| Introduction
"A Concise History of the Crusades"
is an informative piece of work by Professor Thomas
F. Madden presently teaching the subject of history
at the Saint Louis University. Professor Madden
is also the co-author of "The Fourth Crusade:
The Conquest of Constantinople". The subject
book, "A Concise History of the Crusades"
is an attempt to encompass the Crusades as an
era depicting pious enthusiasm by perhaps thousands,
and by some estimates millions of devout followers
of the Christian Religion. The subject title thus
presents the Crusades as more than just a holy
war. The author being a devout Christian, it is
not strange to note that he chooses to side with
the Christians as well as highlight the Crusades
as a series of religious wars and a movement by
the Christians against the Islamic world in particular,
and Jews to some extent. The subject title thus
makes a somewhat successful attempt at clarifying
some of the commonly believed misunderstandings
and misconceptions on the particular topic of
Crusades and the role of the Christians. The book
also encompasses the entire Crusade movement in
a historical perspective with a brief mention
of encounters with the Muslims, Christians, Jews,
Romans, Persians, Babylonians, and Canaanites.
"A Concise History of the Crusades",
A Book Report
Covering a period of some 8 centuries, Professor
Thomas F. Maddern's "A Concise History of
the Crusades" presents the Crusades from
a somewhat Christian perspective. As it not only
sides with the Christian beliefs on Crusades that
have continued over the centuries, the title also
attempts to cover up for most of Crusader's activities
other than the holy war, which they presumably
carried out against the people of the different
religions. For example it would not be wrong to
note that the title book presents Crusades as
a defensive war, whereas history is evidence to
the contrary nature of facts. A few examples of
historical facts as interpreted by Madden in support
of his title book are ample evidence that Madden's
subject title is a biased piece of work. One that
makes a successful attempt at reinforcing the
generally believed set of notions on Crusades,
and follows the premise that they were merely
holy wars duly imposed upon Christians. The subject
title also stresses at various times that the
Crusades were fought as a direct response from
the continuous onslaught of Muslims and to some
extent the Jews as well.
It would also not be wrong to point that the
subject title has successfully attempted to address,
or rather place the subject of Crusades in its
Christian context, and for the average Christian
reader, it would naturally appear to be a properly
placed and indeed concise and contextual.
As evidence of the biased nature of the author's
approach towards covering the subject of Crusades
can be observed where the author profoundly praises
the commitment and bravery of King Richard I the
Lion Heart, during one of the last of Crusades.
On the subject of Crusaders, Madden writes --
"Pious idealism had brought these courageous
knights to the Holy Land . . ." While particularly
praising King Richard I Lion Heart, Madden writes,
"Richard I was the epitome of French Chivalric
culture. Well educated, well spoken, and even
an accomplished poet, the Lion Heart was also
a bold man of action. A young man of 32 when he
took the throne, Richard was an imposing figure
-- tall, blond and physically strong. Like the
knights of the chansons de geste, he was a daring
figure, placing himself in personal danger without
a thought, always eager to take part in any clash
of arms." (The Concise History of the Crusades,
pp87)
The aspects which make the title piece more than
interesting include a clear and 'concise', (hence
also the name), presentation of the Crusades movement,
duly supported with necessary historical background.
The order of facts also provides sufficient material
for an individual totally unaware of the Crusades
or the objective behind the movement. Evidence
of this clear and concise presentation of facts
on Crusade, irrespective of their biased-ness,
can be found in the chronological nature of events,
making it all the more easier for an average reader
to follow the order of the Crusades movement.
For an individual totally unaware on the history
and objective of the Crusades, the subject title
presents an excellent reading material. However,
one must take into account that Crusades covered
an era of more than 8 centuries, while the subject
book only presents a concise version of the entire
Crusades movement all within the confines of a
200 page book. This leads one to deduce that even
if the author has made significant strides, it
would be practically impossible to take into account
each single detail. Thus it is only natural that
there have been a number of omissions, and it
is these omissions which make the title book more
interesting, entertaining and more than objective.
As the principle subject and topic around which
the entire book evolves are the Crusades, the
author wisely chooses the history of Islam as
his first topic, which also provides for ample
background for the onset of the first Crusade
at around 1071. A brief on the first topic thus
shows that Seljuk Turks threatened the Easter
Roman Empire with its capital at Byzantium. After
having fought for a number of years against the
Seljuk Turks, and with no apparent victory insight,
the then Emperor of Roman Empire called for help
from his brethren in the Western Europe. This
was the First Crusade as it occurred in 1096 resulting
in the victory for Byzantium, as well as successfully
capturing majority of the Holy Lands from the
Muslim stronghold.
One the numerous Crusades, one occurred some
half a century later, which too was in direct
response from the Muslim expansion in general,
and to a small extent the Jews as the latter too
were against the Christian beliefs. The subject
book by Madden though takes sides with the Crusaders,
and strives to present them as pious, religious,
and with good intentions. Yet, the facts cannot
and must not be superceded as warfare whether
in the form of Crusades or present day war against
terrorism does also include mishap, blunders and
crimes, even if the same are or were committed
by a few and not all the Crusaders.
An example to this respect can be evidenced in
the robbing and massacre of Jews by one Count
Emicho of Leiningen in the Rhine region of Germany.
These Crusaders thought it righteous to rob and
murder Jews, and use their money to fund Crusaders
all the way from Eastern and Western Europe to
Jerusalem. Yet, it was wrong then, as it is now
as also evidenced in the strong condemnation from
the Church for all such anti Jewish activities.
The fact that practically entire populations
of Jews perished at the hands of the Crusaders
did not at all imply that the Crusades were against
the Jews. On the contrary, the Pope, bishops,
and preachers were against all such anti-semantic
acts. Yet it is also true, as also evidenced in
history including present day wars, armies kill
far more innocents than the intended perpetrators,
but this certainly does not imply that the war
should not take place, or that the Crusaders were
wrong.
The subject book thus strives to present some
set of reasoning as to the causes of the Crusaders,
and their pursuit of aims for taking over the
Holy Lands. The subject book goes on to encompass
a period of the next half a millennium of Crusades.
It is the various failures and successes of the
Christians during the Crusades which makes up
for the majority of the subject book. It may well
be noted that though the first of the Crusades
was a victory for the Christians, practically
all those followed failed. This was primarily
from the unrivaled Muslim expansion and their
strategic advancements in varied disciplines of
life including their faith which to date remains
a primordial source of all their power and learning.
Madden's work "The Concise History of the
Crusades" all too strongly implies that all
the Crusades were against the Muslims is a bit
undermining of the historical facts. The Jews
too have been the target of hatred as have been
the Muslims. One need not turn the pages of recent
history to confirm that during the entire Middle
Ages, Jews along with the Muslims have been persecuted
at the hands of Christians, and the Church could
have stopped this, that is if they wanted to.
What of the numerous kings and emperors who ruled
over majority of the European nations for centuries,
yet they did little to stop such persecutions;
Holocaust being just one example. To the extent
of the insight on Crusades, the subject title
by Thomas Madden is indeed an excellent work,
but to cite and imply that the Crusades were against
the Muslims only would be a severe understatement.
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