"The Crusades" tells the story of two centuries of Christian offensive
during the millennium of warfare between Christendom and Islam, an era
in which the presence of the supernatural was much more recognized than
it is today.
While not overlooking the Islamic leadership, this book tells the story,
chiefly form the Crusader point of view. Briefly covering the European
background, Bridge introduces us, primarily, to the Crusader activity
and kingdoms in the Middle East. The reader is introduced to the leadership
of the Crusader movement and the Crusader kingdoms. Knights and Kings,
Popes and Chivalric Orders all play their parts. The interaction of
Crusader with Byzantine culture and Mongol forces plays an important
part in this story.
Life in the Crusader kingdoms is covered at some length. The Crusaders,
who imposed their culture on a local populace which greatly outnumbered
them, gradually became more Oriental as their occupation aged.