The Crusades

by Abigail Archer

Looking into the past, the Crusades seem incomprehensible. What combination of religious fervor, hatred of people of different faiths, and gall led Europeans of 1100 A.D. to make their way thousands of miles to conquer the Holy Land? Why did they continue for 200 years? How did the Crusades change the world? The intriguing story is peppered with colorful characters. Over the centuries, this well-researched and written book argues, crusaders saw - and participated in - the evolution of warfare and the transformation of society from feudal fiefdoms to nations and empires. The story of the Crusades is a reminder, too, of the horrors wrought in the name of religion. The Crusades are seen by many Christians today as an exercise in fanaticism, an episode in which the teachings of Christ were used to justify the horrors perpetrated on innocents. That judgment is accurate, but not the whole story. The whole story is in these pages.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, War, Audiobook, Historical, Religion

92 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 27, 2015

Reviews

[Amy Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Another book that is good for a fundamental understanding of the Crusades. I became obsessed with the pictures of Crusader fortresses at the end. An easy read, and didn't leave me feeling stupid, so that's a plus.

[Jack Getz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but thorough

This compact history of the Crusades and the Middle Ages does justice while describing both strengths and weaknesses of both sides. These fiascos wasted two hundred years of time regarding strategic gains in the Holy Land for The Franks, but both sides gained in other ways from the conflicts. They changed Europe forever, ended feudalism and ushered in the noble ethic of chivalry, which has, until the present generation, dominated society. I fear current pop culture disregards and discards the worthy tenets of chivalry in favor of hedonism and narcissism.

[Mark Lawry · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of those free Audible lectures that makes your Audible account well worthwhile. A short review of the crusades and how they changed Europe. One can never review the crusades enough, especially the disaster of 1204.

[Sarthak Bhatt · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was all right but felt too crammed with so many characters that I found it difficult to keep track of who was who. Still, it was a good take on the crusades I came to know about men like Salahuddin and Robert the lionheart. It's good to read about old European history every once in a while.

[Jay French · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short take on a few centuries of religious warfare. The book covers the largest battles, sieges, negotiations, political intrigue, and other events in the Holy Lands, but also covers the European home front and the political intrigue happening there. While short, there was no shortage of royalty, religious, and military leaders mentioned, and I was confused a few times. There was a good mix of narrative that helped to make this readable and enjoyable. I listened to the audio version. I suspect the paper book would have been more enjoyable here given other reviewers mentions of pictures, and given my difficulty tracking the principals.

[Patrick SG · Rating 4 out of 5]

This readable, concise book provides a quick refresher to this 200 year period of European history, echoes of which we still hear today. I read it as an ebook (which may be its only format), and it makes extensive use of hyperlinks to Wikipedia. So while the book itself is short, you can delve into greater detail as you wish.

More than just a list of battles and atrocities committed by the various sides in the conflict, this book also goes into detail on the age of chivalry that grew out of the Crusades, making extensive use of first-person accounts. The book also details the immediate effects of the Crusades in the development of European culture and history.

[Lukasz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lubię takie krótkie, zwięzłe książki na wybrany temat historyczny. Autorka opisuje bez głębokiego wchodzenia w szczegóły okres krucjat od pierwszej krucjaty rozpoczętej w 1096 do ostatniej krucjaty Ludwika IX oraz jego śmierci w 1270 roku. Oprócz przedstawienia ważnych wydarzeń chronologicznych książka opisuje wpływ krucjat na rozwój gospodarczy, kulturowy i społeczny Europy.
Krucjaty w bardzo interesujący sposób odzwierciedlają realia społeczne, kulturowe średniowiecznej Europy. Pierwsza krucjata zakończyła się sukcesem i nie brakowało wtedy chętnych aby wziąć w niej udział. Została zainicjowana przez papieża Urbana który obiecał wszystkim uczestnikom życie wieczne, zbawienie. To jak silnym mitem była obietnica królestwa niebieskiego wydaje się być nieprawdopodobne. Myślę, że we współczesnych realiach zapominamy iż my Europejczycy prowadziliśmy też święte wojny. Niekoniecznie cierpieli na tych wojnach "niewierni". W drodze do Ziemi Świętej niestety krzyżowcy wyrządzali krzywdę również chrześcijanom.
Pierwsze krucjaty miały błogosławieństwo papieża oraz były inicjowane przez niego. Natomiast późniejsze krucjaty były inicjowane przez władców europejskich i niekoniecznie ich cele były oparte na religii. Ciekawostką dla mnie była tak zwana krucjata dzieci z roku 1212 zainicjowana przez francuskiego chłopca.
Krucjaty zwiększyły rolę rycerstwa oraz zakonów rycerskich. Templariusze, krzyżaccy by nie istnieli gdyby nie krucjaty. Krucjaty były również pierwszą próbą kolonizacji obcych kontynentów i można je traktować jako pewnego rodzaju nieśmiały prolog do późniejszej kolonizacji świata która została zapoczątkowana przez Kolumba. Dzięki krucjatom Europejczycy mieli kontakt z innymi cywilizacjami często przejmowali wynalazki, odkrycia kultur bliskowschodnich, które nie rzadko były bardziej rozwinięte w niektórych dziedzinach.

[Eddie · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 Stars. Meh, more like anecdotal stories of characters involved in the crusades. I instantly got bored by repetitive anecdotal stories of minor warfare details. I suppose at best, it's a primer to the crusades with interesting tidbits on knights being schooled in chivalry and manners as squires. I was caught off guard in the intro how the author was apologetic to the crusades making the opponents (muslimes) almost the good guys. Also a fabricated “perhaps knights learned this from the muslimes, which would then mean they also learned fabric, fruits…

What crap. Made up speculation then adding to the original speculation with a new speculation on the prior speculation which would mean if that crap I made up is true, then here’s more crap that may follow off unproven made up crap. like hussien obama saying western civilization owes itself to the muslimes.

I'll say ‘perhaps’ monkey’s really did fly in wizard of oz which would mean they taught the wright brothers and flying squirrels and American Airlines about the great ways of getting from point a to b via flight. About as legit as what the author said.

Then william wallace and scotland thrown in at the end. Wut? I thought this was about the Crusades.

This book isn't a keeper. At best an intro to the crusades. Save yourself a headache and do the audiobook only if free. Don't pay a dime for this one

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every once in a while I read a book about the crusades to be inspired, and then remember how awful everyone in it was.

Bernard of Clairvaux's sermon on why God wills a crusade:
“Oh, ye who listen to me, hasten then to appease the anger of Heaven. But no longer implore His goodness by vain complaints; clothe not yourselves in sackcloth, but cover yourselves with your impenetrable bucklers. The din of arms, the dangers, the labors, the fatigues of war are the penances that God now imposes upon you."

Curiously, Bernard quotes Jeremiah 48:10 in his sermon: ‘Cursed be he who does not stain his sword with blood!’ This suggests a curious meaning to Isaiah 55:11 and the concept of glorifying God.

"After this failure, Bernard of Clairvaux, grief-stricken, said, 'the Lord, provoked by our sins, has judged the world with justice, but not with his usual mercy.'" God's permissive will and his decretive will are rarely the same.

Bernart de Ventador the great troubadour on how to sing:
"To sing is worth nothing if the song does not come from the heart. And the song cannot come from the heart if there is no delicate and profound love there." One wonders what Bernart would have thought of the concept of faking something by practice until it is manifested into reality.

[Jeroen van Deelen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very, very.... concise. Perhaps too much so for its own good. Still, it must be said that Abigail Archer really is very bold. Endeavouring to write a compelling history of the Crusades within a framework of a 100 pages must be a daunting task. It was bound to happen that important details were omitted, but, surprisingly, Archer manages quite well to provide a captivating account of the leading events of the wars for the Holy Lands. Dan Jones’ wonderful history “Crusaders” obviously was way more comprehensive and thorough, but I liked this brief and more general account nonetheless.

[LAWRENCE GILSDORF · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Concise Review of the Crusades

Clear and concise perspective of the Crusades and the Crusaders was an admirable trait of this. Book. MS. Abigail Archer earned this readers appreciation.

[Matthew O'Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief but solid primer for anyone curious about the crusades. Really kind of a “cliff notes”, but the information is intriguing. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to dip their toe into this nightmare of a period.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most enjoyable read...quick, concise, captured the historical points of interest. This read answered the questions: who, what, why, how, where and how much. Perfect.

[Warren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brief and to the point

A short, concise overview. Not much depth, does not ask any questions nor answer any. Does not address the Templar lore...beginning of end. Overall, fair.

[Jim Swike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very detailed, with gives the complete story of the Crusades. Reads like a book, but can be a very good text book. Enjoy!

[Ralph Cortes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love history, and this book presents an easy-to-understand approach to these events. I am loving every minute of it!

[Lady Safari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook Review

A short and interesting book to introduce one to all the crusades.

The narrator was great too.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read in an evening. Very disappointed. There's no new information here at all, it seems like a brief rehashing of the existing histories.

Nothing new to see here, rapidly move along.

[Mark Gannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars. I found it hard to get into. It varied between broad strokes describing the historical landscape to the minor, excruciating details about armour and battle tactics.

[David Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good information

[Blair Hodgkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief and fast-moving overview of the Crusades and the concurrent age of Chivalry.

[Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to read, nice background, not too much detail, motivated me to read another book about Knights, i.e., the Templars.

[Barbara Auty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on the crusades.

This was an easy read. The author is very knowledgeable and I was delighted to see how this book tied together everything I had read about this period. It made me want to read more about this era. I had never viewed the crusades from this standpoint. Thanks - I enjoyed it!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great overview of 200 years of crusades and the evolution of knights. While it does not go indepth, it will give you dates and key players into each era allowing you to follow what you would like to learn about more.

[James Wellman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice overview

This is a quick overview of the Crusades and a nice reference to use as a guide for more in depth study or to pick up some events or people worth investigating.

[Ren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this i learned so much :D

[Shaun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basic information on a complex subject.

[John Ham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weak and superficial

Never sure of the point of this short, disjointed view of centuries of history. At least it has spurred me to look at the Crusades... from better sources