The Crusades: A Brief Insight

by Christopher Tyerman

Crusading fervor gripped Europe for more than 200 years, creating one of the most extraordinary episodes in world history. But were the Crusades the first steps in European colonialism, an attempt at ethnic cleansing, a manifestation of religious zeal—or all three? Bringing together issues of colonialism, cultural exchange, and economic exploitation, scholar Christopher Tyerman challenges our assumptions about the Crusades and encourages us to re-evaluate the relationship between past and present.

 

Genres: History

212 pages, Hardcover

First published October 13, 2005

About the author

Christopher Tyerman is professor of the history of the crusades at Oxford University and a fellow of Hertford College. His books include God’s War, The Debate on the Crusades, and How to Plan a Crusade. He lives in Oxford.

Reviews

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is basically a set of academic articles stapled together and interspersed with colorful (often questionable) photographs of artifacts and monuments. Totally inappropriate if you're looking for introductory - or accessible - information about the Crusades. The author makes a few half-hearted swipes at placing the Crusades in the context of the post-9/11 world, but they're few and loaded at the end of the book. This one won't be joining my personal library.

[Janice · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can't finish. Poorly organized. Haughtily written. For scholars, maybe. Offered no insight.


AVOID!!