The Modern Scholar: God Wills It!: Understanding the Crusades

By: Thomas F. Madden

Narrated by: Thomas F. Madden

As late as 1518, plans were laid by Pope Leo X and the monarchs of Europe to set aside their internal quarrels and once more embark on a holy crusade to wrest the Middle East from the Ottoman Turks. Finding accord and even enthusiasm for the enterprise, all was on course for a multiyear military campaign to push east from North Africa through Egypt and south through the Balkans to squeeze the Turks in a pincer movement and finally oust the Muslims from the Holy Land. The great plan, however, died when Europe was once again plunged into internal strife with the death of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I, who had been a leader for the crusade.

For over 400 years, crusaders ("those signed by the cross"), out of Christian zeal, a declared love for their fellow man, and, in many cases, a simple desire for fortune, glory, and heavenly reward, marched to the Holy Land to battle both a real and perceived threat to their way of life and their religious beliefs. The story of the many crusades are filled with an unremitting passion to keep or return the home of Christianity to Christians. It is also filled with death, destruction, disorder, greed, avarice, and self-interest on all sides. Much of what occurred during the Crusades has come down to us today in the form of continued suspicion among religious ideologies - not only between Christians and Muslims, but also internally among Christian sects and, to some degree, among Muslim sects. There is certainly much to learn about our own history from a better understanding of the Crusades and what led so many to crusade.

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2005 Thomas F. Madden (P)2005 Recorded Books

Just what I was looking for!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would highly recommend this for the person (like myself) who wanted to know details of what caused the Crusades, how they were fought, how it impacted Christianity and Islam, and the motivations of both groups. Easy to listen to, told in story format with an easy to listen to voice. I feel I have a basis now to understand present world events in a more in a more informed manner....

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Modern Scholar?

Coming from a Christian background, I knew most of the foundation principles of Christianity. Lecture 2 describes the beginnings of Islam (from a description of how Muhammed began the religion) and was very interesting.

Another great course by Dr. Madden

I have studied the crusades extensively, and even so, learned a good deal in this course. Top marks!

Excellent set of lectures!

I would recomand this to anyone who would like to understand the crusades.
They are well thought out and brilliantly delivered.

"Understanding the Crusades" says it all

This was exactly the book I was hoping to find: an extensive overview of what the Crusades were and what they meant. Not so much detail that would bore. And delivered extremely well. Loved this book. Thanks.

I wish I could have heard a preview of this book, as I couldn't decide what book was the one I wanted. I was lucky to find this one.

Boring rendition of potentially gripping material

I am a professor of history and generally love a good history lecture. I gave this a really good shot and listened to 9/10 of it, but couldn't even manage to finish. Granted, I do not specialize in medieval Europe and may not be as fascinated by that time and place as another listener, but in general I found the lectures to be very similar to one another, and rather devoid of information on how the crusades changed history. I was looking for something more engaging. At the end of some of the lectures a member of the audience asks a question; the questions are generally very interesting, and Professor Madden's responses are usually lacking in detail and somewhat perfunctory. Moreover, a picky point but one worth mentioning is that Professor Madden's voice is somewhat monotone.