Review: Missing discussion of Muslim conquest of Jewish and Christian peoples
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 03 9, 2013
Mr. Black has done a service by writing a collection of short biographies or histories. I am impressed by this short work.I would like to have seen more background on the Muslim religion and wars against the Christians and Jews.Specifically: (1) Mention that Islam was spread by the sword, and conquest, it was not spread by preaching and convincing people to become Muslims. Many of the people who were conquered and made into Muslims had been Christians or Jews.(2) People in conquered lands had the choice:(a)  of becoming a Muslim,(b) being killed or(c) if a Christian or Jew living as a second class citizen in a land ruled by the Muslims. As second class citizens there were special taxes for them only, and limited rights etc.(3) The Crusades were essentially a poorly executed series of counterattacks by Christianity against conquests and attacks by Muslims over the centuries.I consider that these points are vital to understanding the Crusades.