Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The Call
Chapter 2: The First Crusade
Chapter 3: The Rise of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Second Crusade
Chapter 4: The Decline of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Third Crusade
Chapter 5: The Fourth Crusade
Chapter 6: Crusading at Home
Chapter 7: The Fifth Crusade and the Crusade of Frederick II
Chapter 8: The Crusades of St. Louis
Chapter 9: The Later Crusades
Chapter 10: The Legacy of the Crusades

About the Author

Thomas F. Madden is professor of history and director of the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Saint Louis University. A widely recognized expert on the Crusades and Christian-Muslim relations, he is the author of numerous books, including The Fourth Crusade: The Conquest of Constantinople, Enrico Dandolo and the Rise of Venice, and Venice: A New History. Awards for his scholarship include the Haskins Medal (Medieval Academy of America) and the Otto Gründler Prize (Medieval Institute). He resides in St. Louis, Missouri.

Reviews

Madden’s clear text invites readers at all levels of knowledge into this commentary on how the crusades shaped our modern world. [He] convincingly shows how the crusades prove useful in understanding the political, cultural, and religious wars waged in today’s society. True to the book’s title, Madden manages to deftly discuss his research while maintaining a clear, approachable style that makes this text accessible to all levels of readers. . . . His ability to set the scene breathes life into the history. . . . The extent of Thomas Madden’s research is evident, and his ability to describe history in an interesting and clear manner will appeal to all readers who enjoy reading about the past, especially where it is examined within a modern context.
*Foreword Reviews*

Madden writes that the term and concept of the Crusades had been protean and exploited from the inception of the modern era. . . .For him, the historical understanding and popular perception of these campaigns have led to their condemnation. Yet he still defends them as an act of piety (i.e., bravery coupled with faith) and rejects the dominant perception that they are in any way responsible
for modern tensions between the Middle East and the West.
*AJISS: The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences*

It is well written and well organized...[and is] designed primarily as a textbook. . . .This is a good book. It is very clear and also both interesting and enjoyable to read.
*Speculum*