The Crusades by S.E. Al-Djazairi

In the revised narrative of history, the tale of the Crusades (1095-1291) has undergone a comprehensive transformation. Presently, we are informed that the Christian crusades were not solely an initiative but rather a response to Muslim aggression. Likewise, the accounts of crusader atrocities are posited as potentially embellished, while Muslims are suggested to have been equally ruthless. In this retelling, renowned Muslim figures like Salah Eddin, Zangi, Baybars, and others are depicted as harboring murderous, cunning, and scheming traits. Conversely, Mongol leaders, notably Genghis Khan and Hulagu, who orchestrated the slaughter of millions of Muslims during the Crusades, are hailed as individuals of exceptional vision. Furthermore, the narrative emphasizes that Muslim victories predominantly stemmed from engagements with smaller crusader forces, and the crusades purportedly bestowed valuable military and civilian expertise upon the Muslim realm. Such assertions form only a portion of the numerous misconceptions addressed within the contemporary discourse on the Crusades, a discourse that this book endeavors to debunk.

Comprehensively, this book unveils and rebuts these fallacies and others that have found their way into the contemporary teachings and writings on the Crusades. It does so by meticulously examining and cross-referencing both Islamic and Christian sources, spanning the spectrum from age-old to contemporary. While maintaining its academic and scientific rigor, the book also adopts an accessible writing style, making its insights and revelations available to a wide readership. In essence, this publication endeavors to restore accuracy and impartiality to the account of the Crusades, ensuring a more nuanced understanding of this pivotal historical era.