Book of Contemplation

The Crusades era is presented through the perceptions of an Arab military commander and writer. In the captivating recollections of an eyewitness, palace intrigues, battles, and the everyday life of people of the 12th century come alive. This book offers the reader an Arabic perspective on the First Crusade. The author, Usama ibn Munkidh (1095–1188), was a contemporary and participant in these historical events, traveling through Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Palestine. He took part in negotiations between Damascus—an old center of science and art under the rule of the Turkish Burids—and the Kingdom of Jerusalem of the Crusaders, founded after the capture of Jerusalem in 1100. The book describes battles, hunting, palace intrigues of Eastern rulers, as well as the everyday life and customs of people of the 12th century.