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Summary: Illuminating Context, Great Read
Review: A friend loaned me this book years ago, but for whatever reason I didn't get around to it until recently. I finally picked it up the other day, partly for the obvious motivation of gaining a better understanding of Islamic cultures. It's a riveting book, and an authentic learning experience. The subject is pretty much spelled out by the title: Maalouf draws on various writings by Arab historians and diarists from the time of the Crusades and shortly thereafter -- from 1096 to 1291 (AD) -- to re-tell that story from their point of view. It's a tribute to Maalouf's skill that the resulting, novel-like narrative is so crisp and engaging, and the details are often astonishing and unforgettable. (On occasion there are too many names to keep track of on a given page, but that happens only rarely.) Maybe it's not surprising that the Arab perspective on the Crusades would paint that exercise as a barbaric invasion, but the book (written in the 1980s) is evenhanded, not an anti-Western polemic. We learn about barbarity, and duplicity, on all sides. We also learn how often one side's victory was really the result of internecine squabbling among its foes. Plus, there is illumination of the jihad idea; an examination of the birth and actions of the Assassins sect; interesting anecdotes about the relationship between religion and regional power, and much else that resonate with current Middle East politics. Finally, the book's brief but very sharp epilogue examines how the Crusades may have affected Islamic attitudes toward the Western vision of modernity. For understanding that reaches deeper than many more-current titles on the Middle East and Islam, this is an excellent place to begin. Very readable, and even more informative.
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Summary: Key insights into Arab worldview
Review: A wonderful read, yes, and I agree with all the other reviewers about everything but the "objectivity" which is simply beside the point.
For in-depth thinkers after attacks in U.S.: Very important background for understanding the Palestinian/Israeli conflict and a good part of the Arab world's attitudes toward the West. Also, key insights in the Prologue as to lack of Arab unity and meaningful political organisation; the fact that the Arab world, once the most developed and refined, has never been able to regain its former coveted status.
For history buffs and those enamoured of old chronicles: now that Europe is beginning to exist as a political entity and national histories wil be de-emphasized, this is just the beginning of more new histories to be written about the old world (the fact that there was a time when the most cultivated people in Europe spoke Arabic), a great starting point.
For people who like a good story: many characters and scenes that strike the imagination such as Alix, French-Armenian princess of Jerusalem who attempted to unite with Arab princes to oust her father. Also, fascinating descriptions of daily life and techniques.
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Summary: To understand the crusades - know both sides
Review: After reading four books on the crusades, and feeling exhausted on the subject, I read this book and not only was it good in its own right, but it pieced together many of the other books I read. I wouldsuggest reading this after you have read at least one book on the crusades.
Rating:
Summary: To understand the crusades - know both sides
Review: After reading four books on the crusades, and feeling exhausted on the subject, I read this book and not only was it good in its own right, but it pieced together many of the other books I read. I wouldsuggest reading this after you have read at least one book on the crusades.
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Summary: Saladin - The Machiavelli Prince
Review: Amin Maalouf in "The Crusades Through Arab Eyes" presents an unbiased account of the events occurred from the time crusaders set foot in the East. In this document he has combed the works of arab chronicles, many of them eye witness and participants in the events described. Marred by internal dissent ion and conflicts, the muslin cities became victims to a more organized alien force on their borders preying on the prized Jerusalem. The arabs having lost crucial cities of Syria, Asia Minor (present Turkey) and Jerusalem there was a prevalent sense of disarray and dis-orientation. Saladin a brilliant strategist and tactician, utilized every honorable means to undo the damage done and regain the lost territories. Under this dynamic general the muslims, from Egypt to Syria united under one banner and gave resistance to the ambitions of the alien force. Even thought the fall of Jerusalem is credited to Saladin, the very initial seeds of re-unification were begun by Zanghi and Nur-Uldin both Turkish generals, preceding Saladin.`My uncle Shirkuh turned to me and said " Yusuf, pack your things were going", when i heard this order, I felt as if my heart had been pierced by a dagger, and i answered "In Gods name, even where i granted the entire kingdom of Egypt, I would not go". The man who spoke these wordswas none other than Saladin recounting the timid beginnings of the adventure that some day make him one of the history's most prestigious sovereigns. The arab word seemingly won a stunning victory. If the west had sought, through its successive invasions to contain the thrust of islam, the result was exactly opposite. Not only were the Frankish states of middle east uprooted after two centuries of colonization, but the muslims had so completely gained the upper hand that not long after this they would seek to conquer Europe itself. In 1453 they took Constantinople and by 1529 their cavalry was encamped at the walls of Vienna.
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Summary: Finally
Review: Finally, someone with the courage and knowledge was brave enough to illuminate readers about a much misunderstood and little debated period. The period of time of the Crusades probably did more to shape the views of the West and the Middle East about each other for centuries to come and the view is still in existence today. Amin Maalouf is a powerful writer, full of knowledge and authority on the subject. People of all faiths and views can enjoy and learn from this great book.
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Summary: Facts which help better understand todays M.E. squabbles
Review: First of all it shows that the splits among the Arabs go back centuries. Moreover, being shown the other side of the coin in respect of the crusades is a real eye-opener. When reading this book, the heroic pedestal on which the crusaders were lifted disappears like hot air. Intrigues for power, slaughtering, killing, raping - all this in the name of Christ, what a religion is Christianism? is there a difference to today's excesses by other religions which are so much lambasted by the western medias?? To be recommended for reading by all those condemning for example islamist extremists, it might make them talk a bit less loud.
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Summary: Interesting look at the Crusades
Review: For the most part, I enjoyed this look at the Crusades from the Arab perspective. It was balanced, in that while the heroes were clearly the Muslims and the "bad buys" were the European invaders, Maalouf let us see the foibles of the Muslim rulers, the power struggles and the back stabbing (sometimes literally) between the various sultans and emirs who were trying to gain their own advantages while working to expell the Frankish invaders (or sometimes working WITH the Crusaders). At the end of the book, Maalouf also gives a brief account of the advantages of the West and the failings of the Muslims, even though the Muslims did ultimately succeed in getting the Crusaders off their land. Some may argue that the book is biased against the West, but then again, who were the invaders, anyway? I think, given the fact that it's told from a Muslim perspective, it's fairly balanced. I'd like to see a fundamentalist Christian be so fair! My only complaint is that I would have liked to have seen more of an explanation of why the Crusaders were there in the first place, but perhaps that is for another historian to tell. Overall, I recommend this book for any student of medieval history or religion, especially those who want more than a Eurocentric view.
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Summary: Helpful to understand today's middle east
Review: Having read several books about the crusades, I think this one is pretty much objective although viewed from a different viewpoint than the one westerners have been used to. Although Maalouf describes in details the horrors of the crusades, he is not complacent with the "local" people. We understand better the complexity of the middle east both in terms of ethnics and religions. Crusades have basically shapped the region and many issues date back from this period, so before formulating any judgement about the situation today, a careful study of history is strongly recommended and this book is very helpful in that respect.
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Summary: like all other his works SUPERB
Review: he is the author tells you all about REAL HISTORY. Guaranteed that you will never get bored. You can read whole book in a night nailed on your bed. Absolutely recommended to whom wanna know the past.And reccommended as well all other his books such as SAMARKAND, LEO AFRICANUS etc. ALL FABOULUS.
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