You're no idiot, of course. You know the Crusades were a war between Christian and Muslims for control of the Holy Land. However, these bloody conflicts raged over centuries, under changing circumstances, making the whole story difficult to follow. You don't have to don armour and cross deserts to relive the Crusades! 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Crusades' shows you why these wars began, why they continued for so long, and how their impact on the world still resonates. This 'Complete Idiot's Guide' gives you: -An introduction to the Dark Ages and the Renaissance, and why Pope Urban II would grant absolution to anyone who reclaimed the Holy Land for Christianity.-The origins of such Holy Orders as the Knights Templar, the Hospitallers, and the Teutonic Knights and the roles they played during the Crusades.

The Middle Ages - the period of time in European history that began in the year 550 and ended in 1500 with the Renaissance - has also been called the Medieval or Feudal era. Some consider it the Age of Religion - but to many it's the Dark Ages, a term first coined by Petrarch. The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Middle Agesgives readers the beginning, middle, and end of the era, starting with the fall of the Roman Empire and ending with the light at the end of the tunnel, the Renaissance. In between, readers learn about- As the Romans fall, the Barbarians rise, but a small light remains in the Byzantine and Islamic worlds Charlemagne, Pippin, and the last of the long-haired kings Serfing through the storms-Arabs, Magyars, Vikings, and Anglo-Saxon invaders A day in the life of ... a king, a knight, a lord, a townsman, a serf, and a woman Politics and the Church The Reconquista in Spain, the Crusades, and Joan of Arc at the stake When it was Dark it was dark-hunger, plague, war, and financial collapse Ancients versus moderns and the dawn of a new age A timeline, a who's who, and even more light-further reading and the Middle Ages in film

Shed some light on one of history’s darkest periods. The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to the Middle Ages gives readers the beginning, middle, and end of the era, starting with the fall of the Roman Empire in the year 550 and ending with the Renaissance in 1500—and covers some uncomfortable similarities between the so-called “Dark Ages” and today’s “modern world.” - A fascinating, fact-filled book that delivers more than a thousand years of history in easy-to-understand chapters. - Many AP European History students are urged to read an overview of medieval Europe to aid in their understanding of modern Europe, and a number of high schools have adopted elective courses in medieval history. - Complete with a timeline, a who’s who, and guides to further reading and the Middle Ages in film.

Beginning with the Creation, the Old Testament contains a wealth of examples that showcase the Lord's power on earth. Now you can find out what these miracles mean by examining their hidden symbolism and historical contexts. Develop a greater appreciation for these miraculous moments and a deeper faith in the One who made them possible.

This is a unique reference book about the ancient and modern British Royal Family and all the extrarordinary trappings and quaint customs that surround it.

Presents a critical analysis of the differences between Christianity and Islam and maintains that Islam contains a political agenda which endorses violence and aggression against non-Muslims.

In 1095 Pope Urban II launched the First Crusade to recover Jerusalem from the Seljuq Turks. Tens of thousands of people joined his cause, making it the single largest event of the Middle Ages. The conflict would rage for over 200 years, transforming Christian and Islamic relations forever. Andrew Jotischky takes readers through the key events, focussing on the experience of crusading, from both sides. Featuring textboxes with fascinating details on the key sites, figures and battles, this essential primer asks all the crucial questions: What were the motivations of the crusaders? What was it like to be a crusader or to live in a crusading society? And how do these events, nearly a thousand years ago, still shape the politics of today?