When the Pope called on all Christians to expel the Muslims from the Holy City of Jerusalem, the Crusades were born. Not only a spiritual quest but also a brutal military campaign, the Crusades threw together hundreds of people from all backgrounds. Men who had never travelled further than a few miles from where they were born now journeyed to foreign countries, discovered new religions and mixed with other cultures. The book concentrates on the lives of the people who took part from princes to foot soldiers, presenting a continuous narrative of travel and adventure. Through the eyes of Muslims, Jews and Christians, Foss shows how the Crusades indelibly marked relations between East and West, Christianity and Islam religions, and the consequences of this past history that still colours the problems of today in the Middle East. It is a non-academic treatment of the Crusades.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Given the primacy of Middle Eastern conflict and military confrontations between the West and Islam, it's surprising that interest in the Crusades hasn't soared. Have we learned nothing? Foss concentrates, not on the personalities and the conflict, but the peoples and the journey. Getting there was the real challenge of the Crusade. Stimulating piece of work.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.2 out of 5 stars
5 reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good summary using the Crusaders' own accounts
15 July 1998
By A Customer
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
A good review of the First Crusades using their own words. While it does not replace the works of Riley-Smith or others, it is an easy read. Recommended for those who want a quick introduction to the subject. My only complaint is that the sources should have been identified.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Vivid, readable history of the Crusades
16 Jun 2000
By A Customer
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
I searched high and low for a book on the Crusades, the history of which I remembered only vaguely from high school. I bought books that came highly recommended and couldn't get through more than twenty pages. This book, on the other hand, is excellent. Foss's great writing style allows the reader to experience the turmoil, hardship, deep religious feelings, and most of all the excitement of the Crusades. It is thorough, easy to follow, and wonderfully readable.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Mixed Review
3 Aug 2002
By William Holmes
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, Foss writes reasonably well and he does a good job of describing the First Crusade, beginning with Pope Urban II's call for crusade at Clermont in November of 1095 and continuing through the capture of Jerusalem in July of 1099.
On the other hand, the author relies heavily on material from a few contemporary sources. There's nothing inherently wrong with this approach, but in this case it results in a book that is about one half narrative and one half block quotations from the original sources. A little of that goes a long way, and the book would have flowed more smoothly if the author had digested the raw material and presented it more selectively.
As for the First Crusade itself, Foss makes it clear that it was a nasty, brutal business. Pope Urban II called for the Crusade at least in part to unify the warring factions of Christian Europe and to give them something to do besides killing each other. The ruthlessness that had until then been reserved for Europeans was suddenly visited upon the Islamic occupants of the Holy Land, with often horrific results for all concerned. Although the Crusaders come in for heavier criticism than their adversaries, each side seems to have had plenty to be ashamed of.
If the Crusades interest you, you might take a look at James Reston's "Warriors of God," which is something of a tabloid account of the Third Crusade. Reston's book has been criticized for being too hard on the Crusaders, but regardless of whether that criticism is valid it is interesting reading.
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3.2 out of 5 stars
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