Andrea A.J., Holt A. (eds.) Seven Myths of the Crusades

Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing, 2015. — 201 p."Seven Myths of the Crusades' rebuttal of the persistent and multifarious misconceptions associated with topics including the First Crusade, anti-Judaism and the Crusades, the crusader states, the Children's Crusade, the Templars and past and present Islamic-Christian relations proves, once and for all, that real history is far more fascinating than conspiracy theories, pseudo-history and myth-mongering. This book is a powerful witness to the dangers of the misappropriation and misinterpretation of the past and the false parallels so often drawn between the crusades and later historical events ranging from nineteenth-century colonialism to the protest movements of the 1960s to the events of 9/11. This volume's authors have venerable track records in teaching and researching the crusading movement, and anyone curious about the crusades would do well to start here." --Jessalynn Bird, Dominican University, co-Editor of Crusade and ChristendomIntroduction: Once More into the Breach: The Continuing War against Crusade Myths
The First Crusade: Unprovoked Offense or Overdue Defence?
Mad Men on Crusade: Religious Madness and the Origins of the First Crusade
The Crusades and Medieval Anti-Judaism: Cause or Consequence?
The Quest for Gain: Were the First Crusaders Proto-Colonists?
Myths of Innocence: The Making of the Children's Crusade
Templars and Masons: An Origin Myth
Islam and the Crusades: A Nine Hundred-Year-Long Grievance?
Epilogue: Putting It All Together
Suggested Reading
Contributor Biographies