People of the First Crusade

When the Pope called on all Christians to expel the Muslims from the Holy City of Jerusalem, the Crusades were born. Not only a spiritual quest but also a brutal military campaign, the Crusades threw together hundreds of people from all backgrounds. Men who had never travelled further than a few miles from where they were born now journeyed to foreign countries, discovered new religions and mixed with other cultures. The book concentrates on the lives of the people who took part from princes to foot soldiers, presenting a continuous narrative of travel and adventure. Through the eyes of Muslims, Jews and Christians, Foss shows how the Crusades indelibly marked relations between East and West, Christianity and Islam religions, and the consequences of this past history that still colours the problems of today in the Middle East. It is a non-academic treatment of the Crusades.

SOme damage to cover boards.