31 review for The Crusades and Silk Road: A Captivating Guide to Religious Wars During the Middle Ages and an Ancient Network of Trade Routes

1. 

   4 out of 5

   Jerry Jares – Nov 16, 2020

   Captivating History has a growing catalog of previous books that they have combined because the subjects travel similar trails through history.  Thus, they combined the Crusades with the Silk Road, giving the reader more reading material at a better price. THE CRUSADES -- The Crusades offered knights and nobles a way to tap into the riches of areas that were not in the European feudal system.  I had no idea the Crusades took place over 3 centuries!  The author took the time to show how the success Captivating History has a growing catalog of previous books that they have combined because the subjects travel similar trails through history.  Thus, they combined the Crusades with the Silk Road, giving the reader more reading material at a better price. THE CRUSADES -- The Crusades offered knights and nobles a way to tap into the riches of areas that were not in the European feudal system.  I had no idea the Crusades took place over 3 centuries!  The author took the time to show how the successes and failures happened in each of the Crusades.  I've read several books and eBooks about the Crusades, but this product is the best explanation, so far.    THE SILK ROAD -- The Silk Road is believed to be the longest overland trade route in human history.  It was actually 4,350 miles of networking, connected routes that were navigated in short lengths by many traders.  The routes were compounded by the rough terrain and the multiple cultures and peoples. Westerners were enchanted with the spices, products, and cultures of the East.  However, the Chinese were very self-content; they were not eager for the products or ideas of the West; they only looked at the wealth they could accumulate by trading with the West.  It is very difficult to explain the Silk Route because cultures and societies rose, fell, and migrated to other regions.   When the Europeans went east to battle against the Muslims in the Holy Lands, their first interest was in spreading Christianity.  Khan was also responsible for the safety of the Silk Road, as well as expanding the length of the routes. This book outlines several envoys to the Khan, from the Catholic Church, that provided some information about the Eastern cultures and peoples.  But it was the infamous Marco Polo who really publicized the riches of the East.  During Kublai Khan's time, the Silk Road was at its busiest, before gradually being replaced by seaborne trade.  

2. 

   4 out of 5

   Chris Passingham –

3. 

   5 out of 5

   Michael D. Shows –

4. 

   5 out of 5

   Paul Franco –

5. 

   5 out of 5

   Mike Harnish –

6. 

   4 out of 5

   Fllipsy –

7. 

   5 out of 5

   Don Robins –

8. 

   4 out of 5

   Nancy –

9. 

   5 out of 5

   Judy Beasley –

10. 

    4 out of 5

    Tommy McCarthy –

11. 

    4 out of 5

    Sharon –

12. 

    4 out of 5

    abhinav –

13. 

    4 out of 5

    jeff –

14. 

    4 out of 5

    Charles H. Foster –

15. 

    4 out of 5

    Everette Cloaninger –

16. 

    4 out of 5

    Linda –

17. 

    4 out of 5

    Holly Hendrickson-Davis –

18. 

    5 out of 5

    tammy yount –

19. 

    4 out of 5

    Carol Lee Fox –

20. 

    4 out of 5

    Armor David Brown –

21. 

    5 out of 5

    DAVID FELIX –

22. 

    5 out of 5

    Steve Felker –

23. 

    4 out of 5

    Elizabeth –

24. 

    4 out of 5

    Ted Elliott –

25. 

    5 out of 5

    Aurora –

26. 

    5 out of 5

    Michael Butler –

27. 

    4 out of 5

    Abdulwahid –

28. 

    5 out of 5

    Toddly –

29. 

    4 out of 5

    Emma –

30. 

    4 out of 5

    Prathima Ramachandran –

31. 

    4 out of 5

    Carroll Straus –