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God's Battalions

The Case for the Crusades

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God's Battalions

Written by: Rodney Stark
Narrated by: David Drummond
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About this listen

In God's Battalions, award-winning author Rodney Stark takes on the long-held view that the Crusades were the first round of European colonialism, conducted for land, loot, and converts by barbarian Christians who victimized the cultivated Muslims.

To the contrary, Stark argues that the Crusades were the first military response to unwarranted Muslim terrorist aggression. Stark reviews the history of the seven major Crusades from 1095 to 1291, demonstrating that the Crusades were precipitated by Islamic provocations, centuries of bloody attempts to colonize the West, and sudden attacks on Christian pilgrims and holy places. Although the Crusades were initiated by a plea from the pope, Stark argues that this had nothing to do with any elaborate design of the Christian world to convert all Muslims to Christianity by force of arms. Given current tensions in the Middle East and terrorist attacks around the world, Stark's views are a thought-provoking contribution to our understanding and are sure to spark debate.

©2009 Rodney Stark (P)2009 Tantor History Islam Medieval Middle East Military World Crusade Imperialism Ottoman Empire Pope
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What the critics say

"An excitingly readable distillation of the new, revisionist Crusades historiography." ( Booklist)

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Important arguments, some flaws

Stark makes some good arguments regarding the objectives and morality of the crusades, and offers a more grounded view of their Islamic opponents. It is nice to see some pushback against the critical theory and anti-Catholicism that pervades in the academic and popular imagination. This is a biased work, but that is conveyed in the title, and that is the reason for its existence.

I was not overfond of Stark's organization. His brief history of the crusades, splattered throughout the book, would have been better to have been omitted. Stick with the thesis and provide pertinent history where needed. I would also have preferred him to avoid areas where he is not well versed. There were a couple of minor points, unnecessary to his narrative, that are easily refuted. Example: Knights in articulated amour requiring cranes to mount their horses? Really? Maybe with 15th century tournament armour. This has nothing to do with the crusades and nothing to do with battle armour of any period.

The audio quality was less than perfect with a pronounced 'S'. Always an irritant. The volume stayed consistent and it was clear. The pacing was good. Loss of one star.

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