The Atlas of the Crusades

The Atlas of the Crusades: edited by Jonathan Riley-Smith; Facts on File, New York & Oxford, 1991. First printing. From the blurb – The crusading movement was one of the great expressions of popular ideology in world history. It was to play a dramatic role in the religious, political, and economic development of Europe and the Near East over 700 years. In Pope Urban II called on the Knights of Christendom to liberate Jerusalem from the Muslims. In response, crusaders from all over Europe were to cross vast distances to claim by war, by diplomacy and by settlement new Catholic Christian states in the Holy Land. Over the following centuries, crusades were fought on land and at sea in many different theatres of war: the eastern Mediterranean, the shores of the Baltic and Black Sea, Spain, North Africa, and even within Western Europe. They were fought against Muslims, Mongols, pagans, heretics and non-Catholic Christians – in the eyes of crusaders, all enemies of the Church – as well as the political enemies of the Popes in Italy. The Atlas of the Crusades presents this extraordinary movement in more than 120 vivid new maps, accompanied by linking narrative and contemporary accounts and illustrations. It follows the military campaigns in detail. It includes new bird’s eyes views of crusader cities and settlements. It identifies and illustrates Christian strongholds – some of which have disappeared, others of which, like the spectacular Krak des Chevaliers in Syria, can still be seen today. This large format book, 192 pages, is in fine condition in a fine dust jacket, now enclosed in a protective mylar wrap.…