It's History Jim, but not as We know it!

[frogkick]

I recently read the book by Amin Maalouf (crusades as seen by the arabs) Bren's note refers to. Some of the historical facts I found most interesting included the sack of Constantinople (seat of the Eastern Orthodox church, dating back to the Roman Empire) by successive crusades originally intended to "liberate" the Holy Land.

Apparently most latter crusades were nothing more than large gatherings of yobs intent on ransacking their way through their European neighbours' richer countries, under the pretense they were on their way to Jerusalem. By the time most of them eventually made it to the territories held by the Arabs, they were in no fit state to fight but proceeded to "buy" arab chieftain loyalties with the gold they had stolen on their way - In European/Christian kingdoms -

I bet that side of the story doesn't quite make it into the Hollywood blockbuster ...

[Dr Stevil]

Well.... Terry Jones TV serialisation of the Crusades wasn't (to the best of my knowledge) savaged by historians and it certainly showed a horrific and barbaric side to the Christians which I wasn't fully aware of.
(often repeated on UK History, very worth watching again)
And it too made the muslims look a tad more civilised than we were around that time, which I believe is accurate; after all, they're credited with the invention of modern medicine, as well as the dreaded algebra

[Dominic]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]as well as the dreaded algebra

Bastards.

Didn't they also invent zero?

The digit, that is. I don't mean they didn't invent anything..

[Andy Bloss]

Personally, I'd like to get my hands on the people who invented differention and integration...

[Snash]

ah, but surely the invention of the shish kebab more than makes up for all of that numbers gumph that they inflicted on us....  

"Harissa sauce mmmmmmm" in a Homer style

Simon