The Trials of War: a History of the Crusades

In the 11th century, at the call of the Pope, a large Christian army broke into the Islamic world in the eastern Mediterranean and occupied Jerusalem, which is regarded as a holy city by both faiths. For more than 200 years after the First Crusade, the Islamic world and the West fought for control of the Holy Land, with both sides convinced that they were serving their gods. The book not only describes the numerous military details of each Crusade, the author Thomas Asbridge also comprehensively analyzes this conflict that spanned more than two centuries, starting from the political, social, and religious motivations and characters. In particular, for the first time in any history of the Crusades, he tells the story of this epic struggle from the perspectives of both Christians and Muslims. Under the author's passionate narration, we are brought into a world full of legendary heroes, but he also does not forget to expose the horrifying violent killings that filled that era, and inventory the misuse and abuse of this past event by later generations.