The First Crusade and the Idea of Crusading

by Jonathan Riley-Smith and John Riley-Smith

Book Overview

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. His summons of the lay knights...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0812220765
• ISBN13: 9780812220766
• Release Date: November 2009
• Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press
• Length: 232 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Interesting

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.

a wonderful analysis

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.