God of Battles: Holy Wars of Christianity and IslamWhat makes a war "holy," and who decides that it is? God of Battles examines the origins of holy war, and how it affects the modern world. Peter Partner shows how the ideal of the crusade, "God's War," came to permeate medieval Christendom, and how it influenced later Western societies, especially in their attitudes to colonialism. Above all, this book examines the reasons behind the fear that Islamic fundamentalism excites in the West. From the pre-Christian era to the Gulf War, this book places the jihad of the East and the Crusade of the West in their historical context, and warns against allowing crusading war propaganda to affect our judgments today. |
Contents
Holy Wars of the Ancient Near East | 1 |
Jewish Sects in the Hellenistic World | 14 |
Islam and War | 31 |
Christianity and War | 59 |
Muslim and Christian Holy War | 85 |
Two Societies Organized for Holy War | 110 |
Outside the Holy Wars | 133 |
Holy War Colonies and Conversion | 160 |
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accepted Africa Arab areas army authority battle became become British Brotherhood Byzantine caliphate called Catholic century Christian church civilization claimed colonial conquest continued countries crusade cultural death described doctrine dynasty earlier early East Eastern effect Egypt Egyptian Emperor Empire especially Europe European example fall fight followed force French groups holy land holy war holy wars Iberian idea important infidel influence interests Iran Islamic Islamist Italy Jerusalem Jewish jihad King Kingdom late later leaders less lives London means medieval Mediterranean Middle Ages military Minor movement Muhammad Muslim nature North organization Ottoman papacy papal party peace period Persian political Pope practice princes protected reformers religion religious Roman Rome rule rulers seems social society Syria taken thought took trading tradition Turkish Turks victory West Western whole