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God's Battalions: The Case for the Crusades
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$ 19.49
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2482005 |
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Item Description...
Overview
The author of For the Glory of God puts forth a controversial argument that the Crusades were a justified war against Muslim terror and aggression, in a book that reviews the history of the seven major crusades from 1095 to 1291. 35,000 first printing.
Publishers Description
In God's Battalions, award-winning author Rodney Stark takes on the long-held view that the Crusades were the first round of European colonialism, conducted for land, loot, and converts by barbarian Christians who victimized the cultivated Muslims. To the contrary, Stark argues that the Crusades were the first military response to unwarranted Muslim terrorist aggression. Stark reviews the history of the seven major Crusades from 1095 to 1291, demonstrating that the Crusades were precipitated by Islamic provocations, centuries of bloody attempts to colonize the West, and sudden attacks on Christian pilgrims and holy places. Although the Crusades were initiated by a plea from the pope, Stark argues that this had nothing to do with any elaborate design of the Christian world to convert all Muslims to Christianity by force of arms. Given current tensions in the Middle East and terrorist attacks around the world, Stark's views are a thought-provoking contribution to our understanding and are sure to spark debate. |
Item Specifications...
Pages 276
Dimensions: Length: 1.25" Width: 6.25" Height: 9.25"
Weight: 1 lbs.
Binding Hardcover
Release Date Oct 1, 2009
ISBN 0061582611
EAN 9780061582615
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Availability 32 units.
Availability accurate as of May 30, 2012 04:36.
Usually ships within one to two business days from Momence, IL.
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Reviews - What do our customers think?
 | The Crusades, a Complete and Objective Picture Feb 8, 2010 |
I strongly recommend God's Battalions to anyone interested in current affairs or history. In this timely and important book Rodney Stark cogently and persuasively makes "The Case for the Crusades" as his subtitle states. He begins with some galling indications of the current popular and apologetic misunderstanding of the Crusades today. Then he proceeds to tell the whole story from the perspective of the Crusaders.
Stark reminds the reader of the basic fact that Christians were in Egypt, Palestine, and Syria long before the Muslims. The Arabs, united under banner of Islam entered with great violence and they imposed oppressive rule. They did not stop their invasion into Christian territory until they conquered North Africa, Spain, and were finally beaten in southern France. This is all familiar history, but somehow ignored by critics of the Crusaders.
Stark reminds the reader of some less familiar history as well. For example, the Arabs attacked Sicily and the Italian mainland. The story of who stopped them there makes fascinating history. The Arabs also attacked Constantinople twice without success. This is often forgotten since their expansionist Muslim successors, the Turks ultimately captured that great Roman and Christian city.
After demonstrating that aggressive Islamic expansion into Christian territories triggered Islamic-Christian warfare, the author shatters many of the myths of the Crusades one by one with historical fact. These myths are exploded, for example:
-The Christians were more brutal than the Muslims.
-Islamic culture brought technological advancement to the Middle East.
-The Crusades were primarily motivated by economic expansion.
-Famed Muslim Saladin demonstrated a more enlightened leadership than his European counterparts.
Stark lays out the historical facts that the cynical critics selectively ignore.
Stark's explanation of the ultimate failure of the Crusades will intrigue readers as will his many other insightful observations. For example, he cites the popular and oddly inconsistent notion that while Muslims could understandably be religiously motivated, Westerners would have to have ulterior motives. This book explains with excellent examples the evidence of religious motivations among Crusaders as I have seen nowhere else. Stark traces criticism of the Crusades to Western enemies of the Catholic Church as far back as the 18th Century.
General criticisms of this book fall flat. As for accusations of Western bias, Stark simply argues that the Crusades have been mischaracterized and the Crusaders maligned. He does not attribute to Crusaders complete moral superiority. He does not deny their brutality. It is true that he paints an ugly picture of the Byzantine role in the Crusades, but I saw nothing that has not been accepted as the general history of that Empire. Ironically, Byzantine self-absorption during this period matches Western Roman behavior during the decline of that entity. He does lump Arab Muslims and Turks into a monolith at times, but as I read I realized that to the Crusaders, the strategic threat each posed was not worthy of distinction.
I was disappointed that my edition of this book had no index. I was also disappointed that on one page Stark casts allusion to knights being hoisted to their saddles with small cranes. I have read that there is no evidence that this hoisting was ever needed or used.
Overall, Stark more than makes his case with a clarity and directness that most popular historians seem to avoid these days lest they offend someone with the truth. He introduces very little that is new or controversial by itself. He simply lays out the facts to make a case that no one else dare make for so long. He explains that the logic of security stoked by religious inspiration drove the Crusades more than other factors.
It remains a mystery to me why Westerners often make themselves and their ancestors out to be the bad guy even when it's plainly not appropriate. Perhaps that is a matter for social psychologists to investigate. It seems lost on many Westerners that while we bathe in self-critique as a matter of course, our Muslim friends have never shared any such cultural compulsion. But it is this very psychology that makes this book timely and important. | | |  | excellent but flawed Feb 8, 2010 |
Stark makes a persuasive case and it's hard to disagree with his final conclusions.I will not repeat the praise by previous reviewers.
There are a couple of small weaknesses in his narrative. The editing is shocking. 'Cypress' for Cyprus. Cardinal Pelagius turns into Count Pelagius and then back again several times. John I of jerusalem is never identified by regnal number and frequently called 'John of Palestine'. Alexios V Doukas, surnamed Mourtzouphlos is merely called 'Mourtzouphlus' and incorrectly identified as a member of the royal family when he was not related to Alexios IV Angelos. Nor is Alexios V's murder by the Crusaders mentioned.
In general, Stark's treatment of the Byzantines is absurd. They appear as cartoon villains who could have been dreamt up by the same Enlightenment figures who first attacked the Crusades themselves. Stark is especially weak on the Fourth Crusade. Lastly, Stark could have addressed the emergence of holy war as a Christian doctrine that did not exist before the Muslim invasions and compared that experience with similar developments in Hinduism. | | | | At Last: A Historically Accurate Look at the Crusades Feb 7, 2010 |
| This is one of those rare books on history: Well-written, well-researched and hard to put down. Stark's writing style and research is fair and balanced and swift. He dispells the 20th Century myths of the Crusades, just as he dispelled the Enlightenment myths of the Middle Ages (see The Victory of Reason: How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and Western Success. A must for those who are victims of the public education system and our intellectually inept media and politicians. As Stark writes: "The Crusades were not unprovoked. They were not...colonialism. They were not conducted for land, loot or converts. The crusaders were not barbarians who victimized the cultivated Muslims." This is the best current book on the subject. See also The Sword of the Prophet: Islam; History, Theology, Impact on the World and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades). For more on dispelling myths on the Tempalars, see The Templars: The Secret History Revealed. | | | | The truth regarding the Crusades Feb 6, 2010 |
| Rodney Stark presents a fascinating look into the Christian Crusades with an unbiased, historically accurate account unseen in most American history books. The truth behind the ancient Muslim terrorism of that day is told in striking detail, as well as the alignment of the secular and Christian communities to save themselves from an advancing and merciless enemy. You won't be disappointed! I recommend this book for all history buffs. | | | | History can repeat itself .... Feb 6, 2010 |
Great Book.
We should make this required reading for our
US emissaries and every person that holds themselves
out to be officially representing the U.S.
Jim Eckel | | | Write your own review about God's Battalions: The Case for the Crusades
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