Tuesday, March 1, 2005
Thanks to an emailer who sends along a link to this NPR interview with a British Historian who's written a new book on the Crusades. The linked page includes the audio.
A New Examination of the Crusades
February 27, 2005 In Fighting for Christendom: Holy War and the Crusades, British historian Christopher Tyerman challenges many assumptions about the epic conflicts that began when Pope Urban II summoned Christians to invade areas of the Middle East in 1095. Christian troops conquered Jerusalem, killing most of the city's inhabitants, and Western-sponsored states were established in Syria and Palestine.
Centuries later, the history is relevant. But as Tyerman writes: "Most of what passes in public as knowledge of the Crusades... is either misleading or false."
He outlines some of the most glaring misconceptions about the Crusades in a conversation with Sheilah Kast.
Well, I was glad that NPR interviewed Tyerman. His interpretation is a refreshing change from the blanket condemnation of the Crusades prevalent today.
I was somewhat dismayed, though, to hear Tyerman state that for Muslims to conduct a violent jihad against non-Muslims thing was something that was NOT sanctioned in the Koran, and wasn't found in Islamic law or in Islamic history. Hmm, lots of people could forcefully argue otherwise.
Will NPR interview Robert Spencer when his book on the Crusades comes out this fall? Hope so!
Heh. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that interview, unfortunately.