The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives [Hardcover]

Carole Hillenbrand (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1999 | ISBN-10: 1579582109 | ISBN-13: 978-1579582104 | Edition: 1

Coinciding with the 900th anniversary of the Crusades, this book is the first general introduction to some of the wider aspects of the history of the Crusades. Prepared by Carole Hillenbrand, a leading authority with a world-wide reputation, The Crusades is unique in covering the Crusades from the Muslim perspective; it is also a timely reflection on how the phenomenon of the Crusades influenced the Muslim world, then and now--militarily, culturally, and psychologically. The Crusades discusses a group of themes designed to highlight how Muslims reacted to the alien presence of the Crusaders in the heart of traditional Muslim territory. Ideological concerns are examined, and the importance of the concept of jihad is assessed in the context of the gradual recovery of the Holy Land and the expulsion of the Crusaders. There are also chapters devoted to an analysis of the warfare--arms, battles, sieges, fortifications--on the basis of written sources and extant works of art. Also extensively discussed is the complex issue of the interaction between Muslims and Crusaders in a social, economic, and cultural setting. The epilogue traces the profound impact of the Crusades on Muslim consciousness up to the present day. The Crusades is also lavishly illustrated with 500 black-and-white pictures and two full color-plate sections.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The crusades seem to be an exception to the general rule that the victors write the history. Now, nine centuries later, Hillenbrand (Arabic and Islamic studies, University of Edinburgh) provides an account that relies entirely on Islam perspectives and emphasizes the impact of the European invasion of its heartland... the impact of the Crusade on Muslim consciousness until the present.
– Reference and Research Book News

Hillenbrands book is a landmark.... The Crucades is not narrowly focused on ideological and literary matters. Hillenbrand devotes attention to arms and armor, warfare, and details of material culture in the region. It is appropriate then that the book is heavily illustrated...all drawn from the repertoire of Islamic art and architecture. The concluding survey of the political and psychological aftermath of the Crusades in the Middle East is fascinating.
–London Review of Books

About the Author

Carole Hillenbrand is Reader in Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Edinburgh. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 600 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579582109
• ISBN-13: 978-1579582104
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.7 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,293,936 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hillenbrand's The Crsuades: Islamic Perspectives, September 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives (Paperback)

This book is an excellent review of the most up-to-date knowledge we have about contemporary Islamic persepctives on the "Wars of the Cross." The author carefully sets our her purpose in writing this work, which includes both Muslim sources for the major figures and events, as well as Muslim perceptions of the Crusaders and how the Crusades have influenced Middle Eastern history. Anyone wishing to learn fully about this time period must read this work.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great but overpriced, May 1, 2009

By 

Jonathan B. Couser - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives (Paperback)

Hillenbrand did a fantastic job writing this book. It is easily the most detailed, nuanced, and evenhanded treatment about the Crusades from the Islamic perspective available. The only drawback is that it is extensively illustrated, with images on nearly every page, and few of the images have any direct relationship to the text. Hillenbrand herself states that most of the illustrations were included simply to give readers a feel for the visual character of medieval Islam. This is a sensible goal, but surely could have been achieved with less. I suspect that it is because of the printing costs of so many unnecessary pictures that the cover price for the paperback is over $70 and the hardcover a whopping $250. The publishers should seriously consider issuing a second edition with 90% of the illustrations removed and a cover price around $25-35 for the paperback. Then this book could receive the wide readership it deserves.

7 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Resource, June 16, 2000

By 

Tess (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives (Hardcover)

I have only skimmed the surface of this book, yet am very impressed. The bibliography alone is a treasure for anyone studying the Crusades. It's arranged so that the translated chronicles are used to illustrate points in the narrative. The index is detailed and useful, while the narrative itself is easy to read and divided into subsections within the chapters (for example: Old Frankish Women, Marriage, Medicine etc.) A welcome addition to Crusades scholarship, especially for students/readers who cannot read the originals.