The Crusades: The Authoritative History of the War for the Holy Land

The Crusades: The Authoritative History of the War for the Holy Land by Thomas Asbridge offers the most comprehensive and vivid single-volume account of the two-century struggle between Christianity and Islam for control of Jerusalem.

Told from both Christian and Muslim perspectives, this masterful narrative traces the rise of the Crusades—from the Pope’s call to holy war to the brutal battles between figures like Richard the Lionheart and Saladin. Asbridge captures the horror, passion, and grandeur of this era, taking readers from Constantinople to Cairo through a world of warriors, visionaries, and intrigue.

Based on extensive research and deep regional insight, the book reveals how the Crusades reshaped the medieval world—and why their legacy still echoes in global conflicts today.