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History Medieval

Tolerance and Intolerance

Social Conflict in the Age of the Crusades

edited by Michael Gervers & James M. Powell

Publisher
Syracuse University Press
Initial publish date
May 2001
Category
Medieval, Cultural, History
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780815628699
    Publish Date
    May 2001
    List Price
    $33.95

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Description

This wide-ranging collection explores the issue of tolerance during the period of the Crusades through the treatment of prisoners, the ransom of captives, and the problems faced by many groups. One of the central issues revolves around the attitudes of the participants.
There were significant differences between Latin and Eastern Christians as well as between Christians and Muslims and among Christians, Muslims, and Jews. But, too, an exaggerated emphasis on the religious roots of intolerance has oversimplified the ways in which ideas of tolerance developed. The essays explore these relationships in their complexity in order to penetrate those generalizations that have often distorted more than enlightened. Tolerance and intolerance therefore are terms that can obscure as much as enlighten.
What the reader discovers in this collection is that these attitudes play an important role in the shaping of international relations. Cross-cultural cooperation was not rare—not entirely surprising given the diversity of groups involved.

About the authors

Contributor Notes

Michael Gervers is professor of history at the University of Toronto, Scarborough. He is the editor of Dating Undated Medieval Charters.
James M. Powell was professor emeritus in Department of History at Syracuse University. He is the author of several books including Anatomy of a Crusade and Medieval Studies: An Introduction.