Crusading fervor gripped Europe for over 200 years, creating one of the most extraordinary, vivid episodes in world history. But were the Crusades motivated by spiritual rewards or by greed? Were they the first steps in European colonialism, an attempt at ethnic cleansing, or a manifestation of religious love?
This Very Short Introduction, originally published as Fighting for Christendom, presents a clear and lively discussion of the Crusades and the debates and the controversies that surround them. Bringing together issues of colonialism, cultural exchange, and economic exploitation, Tyerman challenges our assumptions about the Crusades and encourages us to re-evaluate the relationship between past and present.
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