European and arab versions of the crusades have little in common. Through the other half from the eleventh century, the turks, whod formerly transformed into islam, occupied land near constantinople, now istanbul, in addition to parts of the center east. The dramatic story of the crusades seen through arab eyes from the seizing of jerusalem under pope urban ii in 1099 to its recapture by salah ad. Extracts are drawn from seventeen different authors encompassing a multitude of sources. The crusades through arab eyes quotes by amin maalouf. Really helped solidify my understanding of the crusades. The crusades through arab eyes is a narrative history by amin maalouf to give westerners a glimpse of how the muslim world in general saw the crusades as they were happening over two hundred year span. An arab perspective is a fourpart documentary series telling the dramatic story of the crusades seen through arab eyes, from the seizing of.
Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of high middle ages 1200 and what it means. The crusades through arab eyes, written by amin maalouf, focuses on how muslims viewed the series of battles that lasted almost two hundred years. The crusades through arab eyes by amin maalouf anonymous. By the second half of the 11th century, the turks, who had previously converted to islam, occupied land near constantinople, now istanbul, as well as regions of the middle east, including jerusalem. In the crusades through arab eyes, amin maalouf has sifted through the works of a score of.
The crusades through arab eyes is a french language historical essay by lebanese author amin maalouf. Amin maalouf, in his outstanding and thoroughly researched work, the crusades through arab eyes, sets out to redress the balance by presenting the arab side of the crusades in their own words. Jon rothschild the author has combed the works of contemporary arab chronicles of the crusades, eyewitnesses and often participants. Sep 26, 2018 the crusades through arab eyes, by amin maalouf, tells the story of the crusades through an arabic perspective in a narrative format. The series starts with the catholic church council in clermont in france in 1095, under pope urban ii, and continues to the fall of acre, the last crusader foothold in the east, in 1291, covering two centuries of bloody battles, massacres, and. Les croisades vues par les arabes is a french language historical essay by lebanese author amin maalouf as the name suggests, the book is a narrative retelling of primary sources drawn from various arab chronicles that seeks to provide an arab perspective on the crusades, and especially regarding the crusaders the franks franj, as the arabs.
Although they all deserve to be cited, the point of view adopted in this work demands a selection. The crusades through arab eyes by amin maalouf goodreads. Ship this item qualifies for free shipping buy online, pick up in store. The crusades through arab eyes, by amin maalouf, tells the story of the crusades through an arabic perspective in a narrative format. In the crusades through arab eyes, amin maalouf has. Overall, this book gives a sweeping and stimulating view of the crusades seen through arab eyes. An arab perspective is a fourpart documentary series telling the dramatic story of the crusades seen through arab eyes, from the seizing of jerusalem under pope urban ii in 1099, to. Pdf the crusades through arab eyes download full pdf. The series provides a new perspective on the history of the crusades for a global, englishspeaking audience, that has largely read about or studied the famous struggle from a. This welcome addition to the numerous volumes on the crusades is a wellwritten and absorbing history by a lebanese journalist for the general reader. Amin maalouf, a lebanese writer who won the prestigious gon. The crusades through arab eyes saqi essentials 8601419936212. The crusades through arab eyes quotes showing of 3 it seems clear that the arab east still sees the west as a natural enemy. Not only were the frankish states of the middle east uprooted after two centuries of colonization, but the muslims.
Volumes have been written about the crusades, the series of wars in which european christians sought to take, by any means, the holy places. For arabs, the twelfth and thirteenth centuries were years of strenuous efforts to repel a brutal and destructive invasion by barbarian hordes. In addition, this is perhaps one of the most wellwritten histories ive read in a while. Apr 20, 2015 the crusades through arab eyes, written by amin maalouf, focuses on how muslims viewed the series of battles that lasted almost two hundred years. Originally published in french as les croisades vues par les arabes, maaloufs work takes the reader on a narrative voyage through the. The first crusade and the conquest of jerusalem the. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. A paper the crusades through arab eyes outlines that scholars tend to focus on the wining force and ignore the perspective of the losing side. As a growing college student this quote brings harsh reality to the world i live in. Lebanese writer who won the prestigious gon court prize in. The crusades through arab eyes by amin maalouf, 9780805208986, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Precisely because it is from the arabmuslim perspective, it is a striking reminder of how savage the. The crusades, one of the influential events in european history, has always been studied from the point of view of westerners. Mar 07, 2009 the crusades through arab eyes by amin maalouf another nonfiction book translated from the french that is actually a good read.
The crusades through arab eyes by amin maalouf, jon. For arabs, the twelfth and thirteenth centuries were years of strenuous. Maaloufs reconstruction of the crusades frankish invasions as seen by arab historians and chroniclers is a fascinating and instructive narrative of that bitter conflict. The crusades through arab eyes by amin maalouf another nonfiction book translated from the french that is actually a good read. Running the gamut of the initial invasions by western crusaders, through the riposte of saladins reign, the book covers all of the intrigue, civil wars, and truces that happened in over two centuries of conflict. The title of the crusades through arab eyes problematizes the notion of objective historiography, and makes explicit maaloufs intent. The crusades through arab eyes book by amin maalouf. Oct 31, 2019 while the crusades opened up new horizons and new trading areas for the west, the eastern worlds establishments began to decline and deteriorate and the lands they conquered became lost in the political power struggle between the arabs. These two words would spark one of the most controversial events in. Review of the crusades through arab eyes by amin maalouf. Lengthy quotations from original sources are incorporated into an exciting narrative packed with fresh insights, offbeat details, and succinct commentary.
Though originally published in french in 1983 the crusades through arab eyes could not be more relevant at this very moment when the conflicts in the middle east threaten to engulf us all. The rewriting of history in amin maaloufs the crusades through. Amin maaloufs the crusades through arab eyes starts off with an arab description of the barbarism and savagery of the high point of the franj invasions as the muslims called the crusades, the capture, sack and slaughter of jerusalem. In the crusades through arab eyes, amin maalouf has sifted through the works of a score of contemporary arab chroniclers of the crusades, eyewitnesses and often participants in the events. The crusades through arab eyes, by amin maalouf 51 words. For arabs, the twelfth and thirteenth centuries were y.
Until i read this title, my two favourite works concerning the crusades were the first crusade by thomas asbridge and the sword and the scimitar by ernle bradford. I believe as you grow through life, you become more and. These latter spoke not of crusades, but of frankish wars, or ythe frankish invasions. The general histories of the muslim world, the chronicles of cities, regions and their dynasties contemporary biographies and records of famous deeds.
Read the crusades through arab eyes by amin maalouf available from rakuten kobo. The effects of interregional contact on the development of european culture and technology. Under saladin, an unstoppable muslim army inspired by prophets and poets finally succeeded in destroying the most powerful crusader kingdoms. As the title clearly indicates, this book is an attempt to depict the experience of the crusades through arab eyes.
The crusades through arab eyes translated from the french by jon rothschild contents translators note foreword prologue part one. When reflecting on the crusades through arab eyes, this quote always sticks out as the most powerful piece of maaloufs work. The crusades through arab eyes, by amin maalouf 51. He retells their story and offers insights into the historical forces that shape arab and islamic consciousness today. The crusades through arab eyes 1673 words bartleby. Amin maalouf, the crusades through arab eyes london. The rewriting of history in amin maaloufs the crusades. He concludes his account with a reflective epilogue on the lasting impact of the crusades on arab culture and identity. Its content is based almost exclusively on the testimony of contemporary arab historians and chroniclers. The crusades through arab eyes, compiled by amin maalouf.
Crusades as they were seen, lived, and recorded on ythe other sidein other words, in the arab camp. The dramatic story of the crusades seen through arab eyes from the seizing of jerusalem under pope urban ii in 1099 to its recapture by salah addin, richard the lionhearts efforts to regain. The crusades through arab eyes is a story and a historical discussion rolled into one, and to the authors credit he never overextends himself into polemics, which is left for the professional historians. He retells their story and offers insights into the historical forces that shape. Intriquing and entertaining, the crusades through arab eyes is a vivid portrait of a society nearly destroyed by internal conflict and shaken by a traumatic encounter with an alien culture. The crusades through arab eyes by amin maalouf this was a relatively short book 266 pages, but a huge story that spans the initial invasion of nicaea in what is now turkey in 1096 to the final expulsion of the franj meaning all western christians in 1291. Maalouf, the crusades through arab eyes november 2, 2012 by mark movsesian in books, mark l. While the crusades opened up new horizons and new trading areas for the west, the eastern worlds establishments began to decline and deteriorate and the lands they conquered became lost in the political power struggle between the arabs. Amin maalouf, the crusades through arab eyes, 1984 the passage above illustrates which of the following.
The crusades through arab eyes, by amin maalouf 123 help me. Publication date 1984 topics crusades, islamic empire history 7501258 publisher schocken books collection. An arab perspective is a fourpart series produced by al jazeera english, which first aired in december of 2016. The crusades through arab eyes ebook by amin maalouf. This was a relatively short book 266 pages, but a huge story that spans the initial invasion of nicaea in what is now turkey in 1096 to the final expulsion of the franj meaning all western christians in 1291. Publication date 1984 topics crusades, islamic empire history 7501258 publisher schocken books collection inlibrary. The arab world had seemingly won a stunning victory. I believe as you grow through life, you become more and more aware of the world around you through education. He retells their stories in their own vivacious style, giving us a vivid portrait of a society rent by internal conflicts, and shaken by a traumatic. The author has combed the works of contemporary arab chronicles of the crusades, eyewitnesses and often participants. Against that enemy, any hostile actionbe it political, military, or based on oilis considered no more than legitimate vengeance. If the west had sought, through its successive invasions, to contain the thrust of islam, the result was exactly the opposite.
Les croisades vues par les arabes is a french language historical essay by lebanese author amin maalouf. By reading this book, you may have a chance to change your perspective and see things through the eyes of others. It presents the dramatic story of the medieval religious war through an arab point of view. The crusades through arab eyes hereafter, arab eyes is a beautifully composed book that draws almost exclusively from arabic primary sources to tell the tale of the western conquest, 11000 ad.
In two years of research on the crusades, i have come across many works and authors who, whether through brief encounter or repeated consultation, have exerted some influence on my work. What is most interesting about this book is revealed in the title all events. An arab perspective is a fourpart documentary series telling the dramatic story of the crusades seen through arab eyes, from the seizing of jerusalem under pope urban ii in 1099, to its recapture by salah addin also known as saladin, richard the lionhearts efforts to regain the city, and the end of the holy wars in 1291. The crusades through arab eyes is a very interesting and detailed book. The series is heavily influenced by the 1984 book the crusades through arab eyes, by amin maalouf. Amin maalouf retraces two critical centuries of middle eastern history, presents an intriguing chronicle of the crusades, and offers insights into the forces that shape arab and islamic consciousness today. The chronology and all the excerpts make it very enlightening even if one isnt a historian. Precisely because it is from the arabmuslim perspective, it is a striking reminder of how savage the western crusaders could be. Maalouf offers fascinating insights into the historical forces that even today shape arab and islamic consciousness. Dec 28, 2016 the dramatic story of the crusades seen through arab eyes from the seizing of jerusalem under pope urban ii in 1099 to its recapture by salah addin, richard the lionhearts efforts to regain. The book looks at the historical roots of the relationship between the arab world and the west from the perspective of the arabs. Classic revisited, crusades, history of religion, religion in the middle east leave a comment.