• 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 (542 ratings)

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God's Battalions  By  cover art

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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Excellent & Revealing

This book tells the true history of the many crusades, that they are not teaching in schools, yet should be.

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    5 out of 5 stars

a wonderful quick summary of The Crusades

I have read a previous Rodney Stark book and this one was equally exceptional. As an amateur historian I have found it is shocking how twisted the chronically of History has become in the last hundred years or so. Rodney Stark is a refreshing breath of air. this is a excellent quick read to help a person understand the not politically correct aspect of all of the Crusades. the performance of this audio version was really well done and did not detract from the book.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Excellent narration, but…

The editing was lacking in some places. Misspeaks and redos were left in place, sometimes making for an awkward break in the narration.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Balanced and informative

Great introduction to the Crusades though a tough topic to delve into via audio.

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Truth at last

It was great to hear the truth behind the crusades. Thank you Proffesor Stark.

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4 people found this helpful

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  • Ky
  • 01-20-17

Timely and important

Such a good book! So important to debunk the myths and bigotry of our times through education and open mindedness.

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Great review of the Crusades

As usual, Rodney Stark does a superb job telling what really happened in history. An enlightening review of the truth about the Crusades.

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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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