Few periods in history have captured the public imagination than the Crusades. The Crusaders cut a rakish, Romantic image, as chivalrous knights go off to liberate the Holy Land, to make the world a safer place for Christian pilgrims. But who, really, were the Crusaders? In this exciting, interdisciplinary volume, many aspects of Frankish Crusader culture are explored by some of the leading researchers. Here we examine the art, poetry, and architecture of Crusader Paris; look at the imprint the Frankish knights left on the Levant, and upon the city of Acre in particular. The manuscript also examines cultural exchange, not only with those from Byzantium, but also with Muslims. This book presents thoughtful, provocative essays from leading medievalists that will profoundly influence our understanding of the Crsuades and Crusader culture.

France and the Holy Land brings together some of the finest scholars on the medieval period, offering a series of essays on a variety of subjects related to Frankish culture in the crusader states and, when pertinent to the Crusades, in France itself. Each piece is interesting and valuable: many are gems, combining extraordinary scholarship with smart writing; a few will make major contributions to the literature. As a whole, this volume is unique. -- William C. Jordan, Princeton University

About the Author
Daniel H. Weiss is dean of the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences and former chair of the Department of the History of Art at the Johns Hopkins University. He is the author of numerous articles and four books on the art of the Middle Ages and winner of the Van Courtland Elliott Prize of the Medieval Academy of America. Lisa Mahoney is a Mellon dissertation fellow in the humanities and graduate student in the history of art at the Johns Hopkins University.

Reviews
This book is especially valuable to both art historians and crusade historians, since it provides much that they would otherwise overlook. Catholic Historical Review 2004 This volume makes an excellent contribution to our understanding of the Crusades and culture during the High Middle Ages. Comitatus 2005 Offers a wide-ranging examination of cultural interchange in the Levant, which will be of interest not only for art historians but for scholars of the Latin East in general. -- Iris Shagrir Mediterranean Historical Review 2006 It will be quarried for its information and ideas for many years to come. -- Denys Pringle Crusades 2006



Book Information
ISBN 9780801878237
Author Daniel H. Weiss
Format Hardback
Page Count 400
Imprint Johns Hopkins University Press
Publisher Johns Hopkins University Press
Weight(grams) 726g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 29mm