"An Introduction to the Crusades is the perfect guide to a very complex historical period. It begins with a brief overview of the Crusades before immersing the reader in the logistics of crusading and the day-to-day life of a crusader, explaining arms and armour, strategy and tactics, and siege warfare. Topics explored in depth include women on crusade, pilgrimage, the Mongols, crusade charters, and the use of crusader rhetoric throughout history. The pinnacle of the book is an exploration of the Crusades in modern memory. Readers can look in on the negotiations for Jerusalem between Saladin and Richard I through a case study of Crusader primary sources. Questions for reflection, a chronology, a glossary, a bibliography, and a "Who's Who" of the crusading world round out this indispensable companion."--