In a field near clermont, france, on november 27, 1095, pope urban ii issued a rousing call to arms, a march to jerusalem to retake the holy city from the infidel muslims who for more than 20 years ha. This is the only book to address the history of the first crusade from the perspective of the east, examining the role of the. In fact, the first crusade was an eastern project, devised and inspired not by pope urban ii but by. The first book on the crusades to pay focus on the real backdrop and catalyst of the first crusade from a talented and gifted debut historian.
Peter frankopan is senior research fellow at worcester college, oxford, and director of the centre for byzantine research at oxford university. The books central hypothesis is to write a byzantinecentric view of the crusade, in particular concentrating on the figure of the emperor alexios and how circumstances in his empire dictated the timing and nature of the appeal made to the west as well as some of the. Embarking on academic research is like going down a mine, says frankopan. Excellent and nonwesternised account of the first crusade as with his book, the silk road, peter frankopan takes an objective view of how the first crusade played out by cutting through western european myths and instead through the use of 100s of sources weaves together a very compelling story. The first crusade by peter frankopan, 9780674970786, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. First on your list is the cherry orchard by anton chekhov, the russian playwright and short story writer i used to spend my summer holidays in sweden in the middle of the woods with a lake and my grandfatherwho died before i was bornhad a collection of russian novels in lots of different languages. Buy the first crusade by peter frankopan with free. As with his book, the silk road, peter frankopan takes an objective view of how the first crusade played out by cutting through western european myths and instead through the use of 100s of sources weaves together a very compelling story. Aug 28, 2015 p eter frankopan, 44, is a senior research fellow at worcester college, oxford, and director of the oxford centre for byzantine research. Frankopans first book of history, the first crusade. Highly readable the first crusade tells a complex story, but its presentation of political machinations, compromises, and betrayals seems utterly convincing.
According to tradition, the first crusade began at pope urban iis instigation and culminated in july 1099, when western european knights liberated jerusalem. Frankopans reassessment of the first crusade through the prism of byzantium is a useful corrective to the mass of westerncentric crusade history this book offers an accessible and convincing account of the crusade, which was both concocted and executed under the long shadow of byzantium. Michael dirda, washington post frankopans reassessment of the first crusade through the prism of byzantium is a useful corrective to the mass of westerncentric. His emphasis on byzantine efforts to win western christian military. Based on fresh interpretations of primary sources, lucidly written and forcefully argued, the first crusade. The first crusade is one of the bestknown and most writtenabout events in history but in this new book dr peter frankopan asks vital questions that have never been posed before. The call from the east is a provocative piece of scholarship. Occasionally smitten by and uncritical of his hero, the byzantine emperor alexios i, frankopan puts the crusade into the context of a faltering christian empire and recaptures some. Peter frankopan is professor of global history at oxford university where he is also senior research fellow at worcester college and director at the centre for, peter frankopan is professor of global history at oxford university where he is also senior research fellow at. The new silk roads by frankopan, peter and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. That means demoting pope urban ii, who frankopan believes was written into his starring role by later latin authors. Rather, he should take centre stage in the history of the first crusade p. Frankopan argues that the persian empire was the actual centre point of the rise of western civilization. Peter frankopan is a historian based at oxford university.
Shop amongst our popular books, including 16, the silk roads, the new silk roads and more from peter frankopan. The first crusade by peter frankopan ox history blog. In 1096, an expedition of extraordinary scale and ambition set off from western europe on a mass pilgrimage to jerusalem. Oct 26, 2016 i have long thought that oxford historian peter frankopans the first crusade. The future and present of the world are major international bestsellers. Some 100,000 men, from knights to paupers, took up the callthe largest mobilization of manpower since the fall of the roman empire. On the last tuesday of november 1095, pope urban ii delivered an electrifying speech that launched the first crusade. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures.
At almost 300 pages, and written with rapidfire enthusiasm, the first crusade also challenges assumptions that books by academics should be as big as breezeblocks and bristling with footnotes. I have long thought that oxford historian peter frankopans the first crusade. Peter frankopan on history five books the best books. Star wars trade wars part one i was in venice this week and as usual, made straight for st marks square to see my old friends the tetrarchs. A new history of the worldthe first crusade is one of the bestknown and most writtenabout events in history but in this new book dr peter frankopan asks vital questions that have never been posed before. The call from the east cambridge, mass belknap press of harvard university press, 2012 is one of the more interesting and important recent books for understanding the circumstances leading up to the calling of the first crusade in 1095. The books central hypothesis is to write a byzantinecentric view of the crusade, in particular concentrating on the figure of the emperor alexios and how circumstances in his empire dictated the timing and nature of the appeal made to the west as well as some of the subsequent course of. Peter frankopan is professor of global history at oxford university where he is also senior research fellow at worcester college and director at the centre for, peter frankopan is professor of global history at oxford university where he is also senior research fellow at worcester college and director at the centre for. Byzantine recruitment of western warriors before the first. The first crusade, by peter frankopan the spectator. The first crusade by peter frankopan penguin books australia.
The call from the east, was published to wide acclaim by bodley head a division of random house and harvard university press in 2012. Yet the region linking east with west is where civilisation itself began, where the worlds great religions were born and took root, where goods were exchanged, and where languages, ideas and disease spread. This is the only book to address the history of the first crusade from the perspective of the east, examining the role of the byzantine empire and its ruler, emperor. Countering nearly a millennium of scholarship, peter frankopan reveals the first crusades untold history. The first crusade by peter frankopan 9780099555032 dymocks. A new history of the world, on librarything librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers home groups talk zeitgeist. In this groundbreaking book, countering nearly a millennium of scholarship, peter frankopan reveals the untold history of the first crusade. The harsh truths of realpolitik are, alas, with us always. Mar 07, 20 the first crusade is one of the bestknown and most writtenabout events in history but in this new book dr peter frankopan asks vital questions that have never been posed before.
He is a senior research fellow at worcester college, oxford, and the director of the oxford centre for byzantine research at oxford university. Frankopan s first book of history, the first crusade. Daily telegraph history book of the year 2015 the times, number one nonfiction bestseller. Opinion the true story of the first crusade the new. Described as an astonishing debut from a gifted young historian, it was shortlisted for several prestigious awards, including the criticos prize and the royal historical societys gladstone prize. Oct 23, 2017 the first question that this book should pose is why. The call from the east, by peter frankopan, is a highly readable and carefully researched account of byzantine politics. The call from the east peter frankopan bodley head, pp. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Some 100,000 men, from knights to paupers, took up the call the largest mobilization of manpower since the fall of the roman empire. I had previously enjoyed peter frankopans silk road, he clearly has a head for both the details of politics and the big picture. Apr 01, 2012 frankopan s reassessment of the first crusade through the prism of byzantium is a useful corrective to the mass of westerncentric crusade history. Feb 03, 2012 nicholas shakespeare applauds the first crusade. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. As well as writing history books his latest, the silk. The first crusade ebook by peter frankopan rakuten kobo. This book offers an accessible and convincing account of the crusade, which was both concocted and executed under the long shadow of byzantium. But what if the first crusades real catalyst lay far to the east of rome.
But frankopan is not content for the emperor to play a major part. In the call from the east, peter frankopan seeks to reverse centuries of western dominance of the crusader narrative. Peter frankopan isnt a goodreads author, but he does have a blog, so here are some recent posts imported from his feed. The author of the book proposes essentially to rewrite or perhaps restore. The call from the east by peter frankopan peter frankopan uses his first significant book to try and restore emperor alexios i komnenoss reputation josh glancy. The call from the east, a major monograph about byzantium, islam and the west in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Pilgrimages see pilgrim were not cut off at first, but early in the 11th cent. Peter frankopan, an expert on the byzantine empire and the author of an excellent and iconoclastic account of the first crusade, is well placed to take on all those scholarly tasks. P eter frankopan, 44, is a senior research fellow at worcester college, oxford, and director of the oxford centre for byzantine research. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Peter frankopans reassessment of the byzantine contribution to the origins and course of the first crusade offers a compelling and challenging balance to traditional accounts. May 24, 2011 a concise only 200 pages account of the first crusade which is both well arguedorganised and engaging. He called it a persuasive and bracing work and said peter frankopan is not yet well known, but he deserves to be. Frankopans reassessment of the first crusade through the prism of byzantium is a useful corrective to the mass of westerncentric crusade history.
Mar 21, 2016 peter frankopan, an expert on the byzantine empire and the author of an excellent and iconoclastic account of the first crusade, is well placed to take on all those scholarly tasks. The first question that this book should pose is why. Jul 03, 20 but frankopan is not content for the emperor to play a major part. A history of the need and call for a first crusade, rather than of the crusade itself. A concise only 200 pages account of the first crusade which is both well arguedorganised and engaging. The answer lies far from western europe, where the origins of the crusade are always set. The call from the east by peter frankopan, a vibrant history that shows how constantinople divided europes crusaders.
This is the only book to address the history of the first crusade from the perspective of the east, examining the role of the byzantine empire and its ruler. Feb 16, 2016 peter frankopan is a historian based at oxford university. Nearly all historians of the first crusade focus on the papacy and its willing warriors in the west, along with innumerable popular tales of bravery, tragedy, and resilience. They have been or are being translated into more than thirty languages.