God's Battalions

The Case for the Crusades

By: Rodney Stark

Narrated by: Bob Souer

A respected and controversial scholar argues that the Crusades were a justified war waged against Muslim terror and aggression

This book takes on the current vogue in liberal thinking to argue that, in fact, the Crusades were not unprovoked. They were not the first round of European colonialism. They were not conducted for land, loot, or converts. The Crusaders were not barbarians who victimized the cultivated Muslims. They sincerely believed that they served in God’s Battalions.

In the wake of many recent books justifying Muslim holy wars by criticizing the historic use of violence by Christians, Stark presents the other side of the story. Drawing upon a wide variety of sources, Stark argues the facts and figures about why and how Christianity attempted to secure the Holy Lands and protect the safety of Christian pilgrims.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Based

A very balanced and objective review of the crusades. I’ve read multiple books on the crusades and still learned many new things from this book.

factual accounts

well narrated and well sourced. the accompanying PDF with maps and citations was quite helpful.

Well Done!

I really enjoyed listening to this book, both for its content and narrator, I highly recommend it.

Good perspective, well-argued, and worthy of consideration.

Stark refutes many of the predominant views of the Crusades which have been held for the last 150 years by arguing that:

The Crusades were not unprovoked
They were not the first round of European colonialism
They were not conducted for land loot or converts
The crusaders were not barbarians who victimized the cultivated Muslims
They sincerely believed that they served in God's battalions

Good perspective, well-argued, and worthy of consideration.

Definitely worth a read

A refreshing look at the crusades. Also a thoroughly researched and well signed counter to modern "historic" narrative. Any history buff or casual reader would enjoy this.