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The First Crusade: A New History: The Roots of Conflict between Christianity and Islam Paperback – September 29, 2005

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Thomas Asbridge (Author)
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Thomas Asbridge (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 74 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 448 pages
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press; 1 edition (September 29, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0195189051
  • ISBN-13: 978-0195189056
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 1.3 x 6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #63,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsExcellent Overview of Complex First Crusade
By Scott Schiefelbein VINE VOICE on July 20, 2005
Format: Hardcover
Thomas Asbridge's excellent "new history," "The First Crusade," accomplishes the complex task of demonstrating both the truth and the lie of the (currently popular) statement, "the Crusades were when Christians attacked Muslims for money." By combining both serious scholarship (considerable critical attention is paid to original sources, with long passages quoted) with a hefty dose of common sense (Asbridge does not accept anything from the original sources blindly) and a gift for clear concise writing, Asbridge has produced a work that is sure to become a standard for the study of the First Crusade. For the first time, I feel I have read a balanced account of the Christian campaign to retake Jerusalem in the late 11th century.

Asbridge probably hits his highest marks when he analyzes the complex motives of the Crusaders. It's not always easy to explain a complex situation, and the Crusades, Asbridge reminds us, were incredibly complex undertakings. He starts with an excellent exposition of the political and religious events that brought Pope Urban II to the papacy, which goes a long way towards demonstrating Urban's motives for initiating the Crusade. But Urban was no warrior-pope -- he had to inspire others to take up the quest, and the disparate, competitive leaders of the Crusades each had their own agendas. Sure, there was some demonization of the Muslims and there was a considerable amount of religious fervor involved (Asbridge makes a convincing case that a sinful knight would eagerly look at the spiritual salvation offered by the Crusades), but there were also several folks who went along on the Crusades for less noble purposes.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsA book that reads like an action movie
By E. Evans on October 26, 2004
Format: Hardcover
This is one of the best history books I have read in a long time. It is incredibly well-written and contains a fascinating account about the first crusade. It will keep you riveted until the end.

Asbridge doesn't merely give a blow-by-blow of the action - although action is certainly not lacking. He explores how the crusade got started and the varied motivations of the participants. Characters like Bohemond, Godfrey of Boullion and Peter the Hermit come to life and fascinate.

One of the great strengths of this book is Asbridge's discussion of the history of crusade scholarship - the ideas scholars both modern and medieval had about why the crusade happened and how it played out. I also found that some of the things I learned in college (and I didn't graduate that long ago!) about the crusades have been disproved by further scholarship.

I always have found it ironic that, in a later crusade, western knights pillaged Constantinople when they were supposedly Christians united against a common foe. The roots of breakdown of the relationship between the crusaders and the Byzantine empire are explored, answering my questions.

Asbridge is remarkably balanced and objective when discussing the sensitive area of Christian and Muslim relations. My only complaint is that a couple of times in the beginning of the book that the author includes some snide comments about Christianity.

Kudos to Thomas Asbridge! I hope he decides to write another book about the other, less "successful" crusades.
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3.0 out of 5 stars400 Years of Missing Roots
By Donald J. Keck on September 29, 2007
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
The problem is with the sub-title: "The Roots of Conflict Between Christianity and Islam." Unfortunately far too many writers, teachers, students and even scholars share this misconception today. The Crusades were not the beginning of a millennia long antagonism between Christianity and Islam. Nor were the Crusades the cause of that hostility. To find the roots of the conflict one must go back another 461 years to the Islamic conquest of Christian Palestine and Syria (beginning in 634 CE). By the time Pope Urban II called upon the nobility of Europe (in 1095 CE) to undertake a Crusade for the liberation of the Holy Land from Muslim domination, Christendom had been continuously on the defensive against Islamic Jihadists for well over four centuries.

All the ancient sites of early Christianity from Antioch to Jerusalem to Alexandria had been conquered. All the Christian peoples of the Levant and North Africa as far west as the Iberian Peninsula had been subjugated and reduced to Dhimmitude - a third class status closely resembling the condition of the Jews in Germany during the 1930s. The Sassanian Persian Empire had likewise been overthrown and the ancient Zoroastrian religion all but eradicated. Later the Indian subcontinent would be conquered and the Hindu peoples subjugated and reduced to Dhimmitude. Buddhism was virtually wiped out in India by its Muslim conquerors. It survives today only in Tibet, China, Japan and Southeast Asia.

The simple fact is that Islam was by no means a peaceful or tolerant religion. On the contrary, as far as non Muslims were concerned, it was a militant, imperialist and tyrannical faith.

The Crusades were the first attempt on the part of Christian Europe since the Battle of Tours in 732 to push back the frontiers of Islamic conquest.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

7 out of ten says my son who partially read it.

Published 6 months ago by AMA
4.0 out of 5 starsAdvances Understanding Of The First Crusade

Thomas Asbridge is a diligent historian, whose close familiarity with the First Crusade's route complements his knowledge of the relevant primary sources. Read more

Published 7 months ago by Chimonsho
1.0 out of 5 starsVery poor and non-academic Conclusion in book

Very poor and non-academic Conclusion in book. Author concludes the Crusaders were motivated by greed and plunder. Read more

Published 8 months ago by JohnTruth
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Great read.

Published 12 months ago by Siobhan H.
2.0 out of 5 starsTwo Stars

Just started reading it......

Published 13 months ago by Duane Dandrea
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

great book to have at home library ,,, great one

Published 14 months ago by wadia samain
5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent overview and introduction

There are dozens of books on the First Crusade. There are dozens more of various aspects of it, in particular in “the Idea of Crusading” and on who were “the First Crusaders”, just... Read more

Published 15 months ago by JPS
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Must read history

Published 18 months ago by F WAREH
1.0 out of 5 starsOne Star

Garbage. Nothing more than an Islamic apologist. Ignoring 400 yrs of Islamic savagery. Total bunk. Save your cash.

Published 19 months ago by Sparrow
4.0 out of 5 starsGood introduction but too biased in my opinion.

I read this book to provide me with an overview over the first crusade and the crusade in general. The book contains several maps showing the location of various cities unknown to... Read more

Published 19 months ago by Andreas Wozny

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