The Crusades

The first book to examine the Crusades from the perspective of the Islamic defenders

Following the 900th anniversary of the Crusader capture of Jerusalem, it is now time to reflect on how the phenomenon of the Crusades influenced the Muslim world, then and now: militarily, culturally and psychologically.

Carole Hillenbrand discusses a group of themes that highlight how Muslims reacted to the alien presence of the Crusaders in the heart of traditional Muslim territory. She examines ideological concerns and the importance of the jihad in the context of the gradual recovery of the Holy Land and the expulsion of the Crusaders.

• Views the Crusades almost entirely through the prism of medieval Muslim sources, providing a counterbalance to centuries of Eurocentric scholarship in this field
• Two chapters are devoted to an analysis of warfare – arms, battles, sieges, fortifications and the neglected aspect of the prominence – on the basis of written sources and extant works of art
• Deals with the complex issue of the interaction between Muslims and Crusaders in a social, economic and cultural setting
• Outlines the profound impact of the Crusades on Muslim consciousness until the present day