The First Crusade and the Idea of Crusading [Paperback]

Jonathan Riley-Smith (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0812213637 | ISBN-13: 978-0812213638 | Publication Date: June 1, 1991

Focusing on the inner-workings of the First Crusade in a way that no other work has done, The First Crusade and the Idea of Crusading delves into the Crusade's organization, its finances, and the division of authority and responsibility among its leaders and their relationships with one another and with their subordinates.

In the year 1095, Pope Urban II initiated what is known today as the First Crusade. Following what was then conventional practice among church reformers, the Pope referred to his war of liberation as Christ's own war, to be fought in accordance with God's will and intentions.

Urban II called this a war of liberation for two reasons: one, to free the church of Jerusalem from oppression and pillage by the Muslims and to liberate western churches in general; and two, to free the city of Jerusalem from the servitude into which it has fallen. This summons of the lay knight to the faith between 1095 and 1096 was Urban II's personal response to an appeal that had reached him from eastern Christians.

In this classic work, Jonathan Riley-Smith, today one of the world's most renowned crusade historians, approaches this central and well-known topic of medieval history with freshness and impeccable research. Through the vivid presentation of a wide range of European chronicles and charter collections, Riley-Smith provides a striking illumination of crusader motives and responses and a thoughtful analysis of the mechanisms that made this expedition successful.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An excellent account of the First Crusade . . . vividly depicting the crusaders' sufferings."—Speculum

"Riley-Smith marshals his case lucidly."—Times Literary Supplement

"Riley-Smith's analysis of the formation of Crusading ideology offers a provocative new interpretation. . . . [His] scholarship is impeccable, and he supports his contentions with abundant citations from contemporary documents."—American Historical Review

About the Author

Jonathan Riley-Smith is Dixie Professor Emeritus of Ecclesiastical History at the University of Cambridge and author of many books, most recently The Crusades, Christianity, and Islam.

Product Details

• Paperback: 236 pages
• Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press (June 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812213637
• ISBN-13: 978-0812213638
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #613,970 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a wonderful analysis, February 17, 2003

By 

Theophanu (Hattiesburg, MS USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The First Crusade and the Idea of Crusading (Paperback)

This is a brilliant book by a leading historian of the crusades. It needs to be understood on its own terms: it's a detailed analysis of *why* so many Europeans set off on the 1st Crusade. Riley-Smith has produced a closely-argued analysis that places the crusade within the context of the world of eleventh-century Europe that created it. This isn't the place to go if you want accounts of the battles of the crusade, and it isn't a "light" read. But it's extremely valuable---I've assigned it several times to my classes.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, May 25, 2003

By 

MMS (South America) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The First Crusade and the Idea of Crusading (Paperback)

Riley Smith focuses on the title of his book, that is what he wants to present and does. It is not a light read, but anyway it is very clear and dinamic; the author presents facts in an interesting and condensed way, and he does take time (we apreciate that!)to explain the sources he has used in his investigation.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, January 15, 2011

By 

Jenn - See all my reviews

This review is from: The First Crusade and the Idea of Crusading (The Middle Ages Series) (Paperback)

Riley-Smith, widely acknowledged as an expert in Crusade studies, has presented here a book which is not a dry recitation of Crusade facts but instead an examination of motives behind the Crusade: WHY did the Crusading knights choose to heed Urban's call and head off into a strange land to fight? WHY did Urban issue that call in the first place? What were the kinds of hardships a Crusader might have faced?

This is an extremely well-written, well-researched book and I would recommend it to anyone interested in the fields of medieval or Crusade studies.