Product Description

Holy war: Christianity versus Islam. Brutality, greed, honour, chivalry, the clink of chain mail, the clatter of hooves, and the call of the muezzin. Such are the stock ingredients of the Crusades. But to what extent do the stereotypes fit with the reality? In his remarkable new book, Jonathan Phillips explores this conflict of ideas, beliefs and cultures and shows both the contradictions and the diversity of holy war: friendships and alliances between Christians and Muslims; triumphs of diplomacy rather than the sword; the launch of crusades against Christians, and calls for jihads against Muslims. Phillips draws on contemporary writings - on chronicles, songs, sermons, travel diaries, letters, financial accounts and peace treaties - to throw a brilliant new lights on people and events we thought we knew well: the bloody conquest of Jerusalem in the First Crusade; the titanic struggle between Richard the Lionheart and Saladin; the breathtaking naivety of the Children's Crusade; and the ruthless suppression of the Knight's Templar. Less familiar but no less central are the stories of the intimidating and astute politician, Queen Melisende of Jerusalem; the fiery preacher, Al-Sulami; the Arab-speaking excommunicate and Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick II. Over time the Crusades were directed against a variety of opponents: not only Muslims in the Middle East but against Cathar heretics, political enemies of the papacy, the Mongols, pagan tribes of northern Europe, and the Ottoman Turks. Although the notion of fighting for one's faith fell into disrepute in the Enlightenment, in a final chapter Jonathan Phillips traces the crusading impulse up to the present day - to George W. Bush's characterization of the war on terrorism as a crusade. Vivid, original and illuminating, "Holy Warriors" provides an unparalleled account of one of the great cultural, political and religious movements in world history.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2805 in Books
• Published on: 2009-10-29
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 448 pages

Review
"Jonathan Phillips traces 800-year history of `Crusade' and its power as a concept that shows no sign of diminishing" --History Today

"this book stakes a strong claim to be the most appealing narrative account of the Crusades for a general audience."
--BBC History Magazine

`elegant storytelling... Phillips delivers an excellent, compelling, flamboyant and refreshing history of the crusades and wonderful character sketches' --FT

About the Author
Jonathan Phillips is Professor of Crusading History at Royal Holloway, University of London. He is the author of The Second Crusade: Extending the Frontiers of Christianity; The Fourth Crusade and the Sack of Constantinople; The Crusades, 1095-1197; Defenders of the Holy Land, 1119-1187 and the co-editor of three academic essay collections on the Crusades. He has made numerous radio and television appearances, including: Boris Johnson and the Dream of Rome; The Crusades (with Rageh Omaar) in the Christianity series on Channel 4, and The Crescent and the Cross.

Customer Reviews

Very interesting introduction
I have been reading about the crusades for some years now, and went through Runciman, Tyerman, Housley, Riley-Smith,... This book by Phillips is a great addition to this list. The author concentrates more on some individuals (Arab comtemporaries, Queen Melisende,...), and tries to give some perspective and background to the whole crusading experience. I was very pleased with his emphasis on the Muslim side and view. He makes clear that commercial and other contacts existed between the crusaders and local (Muslim) poupulation once the Christian kingdoms were established. Anyone wishing to get some insight in the crusades should read this book, together with Tyerman's "God's War", which is more detailed on historical facts.