Features
- Cover Type: Paperback with 465 pages
- Published by: Cambridge University Press September 29, 1995
- Written in: English
- ISBN 10 Number: 0521558727
- ISBN 13 Number: 978-0521558723
-
Book Dimensions:
8.4 x 5.2 x 1 inches
- Weighs: 1.2 pounds
Product Review
'Established twenty years after the First Crusade's capture of Jerusalem from the Muslims, the Templars evolved into one of the most powerful military orders of the Middle Ages. The story of their rise and sensational fall is the subject of this splendid book.' The Observer 'This splendid history does away with the nonsense surrounding the Templars and sets them firmly within the context of Medieval society.' Good Book Guide
Product Review
"Malcom Barber has written what should become the standard history of the Templars from their foundation in 1120 to their suppression as an order in 1312". American Historical Review
"The New Knighthood is a welcome contribution to the scholarly literature on the Temple; and will long remain an essential work for anyone interested in the order." William G. Zajac, The Catholic Historical Review
Reader ReviewsI have not yet read the new Templar history by Helen Nicholson, but until I do this book stands as the best one ever written about the Knights Templar. I have written quite a bit about them myself (they were the topic of my honors thesis at Cornell University) and so have read about every relevant source on them. "The New Knighthood" is clear, well-written, and very well-researched, covering the inception of the Order in 1119 to its suppression in 1307. Barber sticks to the best historical sources and covers the topic from head to toe, a much needed historical overhaul for the Templars, in my opinion, because their name has become so ridiculously intertwined with myths and legends of all sorts that the actual history of the Order is often completely obscured. This is sad given their enormous importance in the Holy Land during the crusader period and the innumerable legitimate questions we might investigate concerning them. A warning to would-be delvers into supernatural research: There is a chapter that covers the "mysterious" rumors surrounding the Order in this book, but it is based in sources accepted by the scholarly world as legitimate, i.e., you won't find much here to support theories of secret treasure, devil-worship, the guardianship of the holy grail, etc. Don't scoff at that: scholars have painstakingly researched the origins of all the sources that come to light. They of all people should know what is close to fact and what is not, certainly more than many of these low-rent, legend-peddling hucksters that have written about the Templars over the past thirty years. The interest of the scholar and professor is to inform you, the interest of many of these other writers is to cash in on curiosity about "secret societies" and make a quick buck at your expense. When looking for a book on the Templars, pay attention to the pedigree of the author-- what do they do/ What's their education? If you're really interested in the history of the Order, this book is one of the very, very few worth buying.
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