
Figures: Innocent III, Frederick II, Louis IX, John of Brienne.
Chapter 6: The End of an Era
Details: Discusses the decline of the Crusader states and the Mamluk conquest of Acre in 1291, effectively ending the Crusader presence in the Holy Land.
Spoilers: The last remnants of the Crusader states fall, marking the end of the Crusades as a series of Holy Wars.
Figures: Baybars, Qalawun, Edward I of England.
Epilogue:
Reflects on the legacy of the Crusades, how they shaped modern perceptions of conflict between the Christian and Muslim worlds, and the cultural exchanges that occurred despite the warfare.
Main Historical Figures Mentioned
Pope Urban II
Peter the Hermit
Godfrey of Bouillon
Baldwin I and II
Bohemond of Taranto
Alexius I Comnenus
Saladin
Richard the Lionheart
Frederick Barbarossa
Louis IX of France
Innocent III
Frederick II
Critical Passages
"In the late fall of 1095, Pope Urban II gave a speech in Clermont, France, and set all of Europe into motion." - This sets the historical context for the beginning of the Crusades.
"Against all odds they succeeded, creating a Christian outpost in the heart of the Islamic world that lasted for the better part of two centuries." - Highlights the surprising success of the First Crusade.
"The Second Crusade was a disaster from beginning to end, a lesson in how not to conduct a military campaign." - Summarizes the failure of the Second Crusade.
"Richard and Saladin were two of the greatest commanders of their age, and their mutual respect was evident even in the heat of battle." - Describes the dynamic between two key figures of the Third Crusade.
"The Fourth Crusade, meant to liberate the Holy Land, ended up sacking Constantinople, one of Christendom's greatest cities." - Points out one of the most controversial events of the Crusades.
Conclusion
Lars Brownworth's "In Distant Lands" is an engaging and enlightening read that does an excellent job of distilling the complex history of the Crusades into an accessible narrative. His focus on key figures and pivotal events while providing a broader historical context makes this book valuable for both newcomers to the subject and those with a deeper interest in medieval history. The book successfully navigates the ethical and moral complexities of the Crusades, offering a balanced view without oversimplifying the religious and cultural dynamics at play.
Ratings Breakdown
Content Quality (5/5): Brownworth's grasp of the material is evident, with each chapter providing depth without overwhelming the reader with minutiae.
Narrative Style (5/5): The storytelling is engaging, almost cinematic in its vivid portrayal of events and personalities.
Research and Accuracy (5/5): Well-researched with a clear dedication to historical accuracy, though accessible to a general audience.
Impact and Insight (4/5): Provides significant insights into the motivations and consequences of the Crusades, though some might wish for more in-depth analysis of the cultural exchanges.
Readability (5/5): The book is exceptionally well-written, making a potentially dense subject matter enjoyable and easy to digest.
Overall Enjoyment (5/5): For those interested in history, particularly medieval or military history, this book is highly enjoyable.
Total Rating: 4.8/5
This book stands as a testament to Brownworth's skill in making history not only informative but also compelling, ensuring that the reader comes away with a richer understanding of the Crusades and their enduring legacy.
February 22, 2019
Pretty good overview. Well written, and went into details that I did not expect (up until the final fall of the outremer, or crusader states).
It even went towards some tangents like a crusade at Tunis by St Louis IX (the 8th crusade).
I also didn't realise quite how successful the 5th and 7th crusades in Egypt were. How close Legate Pelagius was to securing the holy land, and how St Louis XI learnt from Pelagius' mistake only to fail anyway.
However, a minor issue is that the book, while it mentions Tunis, doesn't really go into too much detail about the Northern Crusades or The Reconquista. They would have been interesting to hear about.
Worth a read/listen.
It even went towards some tangents like a crusade at Tunis by St Louis IX (the 8th crusade).
I also didn't realise quite how successful the 5th and 7th crusades in Egypt were. How close Legate Pelagius was to securing the holy land, and how St Louis XI learnt from Pelagius' mistake only to fail anyway.
However, a minor issue is that the book, while it mentions Tunis, doesn't really go into too much detail about the Northern Crusades or The Reconquista. They would have been interesting to hear about.
Worth a read/listen.
November 19, 2019
This was a good, succinct history of the Crusades that began in 1093.
Author Lars Brownworth gives a brief synopsis of the major battles, as well as introducing the major players; on both the Christian and Islamic sides.
The book begins with the first invasion of Byzantium by the early muslims, and continues on until the last crusade of 1270, lead by King Louis IX of France.
This was a good read, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in a brief history of the crusades.
4 stars.
Author Lars Brownworth gives a brief synopsis of the major battles, as well as introducing the major players; on both the Christian and Islamic sides.
The book begins with the first invasion of Byzantium by the early muslims, and continues on until the last crusade of 1270, lead by King Louis IX of France.
This was a good read, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in a brief history of the crusades.
4 stars.
August 13, 2017
In Distant Lands
A Short History of the Crusades
Author Lars Brownworth
Narrated by Joe Barrett
Publication date July 11, 2017
Running time 8 hrs
Courtesy Tantor Media
I have never read anything directly about the crusades. Whenever I encountered them, they were the backstory or window dressing of another story. For example the legend of Robin Hood centers around Richard the Lionheart being held for ransom when returning from the third crusade. I knew there were several crusades but not exactly how many. I knew some of the main characters like Richard, Eleanor of Aquitaine when she was Queen of France, Saladin and Suleiman but I did not really know how they all fit together. I knew there was seriously messed up stuff involved like the Children’s Crusade and the crusaders sacking Constantinople, their own ally. In Distant Lands A Short History of the Crusades helped fill all those gaps in my knowledge of an incredibly complex subject that continues to have relevance even today.
Mr. Brownworth begins the book by explaining which characters go with which crusade. I found that extremely helpful. So many of the names are not familiar, like Alexius I Comnenus, who was the emperor of Byzantium and whose request for help set the first crusade in motion. The book then lays out the logical order of events that created the need for the Byzantine emperor to seek help from the Roman Catholic Pope. He also then shows how events spiraled out of control until there was absolutely no hope of stopping the disaster that followed.
The book does a wonderful job of balancing events and people. The significance of the events, what led up to them and what their consequences were are all told in a very readable fashion. At the same time the people involved in the events are discussed in a way that gives them depth and life. Nothing happens in a vacuum and the author does a great job of illustrating the people who created the events.
Joe Barrett did an excellent job narrating In Distant Lands. His voice is very pleasant to listen to. He enunciates clearly and the production quality is excellent. He never stumbles on any of the foreign words whether French or Arabic. I would not hesitate to choose another book he narrates.
In Distant Lands has kindled an interest for me in this period of history. I have two other books picked out for my next trip into this time period (God’s Wolf by Jeffrey Lee and The Templars by Dan Jones). I will also be looking into more of Mr. Brownworth’s work. I found In Distant Lands to be very accessible while not oversimplifying a complex subject.
A Short History of the Crusades
Author Lars Brownworth
Narrated by Joe Barrett
Publication date July 11, 2017
Running time 8 hrs
Courtesy Tantor Media
I have never read anything directly about the crusades. Whenever I encountered them, they were the backstory or window dressing of another story. For example the legend of Robin Hood centers around Richard the Lionheart being held for ransom when returning from the third crusade. I knew there were several crusades but not exactly how many. I knew some of the main characters like Richard, Eleanor of Aquitaine when she was Queen of France, Saladin and Suleiman but I did not really know how they all fit together. I knew there was seriously messed up stuff involved like the Children’s Crusade and the crusaders sacking Constantinople, their own ally. In Distant Lands A Short History of the Crusades helped fill all those gaps in my knowledge of an incredibly complex subject that continues to have relevance even today.
Mr. Brownworth begins the book by explaining which characters go with which crusade. I found that extremely helpful. So many of the names are not familiar, like Alexius I Comnenus, who was the emperor of Byzantium and whose request for help set the first crusade in motion. The book then lays out the logical order of events that created the need for the Byzantine emperor to seek help from the Roman Catholic Pope. He also then shows how events spiraled out of control until there was absolutely no hope of stopping the disaster that followed.
The book does a wonderful job of balancing events and people. The significance of the events, what led up to them and what their consequences were are all told in a very readable fashion. At the same time the people involved in the events are discussed in a way that gives them depth and life. Nothing happens in a vacuum and the author does a great job of illustrating the people who created the events.
Joe Barrett did an excellent job narrating In Distant Lands. His voice is very pleasant to listen to. He enunciates clearly and the production quality is excellent. He never stumbles on any of the foreign words whether French or Arabic. I would not hesitate to choose another book he narrates.
In Distant Lands has kindled an interest for me in this period of history. I have two other books picked out for my next trip into this time period (God’s Wolf by Jeffrey Lee and The Templars by Dan Jones). I will also be looking into more of Mr. Brownworth’s work. I found In Distant Lands to be very accessible while not oversimplifying a complex subject.
November 2, 2024
As expected, this book covers the history of the Crusades, a topic which I think is often misunderstood by most folks, including me. I will say up front that if you are looking for something more comprehensive, the Thomas Asbridge book was definitely more thorough, particularly when it comes to looking at things from the side of the Islamic participants, but since this book is designed to be a "short" history I also want to judge it on its own merits.
The book itself covers the whole series of crusades. Generally speaking, the book doesn't get as much into the origin and politics in Europe (although it definitely is a topic) but spends as much time as possible in the field with the various crusading armies. As is typical, Brownworth focuses a lot of attention on individual actors in the events, which makes the book very readable but can get a bit lost in the details and lose the big picture at times.
Brownworth also spends some time dispelling the myths of the crusades and how they are often perceived today (incorrectly). The events now are often portrayed apologetically in the west as some sort of genocidal conflict, but while there were certainly atrocities committed on all sides of the conflict they really weren't out of line with the norms of the times. Throughout most of the book it is clear that the local Islamic population considers the crusaders to be basically another player in the shifting balance of power instead of some sort of "other". There are definitely times when local leaders would try to unite the population against Christian invaders, but it seems like more of an excuse to claim leadership than a real jihadist intention.
As noted, Brownworth spends a lot of time covering individual characters, and many of them are very interesting in their own right. Frederick II comes off very poorly in the book, probably justifiably, as someone who is very talented but more interested in paying lip service to the crusades than actually participating. The various types of infighting and self-promotion that were a common theme across much of the book were also interesting.
The actual writing of the book is well done, and it flows well. Combined with the relatively short length makes it a good starting point for those unfamiliar with the time period who are interested in a less academic style of writing. While many aspects are only covered briefly, it gives enough of an overview to give someone a general idea of what was going on at the time.
The book itself covers the whole series of crusades. Generally speaking, the book doesn't get as much into the origin and politics in Europe (although it definitely is a topic) but spends as much time as possible in the field with the various crusading armies. As is typical, Brownworth focuses a lot of attention on individual actors in the events, which makes the book very readable but can get a bit lost in the details and lose the big picture at times.
Brownworth also spends some time dispelling the myths of the crusades and how they are often perceived today (incorrectly). The events now are often portrayed apologetically in the west as some sort of genocidal conflict, but while there were certainly atrocities committed on all sides of the conflict they really weren't out of line with the norms of the times. Throughout most of the book it is clear that the local Islamic population considers the crusaders to be basically another player in the shifting balance of power instead of some sort of "other". There are definitely times when local leaders would try to unite the population against Christian invaders, but it seems like more of an excuse to claim leadership than a real jihadist intention.
As noted, Brownworth spends a lot of time covering individual characters, and many of them are very interesting in their own right. Frederick II comes off very poorly in the book, probably justifiably, as someone who is very talented but more interested in paying lip service to the crusades than actually participating. The various types of infighting and self-promotion that were a common theme across much of the book were also interesting.
The actual writing of the book is well done, and it flows well. Combined with the relatively short length makes it a good starting point for those unfamiliar with the time period who are interested in a less academic style of writing. While many aspects are only covered briefly, it gives enough of an overview to give someone a general idea of what was going on at the time.
December 22, 2024
"In Distant Lands" is the popular historian Lars Brownsworth's treatment of the Crusades. The Crusades were a series of holy wars declared by the Popes to retake the Holy Land, Jerusalem and the surrounding lands central to the Old and New Testament. The goal was to siphon off the violent knightly class from Europe and give them a common enemy outside of other Christians. Brownsworth gives both sides a far shake, giving accurate and in depth biographies of the dramatis personae of both the Muslim states and the Crusaders and later the Outremer, literally French for "the Distant Land." Brownsworth's narrative starts the reader during the People's Crusade that preceded the First and was made up entirely of peasants, landless knights, and second sons. The narrative ends with the final Sixth Crusade which ended with a fizzled and abortive attempt to conquer Egypt and paved the way for the rise of the Mameluke slave warrior sultans to dominate Egypt and Syria by weakening the local Arab sultanate. Brownsworth's treatment of the First Crusade and the creation of the Crusader States, namely the Principality of Antioch, the County of Odessa and the Kingdom of Jerusalem. He also gives great treatment to the Sultan Saladin, a Kurdish warrior Sultan who came to rule both Egypt and Syria and briefly brought the Arabs, Turks, and Kurds together in a common Jihad against the Crusader States, the Jihad did not outlive him, however. Interspersed throughout the chapters are the foundations and actions of the three great Crusading Military Orders: the Templars, the Knights Hospitallers and the Teutonic Knights. "In Distant Lands" ranks for me one of the most informative treatments of the Crusades. If you are looking for a balanced historical account of the Crusades, look no further.
February 13, 2025
Really liked this book for it was concise yet covered major crusades (first through eighth) in just about enough details to give a crash course. Who the key players were on both sides, the changing dynamics, internal struggles within christian kingdoms, impact of crusaders on the christian kingdoms that were used for passage to Jerusalem, unholy and barbaric behaviors of crusaders and their exploits of christian kingdoms in the east and that of their subjects while on their way to Jerusalem, political ambitions of some of the crusading kings, etc.
September 1, 2022
上星期看了一本厚厚的十字軍大全
Lars Brownworth 三部曲的十字軍就簡單多了…。
9/10
目錄
中文版序
人物表
十字軍國家王公世系表
地圖
序幕 耶爾穆克
第一章 筆與劍
第二章 平民十字軍
第三章 諸侯十字軍
第四章 長征
第五章 安條克
第六章 黃金之城耶路撒冷
第七章 十字軍國家
第八章 血染之地
第九章 風雨欲來
第十章 克萊沃爾之火
第十一章 國王十字軍
第十二章 愚政進行曲
第十三章 薩拉丁
第十四章 第三次十字軍東征
第十五章 獅心王
第十六章 被火吞噬
第十七章 兒童十字軍
第十八章 第六次十字軍東征
第十九章 第七次十字軍東征
第二十章 祭司王約翰
第二十一章 最後的十字軍東征
結語 尾聲
Lars Brownworth 三部曲的十字軍就簡單多了…。
9/10
目錄
中文版序
人物表
十字軍國家王公世系表
地圖
序幕 耶爾穆克
第一章 筆與劍
第二章 平民十字軍
第三章 諸侯十字軍
第四章 長征
第五章 安條克
第六章 黃金之城耶路撒冷
第七章 十字軍國家
第八章 血染之地
第九章 風雨欲來
第十章 克萊沃爾之火
第十一章 國王十字軍
第十二章 愚政進行曲
第十三章 薩拉丁
第十四章 第三次十字軍東征
第十五章 獅心王
第十六章 被火吞噬
第十七章 兒童十字軍
第十八章 第六次十字軍東征
第十九章 第七次十字軍東征
第二十章 祭司王約翰
第二十一章 最後的十字軍東征
結語 尾聲
April 17, 2024
Descent
I'm a big fan of Lars' Byzantine history work and hoped this would have that feel. While some of it did, I think focusing mostly in the crusades made me enjoy the book less. I never got into the crusades and have a low opinion of those involved. I did like Lars' conclusion and thoughts on the misuse of the crusades as a lesson.
I'm a big fan of Lars' Byzantine history work and hoped this would have that feel. While some of it did, I think focusing mostly in the crusades made me enjoy the book less. I never got into the crusades and have a low opinion of those involved. I did like Lars' conclusion and thoughts on the misuse of the crusades as a lesson.
June 20, 2024
A sweeping overview of the origin, progress, and termination of each of the several crusades, examining their raison d’être, motives, and conclusions. Generally fascinating. Not as deep as I would’ve liked, but does what it sets out to do well, even addressing modern repercussions and consequences of the Crusades. Well-done.
June 22, 2025
My first exposure of the history of the Crusades. As the name of the book said, this is an introductory book for beginners like me to understand the long history of Crusades. (I didn’t even know there was a total of 8 major Crusades in the span of hundreds of years)
A good, easy-to-follow teaser.
A good, easy-to-follow teaser.
November 14, 2025
Very brief overview of the Crusades. A good place to start, but not something that is going to go deep in any aspect of the history there. Good introduction to main characters in the history of the Crusades. Does a pretty good job of avoiding a political stance or introducing modern-day moral concerns into a history that had a wildly different worldview.
April 4, 2019
Good Overview
This book helped me understand the crusades and dispel myths. They were really incompetent thugs although many were motivated by pure intentions. Interesting and easy read.
This book helped me understand the crusades and dispel myths. They were really incompetent thugs although many were motivated by pure intentions. Interesting and easy read.
April 13, 2019
Critical view of history
This book contains an amazing story of the history of Christian and Muslim faiths. So much of this history has never been told and most people would not believe if told.
This book contains an amazing story of the history of Christian and Muslim faiths. So much of this history has never been told and most people would not believe if told.
February 12, 2020
Distant Lands
Very detailed history of the Crusades. Not for everyone, as it is sometimes laborious. Good presentation of the Christian side of the events, but also tries to give a fair and impartial treatment of the Muslim interests.
Very detailed history of the Crusades. Not for everyone, as it is sometimes laborious. Good presentation of the Christian side of the events, but also tries to give a fair and impartial treatment of the Muslim interests.
November 25, 2023
I love the way Brownworth writes about history. It's like reading a movie review that has all the necessary information to understand the plot, the characters, the setting. This makes for an easy, fast read and a very captivating book. 5 stars.
December 29, 2024
Interesting book that provides a brief overview of each crusade. Not for in-depth study, talks about major characters so you can then find other publications for the person/crusade you like the best.
February 21, 2018
This was the best book on the Crusades that I've read. I highly recommend it.
July 12, 2018
كتاب لطيف، بالأساس كان سلسلة بودكاست حولها المؤلف إلى كتاب. جيد لمن يريد كتاب غير أكاديمي عن الحروب الصليبية.
November 20, 2018
Decently written with very introductory information, it leaves a lot to be desired at 234 pages. A few citations rather than a vague bibliography never hurt anyone, either.
February 22, 2019
A little slow
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