England and the Crusades, 1095-1588 [Paperback]

Christopher Tyerman (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0226820130 | ISBN-13: 978-0226820132 | Publication Date: December 15, 1996

A potent mixt of salvation and adventure, the Crusades were one of the most prominent features of medieval Europe, reflecting and directing religious and secular movements in Western society for half a millennium. Christopher Tyerman offers the first book-length study of the role of England in the Crusades. Focusing on the courtroom and council chamber rather than the battlefield, he demonstrates the impact of the Crusades on the political and economic functions of English society.

Drawing on a wide range of archival, chronicle, and literary evidence, Tyerman brings to life the royal personalities, foreign policy, political intrigue, taxation and fundraising, and the crusading ethos that gripped England for hundreds of years.

"An ambitious task to undertake. . . . Tyerman has done the job not only thoroughly but brilliantly. . . . A highly impressive study, deserving rich praise and wide readership."—Norman Housley, Times Literary Supplement

"Christopher Tyerman has written a wonderful book. . . . [He] manages to confront thorny issues in scholarship and to contribute new perspectives on them."—William Chester Jordan, American Historical Review

"Tyerman provides valuable insights into preaching, recruitment, and the funding and organisation of crusading expeditions. . . . Fascinating new perspectives on English history."—Edward Powell, Sunday Times

"Impressive. . . . Tyerman's research has yielded valuable evidence, and his admirably lucid argument sheds new light on a complex and bloody period in English history."—Virginia Quarterly Review

Editorial Reviews

Review

A potent mix of salvation and adventure, the Crusades were one of the most prominent features of medieval Europe, reflecting and directing religious and secular movements in Western society for half a millennium. Christopher Tyerman offers the first book-length study of the role of England in the Crusades. Focusing on the courtroom and council chamber, rather than the battlefield, he demonstrates the impact of the Crusades on the political and economic functions of English society. Drawing on a wide range of archival, chronicle, and literary evidence, Tyerman brings to life the royal personalities, foreign policy, political intrigue, taxation and fundraising, and the crusading ethos that gripped England for hundreds of years. England And The Crusades, 1095-1588 is a masterpiece of scholarship and an informative, exceptional well written and welcome addition to the medieval studies library. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 508 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press (December 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226820130
• ISBN-13: 978-0226820132
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,297,260 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Complex subject made readable, May 10, 2006

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lordhoot "lordhoot" (Anchorage, Alaska USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: England and the Crusades, 1095-1588 (Paperback)

Christopher Tyerman's England and the Crusades, 1095-1588 proves to be a book of relatively complex nature but thanks to some skillful writing and superb research, it proves to be quite readable. This book is about the political, economic and social impact the crusades had on England and the role England played during these crusades. There isn't much of the military aspect here and anyone looking for that would be deeply disappointed. What you get instead is how clever the taxes were, how money were generated, impact among families, parishes and the cost of going to the crusades with political and religious considerations as a factor. Much of the book covered during the core period of the crusades, between 1095 to 1400. Richard's Third Crusades get a lot of coverage since that was the primary English effort of the crusading period.

The book looks at how the crusades impacted on foreign and domestic politics. There's also a reflection of many Englishmen taking the cross and going to eastern Europe to fight the pagans there during the 14th and 15th century. Its probably cheaper to fight there then go all the way to the Holy Land. I was bit surprise that captured and ransoming of King Richard after his crusade wasn't given a major coverage considering how that had a major impact on England's social-economic well being.

Overall, an rather interesting book but its not for casual reader. Anyone reading this book got to have some deep interest in such matter. Author expect the reader to have some previous knowledge of the crusades and the book does not talk down to a novice level that much. A must reading for any English medieval history bluff.