{"product_id":"first-crusade-1","title":"First Crusade","description":"\u003cb\u003e'A nuanced and sophisticated analysis... Exhilarating' \u003ci\u003eSunday Telegraph\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Nine hundred years ago, one of the most \u003cb\u003econtroversial episodes\u003c\/b\u003e in Christian history was initiated. The Pope stated that, in spite of the apparently pacifist message of the New Testament, God actually wanted European knights to wage a fierce and bloody war against Islam and \u003cb\u003erecapture Jerusalem\u003c\/b\u003e. Thus was \u003cb\u003ethe First Crusade\u003c\/b\u003e born.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Focusing on the characters that drove this extraordinary campaign, this fascinating period of history is recreated through awe-inspiring and often barbaric tales of bold adventure while at the same time providing significant insights into early medieval society, morality and mentality. The First Crusade marked a watershed in relations between Islam and the West, a conflict that set these two world religions on a course towards deep-seated animosity and enduring enmity. \u003cb\u003eThe chilling reverberations of this earth-shattering clash still echo in the world today.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'[Asbridge] balances persuasive analysis with a flair for conveying with dramatic power the crusaders' plight'\u003ci\u003e Financial Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  ","brand":"MediaPlace","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57481238839678,"sku":"NW9781471196423","price":9.79,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1379\/1261\/files\/9781471196423.jpg?v=1780109668","url":"https:\/\/mediaplace.com\/products\/first-crusade-1","provider":"MediaPlace","version":"1.0","type":"link"}