Alex’s Reviews > Tamerlane: Sword of Islam, Conqueror of the World > Status Update

Really unsure of how to rate this, whether three stars or just two.

"All the evidence available indicates that Temur was an early and forceful proponent of free trade."
Which would explain his effectiveness.

Marozzi argues effectively that the story of Bayazid beinh carried to Timur in a cage is a myth. Only Arabshah seems to mention it, but even in his account, the word for cage might as well mean litter, and Bayazid being carried in a litter after battle makes sense.

"Such piety was nowhere in evidence in this latest correspondence, in which, against all Muslim customs, Bayazid deliberately referred to the Tatar’s wives in the most offensive fashion."
Judging his piety from one remark to the wifes of a childmurdering tyrant is hardly fair.

The encounter between Ibn Khaldun and Timur is one of the highpoints of this book.

On another note, if Timurs forces were attacked in so many cities that surrendered, maybe they did something to deserve it? I can even imagine Timur instigating troubles to get more plunder. In other words, Damascus was an inside job. Maybe. Not saying it was but it makes you think.

Again, I am not sure if what he says of Clavijos inner feelings (going as far as to despair that Christendom has no Samarkand and no Timur to offer) is taken from the sources in some way or just made up