Contesting the Crusades

"In this book Norman Housley, one of the most distinguished historians of the medieval period, provides an authoritative introduction to the crusades." "Drawing on 30 years' experience, Housley steers readers through the key historical debates. Almost every aspect of the long and complex history of crusading has been the subject of energetic discussion, and Housley's account addresses issues ranging from the definition of 'crusade', through the origins and character, of the First Crusade, to problems explaining and interpreting the later crusades."--Jacket.