The Crusaders' Kingdom - Joshua Prawer

Interposed between the fall of the Roman Empire and the great Age of Discovery, the Crusades represented the opening chapter of European expansionism and were forerunners to the colonial movement that changed the course of world history. Professor Prawer focuses on the principal achievement of the crusaders - the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem. In so doing he presents in-depth descriptions of what a twelfth and thirteenth century colony looked like and shows how it functioned and developed as a colonial establishment. He identifies the ideological premises of the Crusades and the organization and achievements of the European establishments in the Levant. In considering all aspects of the social and political organisation, economic and cultural developments, the arts, religion, the role of the military and the impact of the Crusades on the conquered peoples, Joshua Prawer throws new light on the origins of colonialism and the nature of a colonial empire. A provocative and fascinating account of a dramatic period of history.