• God's Battalions

  • The Case for the Crusades
  • By: Rodney Stark
  • Narrated by: David Drummond
  • Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (544 ratings)

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God's Battalions

By: Rodney Stark
Narrated by: David Drummond
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Publisher's summary

In God's Battalions, award-winning author Rodney Stark takes on the long-held view that the Crusades were the first round of European colonialism, conducted for land, loot, and converts by barbarian Christians who victimized the cultivated Muslims.

To the contrary, Stark argues that the Crusades were the first military response to unwarranted Muslim terrorist aggression. Stark reviews the history of the seven major Crusades from 1095 to 1291, demonstrating that the Crusades were precipitated by Islamic provocations, centuries of bloody attempts to colonize the West, and sudden attacks on Christian pilgrims and holy places. Although the Crusades were initiated by a plea from the pope, Stark argues that this had nothing to do with any elaborate design of the Christian world to convert all Muslims to Christianity by force of arms. Given current tensions in the Middle East and terrorist attacks around the world, Stark's views are a thought-provoking contribution to our understanding and are sure to spark debate.

©2009 Rodney Stark (P)2009 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

"An excitingly readable distillation of the new, revisionist Crusades historiography." ( Booklist)

What listeners say about God's Battalions

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Great to hear a sociologist

This book was a lot of fun. The vast majority of the book covers the first 3 Crusades. The last six are a little too rushed and dont have as many juicy details. I totally disagree with turning the Albigensian Crusade into a whipping boy. Gotta love Rodney Stark. Brilliant points about taxes at the end. Many stars still.

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A much needed rebuttal...

...to modernity's rewriting of history. Stark lays out the arguments against the establishment's version in a very cogent and approachable way. Excellent.

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Finally, the true story of the Crusades!

Well researched, it tells a balanced story of the Crusades, Crusaders, and the Muslim peoples.

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Historical and engaging

Based on facts rather than assumptions. This book begins with the spread of Islam all the way to Constinople reputation, prior to the Bezenteen Empire asking for assistance.

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Smashes PC Dogma

Finally, a contemporary account that gives a thorough and balanced history, while addressing untruthful illiberal propaganda.

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A great book! Lots of good crusade knowledge

Very well done by both the author and the read. I flew through the book.

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Wow

This is a great book, week narrated, and very educational. And finally does justice to the truth concerning these events of long ago.

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The Crusades revisited

Stark gives a streamlined but through account of the events that lead up, during and after the Crusades, dispelling many myths that surround them.

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even handed and honest defense of the crusades

A well written and well cited work that works its way through the crusades in the Holy Land, slowly and methodically picking apart the biased and unfair treatment the subject is often given.

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Great look at Crusades from the Christian Perspective

Great book with an emphasis on it being just a summation of the Crusades. This book provides great examples of battles and overall causes for the Crusades and really turns the current narrative of the Crusades on its head.

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