{"product_id":"the-crusades-greenwood-guides-to-historic-events-of-the-medieval-world","title":"The Crusades (Greenwood Guides to Historic Events of the Medieval World)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Crusades of the Middle Ages were fought by Latin Christians against peoples who they believed were threatening the existence of their Christian faith. Some of these campaigns were against Muslims  some were against other Christians  and some were against pagans. Topically oriented chapters backed up by biographies  primary documents  maps  and illustrations make this an ideal introductory reference resource to this pivotal period in European medieval history.  The Crusades were distinctive because they were an invention of Latin Christians  they had their own symbols and traditions  and they were not one war but many  fought over several centuries. Thematic chapters provide an overview of the Crusadeswhy scholars believe they were fought  why they appealed to a very broad cross-section of Europes population  and what motivated crusaders to dedicate years of their lives to the martial cause of Christendom. Among other interesting facts  readers will learn that to the Muslim states  the Christian Crusades were more of a distraction  as the Mongols from the East and schisms within occupied the bulk of their efforts  and that when it was convenient and advantageouswhich was oftenChristians and Muslims would ally with one another  or serve as mercenaries in each others armies.  Covering the classic crusades to the Holy Lands and the taking and defending of Jerusalem  Nicholson also gives equal treatment to the just as important Requonquista of the Iberian peninsula  the subjugation and conversion of pagans in North-Western Europe  the Crusades against the Ottoman Turks in the Balkans  and the internal Crusades against the heretical Albigensians and Hussites. An annotated timeline provides readers with an easy-to-follow overview of the several centuries worth of Crusading  and a half-dozen maps provide rapid and easy-to-read geographical and political information on the most important campaigns. Seventeen biographical sketches of key Christian  Muslim  Balkan  Spanish  and pagan figures and a dozen annotated primary documents breathe fresh life into the topic  providing students and readers with a new look at the period. A glossary is provided  as is an annotated bibliography and index.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44964905943093,"sku":"ByrdShop_0313326851","price":56.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780313326851.jpg?v=1770484356","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-crusades-greenwood-guides-to-historic-events-of-the-medieval-world","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}