An Arab-Syrian Gentleman and Warrior in the Period of the Crusades
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.58 (810 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0231121253 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 265 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2013-03-11 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
"Usamah's vivid accounts coupled with Hitti's masterful translation makes "An Arab-Syrian Gentleman" a read of pure pleasure and delight, deserving of the many reprints past, and many more to come." -- Dana Sajdi, "Arab Studies Journal""Usamah's vivid accounts coupled with Hitti's masterful translation makes An Arab-Syrian Gentleman a read of pure pleasure and delight, deserving of the many reprints past, and many more to come." -- Dana Sajdi, Arab Studies Journal"Usamah's vivid accounts coupled with Hitti's masterful translation makes "An Arab-Syrian Gentleman" a read of pure pleasure and delight, deserving of the many reprints past, and many more to come." -- Dana Sajdi, "Arab Studies Journal"
These memoirs -- which represent a rare first-hand account of medieval European manners, morals, politics, and medicine written by a non-European -- offers new perspective and insight into an important point of military and cultural contact between the East and West. The life of Usâmah ibn-Munqidh epitomizes the height of Arab civilization during the early Crusading period. In his introduction, translator Philip Hitti writes, "Ancient Arabic literature has preserved for us other biographies, memoirs, and reminiscences by great men, but there is hardly anything superior to this one in its simplicity of narrat
kspark@kimbanet.com said A Rare View of the Crusades through Non-Western Eyes. We in the Western world all too rarely take the time to perceive and understand our modern society through anything other than Western eyes. So it is as well with that wondrously tragic period of our history known as the Crusades. While there are many contemperary histories of this era incorporating Western eye-witness accounts, there are but few with the perspectives of the invaded Orientals (i.e. Arabs, etc.). So the uniqueness of an account written by a period-contemporary. "Full of little gems" according to Sebastian Lopez. A great read as well as a solid historical source for the period.What i really enjoyed about this source where the unsual, little storie's scattered throughout it's pages. Beautifuly described little detail's that help the reader get a more colourful picture of the Usamah's times.For instance there is a description of a dual between a Mounted Frankish Knight and a Mounted Muslim Cavalier. The story recite's how Usamah saw them both kill each other on their first charge, but h. Frank Rayal said An eye opener on medieval life and a delightful read�. Usamah calls his book "Kitab al-Itibar" or "The Book of Instructive Example." True to its title, there is much to learn from this book, but what I found very interesting were perhaps things other than what Usamah wanted us to learn. For example, it was interesting to note the Arab perception of Franks, the relationship between Arabs and Franks during the first of two centuries of crusades on the Eastern Mediterranean, and aspects of the life of a prince and some commoners as