An unparalleled visual account of the world of the cradles, a movement that re-established trade between the East and the West, had a lasting impact on the social structure of medieval Europe, and bought Arabic learning to the wider world.

An unparalleled visual account of the world of the crusades and their impact on history.

Illustrated with 160 photographs, paintings, artworks and maps, The Crusades is a fascinating and accessible history from the first ill-fated expedition to the Christian Reconquista of Spain in the 15th century.

"Brings to life a turbulent period of history, and examines the religious fervor, motivations and ambitions of the crusading knights and their followers."--Publishers descriptions.

All 100 original plates from 19th-century classic, including The Massacre of Antioch, The Road to Jerusalem, The Baptism of Infidels, The Battle of Lepanto, many more. Magnificent, royalty-free illustrations with captions.

Discover The Truth About The Crusades - The Military Campaigns, The Cultural Impact And The Legacy Of Centuries-Long Disputes On Society Today Crusades Is An Authoritative And Compelling Text Written By A Team Of Specialist Historians. It Focuses Principally On The Struggle In The Holy Land Between Christendom And Islam, But Also Examines The Smaller-Scale European Campaigns Directed Against Heretics In France, Central Europe And The Baltic, And The Wars Of Reconquest In Spain. Crusades Not Only Provides A Chronological Narrative Of All The Major Campaigns, But Also Looks At The Complex Background To Events - Including The Divisions Between The Major Religions And, Just As Importantly, Within Them. Throughout The Text, The Cultural Impact Of The Crusades On Society Today Is Made Evident Due To The Interaction Of Peoples Through Trade, Science, Art And Philosophy. Beautifully Illustrated Throughout, Crusades Brings History Vividly To Life. Anyone Who Wishes To Probe The Historical Roots Of 21st -Century Tensions Between Islam And The West, Or Simply To Learn About One Of The Most Fascinating Phenomena Of The Middle Ages, Will Find This Book Endlessly Informative And Compelling.

From an internationally renowned expert, here is an accessible and utterly fascinating one-volume history of the Crusades, thrillingly told through the experiences of its many players—knights and sultans, kings and poets, Christians and Muslims. Jonathan Phillips traces the origins, expansion, decline, and conclusion of the Crusades and comments on their contemporary echoes—from the mysteries of the Templars to the grim reality of al-Qaeda. Holy Warriors puts the past in a new perspective and brilliantly sheds light on the origins of today’s wars. Starting with Pope Urban II’s emotive, groundbreaking speech in November 1095, in which he called for the recovery of Jerusalem from Islam by the First Crusade, Phillips traces the centuries-long conflict between two of the world’s great faiths. Using songs, sermons, narratives, and letters of the period, he reveals how the success of the First Crusade inspired generations of kings to campaign for their own vainglory and set down a marker for the knights of Europe, men who increasingly blurred the boundaries between chivalry and crusading. In the Muslim world, early attempts to call a jihad fell upon deaf ears until the charisma of the Sultan Saladin brought the struggle to a climax. Yet the story that emerges has other dimensions—as never before, Phillips incorporates the holy wars within the story of medieval Christendom and Islam and shines new light on many truces, alliances, and diplomatic efforts that have been forgotten over the centuries. Holy Warriors also discusses how the term “crusade” survived into the modern era and how its redefinition through romantic literature and the drive for colonial empires during the nineteenth century gave it an energy and a resonance that persisted down to the alliance between Franco and the Church during the Spanish Civil War and right up to George W. Bush’s pious “war on terror.” Elegantly written, compulsively readable, and full of stunning new portraits of unforgettable real-life figures—from Richard the Lionhearted to Melisende, the formidable crusader queen of Jerusalem—Holy Warriors is a must-read for anyone interested in medieval Europe, as well as for those seeking to understand the history of religious conflict.

'Wonderfully written and characteristically brilliant' Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads 'Elegant, readable ... an impressive synthesis ... Not many historians could have done it' - Jonathan Sumption, Spectator 'Tyerman's book is fascinating not just for what it has to tell us about the Crusades, but for the mirror it holds up to today's religious extremism' - Tom Holland, Spectator Thousands left their homelands in the Middle Ages to fight wars abroad. But how did the Crusades actually happen? From recruitment propaganda to raising money, ships to siege engines, medicine to the power of prayer, this vivid, surprising history shows holy war - and medieval society - in a new light.

A lavishly illustrated, comprehensive look at the mysterious history of the Order of the Knights Templar • Presents the myths and historical truths of the Knights Templar, the elite warrior army of the pope who were destroyed as heretics some 700 years ago • Examines the evidence of the Templar connections to the Assassins and the Cathars • Includes more than 170 period illustrations and contemporary photos of former Templar strongholds in Europe and Jerusalem Despite the increasing scholarship devoted to the study of the Templar order, founded in 1119, the mystery surrounding the Templars endures. Secret societies from the Freemasons to the Ordo Templi Orientis claim descent from this religious order of warrior-monks. As the private army of the pope, the Knights Templar were initially established to protect Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land but grew to become one of the most powerful organizations in the Middle Ages. With period illustrations from manuscripts from the Crusades, interpretive romantic paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries, and contemporary photos by Steven Brooke and others of former Templar strongholds in Europe and Jerusalem, James Wasserman, author of the bestselling The Templars and the Assassins, provides a fascinating history of the Order and the many mysteries and legends that surround it. Wasserman presents the evidence for the Templar connection to mystical Islamic organizations such as the Assassins as well as their ties to “heretical” groups such as the Cathars, who were targeted by a crusade in southern France to expunge the challenge they presented to the orthodoxy of their time. In addition to providing an overview of the Templars’ actions during the Crusades, Wasserman revisits the trial and the charges leveled against them, showing how the Order was ruthlessly crushed. He also explores the nature of the treasure they left behind, which has fueled popular imagination for centuries.

In the early crusades men of all ranks from all over Europe took the cross and went to fight Islam as volunteers. Some went out of religious fervour, others to escape the plagues and famine which were rife at the time, still others in search of land or a fortune in loot. Fighting alongside all of these were the armies raised in Outremer, the Holy Land itself. Together they waged a bloody religious war, the participants of which included such forces as the Knights Templar, the Teutonic Knights, and the Byzantine Army.