Thomas Madden's Crusades is an exposition of the Crusades that occurred during the Middle Ages. The Crusades were a series of religious military conflicts. They remain a very important movement in human history, and are difficult to understand, since they encompass several themes and last a long time (about two hundred years, and the author covers a period of about eight centuries in his chronological work). Religion is, of course, the most recurring theme we think about regarding the Crusades, but is it the only factor that explains them? How does Madden, considered one of the most important historians of the Crusades, explain them in his book? Is your work effective for understanding this period of history? Madden has the ambition to connect the Crusades of the Middle Ages with current events, such as the attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. For him it is a reminder of what happened in the past and what can happen still today. : waging wars for religion. Madden wants to intrigue readers with this concise book so that they go further and find out more about the Crusades. First we can underline how Madden underlines the fact that the Crusades were driven by religious reasons: “A crusader army was a curious mix of rich and poor, saints and sinners, motivated by all kinds of pious and selfish desires, yet it could not have born without the pious idealism that led men to risk everything to liberate the lands of Christ” (Madden, 13). The First Crusade occurred after Pope Urban II delivered a sermon to liberate Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Madden expresses regret for what he calls a “mistaken view,” according to which “religion was not an impetus but a diversion” (11). It definitely takes a different point of view... middle of the paper... it's a clear and concise history of the Crusades. Anyone who wants to learn about the Crusades should start by reading it. Madden is a specialist and a good writer, and gives the reader the opportunity to assimilate all the facts easily (thanks to the maps, clear and concise chapters). However, some simplifications might irritate some who are prejudiced against Christians. Some aspects of the theology are not fully explained, for example the strong authority of the popes who led the Crusades. We can also ask for more explanations to fully understand the consequences and causes of the crusade (not only in the preface and conclusion). The way the book is presented may have been done in a way that allows the reader to draw their own conclusions and interpretations, even though we easily understand the author's point of view throughout the book.