trials of war

The most authoritative volume on the history of the Crusades in the English-speaking world

Integrating the latest historical materials, dual perspectives, and soul-stirring epic narrative into one

Clear the fog of the 200-year medieval war between East and West

◎ Editor's Choice

☆The most authoritative and popular one-volume history of the Crusades in the English-speaking world

☆Abandon the views in the English-speaking world that either excessively praised the Crusades or tried to belittle the Crusades, and narrated the process of events from the dual perspectives of the Christian world and the Islamic world, trying to be objective and fair

☆Efforts to restore the historical truth, let readers understand that many of the conflicts caused by the history of the Crusades today are misuse and abuse of this history

◎ Introduction

In the 11th century, under the call of the pope, a large Christian army broke into the Islamic world in the eastern Mediterranean and occupied Jerusalem, which was regarded as the holy city by both faiths. For more than 200 years after this First Crusade, the Islamic world and the West fought for dominion over the Holy Land, both sides firmly believing they were serving their gods.

The book not only describes a large number of military details of the Crusades, but the author Thomas Asbridge also comprehensively analyzes the conflicts of more than two centuries from the perspective of political, social, religious motives and characters. In particular, for the first time in any history of the Crusades to date, he tells the epic struggle from the perspective of both Christians and Muslims.

Under the author's passionate narration, we are brought into a world full of legendary heroes, but he also did not forget to expose the horrific violent killings that filled that era, and counted the misuse and misuse of this past event by later generations. abuse.

◎ Media recommendation

Asbridge tells a haunting and thought-provoking story that is also instructive for the present. —Helen Castor, The Guardian

Full of colorful anecdotes only available in the Middle Ages. Asbridge breaks away from convention thoroughly and successfully, brilliantly showing Muslim strategy and motivation. ——The Sunday Times

In this scholarly work examining medieval crusades from the 11th to the 13th centuries, Asbridge is careful to give equal importance to the Muslim and Christian perspectives. —Ian Finlayson, The Times

Crusades are too fashionable a topic today, though most of them, Asbridge observes, are for the wrong reasons. He said the crusades were interesting, but they belonged to the past. Still, they are thrilling and eerie, and this book is among the finest narrative histories to be written. ——The Scotsman

With insightful commentary on the religious motivations behind the Crusades and perspectives from contemporary Muslim sources, Asbridge writes a comprehensive, sophisticated narrative history filled with gripping analysis Works that can satisfy readers of all levels. --"book list"

◎ Celebrity recommendation

Brilliant, authoritative, and approachable, a "must-read." Asbridge balances impeccable academics with an engaging storyteller flair. —Professor John L. Esposito, author of The Future of Islam