Fortification and Settlement in Crusader Palestine

by Denys Pringle

Overview

These studies examine the physical remains of Frankish settlement in Palestine in the 12th and 13th centuries. In recent years the view that Frankish settlement was largely confined to the fortified urban centres and castles, with few westerners venturing into the open countryside, has come to be challenged in the light of new archaeological evidence and re-examination of the sources. The present studies contribute to an understanding of the nature of Frankish settlement by illustrating aspects of the relationship between fortification and settlement: in particular, the role of castles and towers in promoting settlement and providing both security and domestic accommodation; the relationship between castles, towers and other semi-fortified rural structures; the physical planning of the new towns established by the canons of the Holy Sepulchre; the measures undertaken to defend urban settlements; and the contribution that town walls and castles made to the security of the kingdom.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781000949971
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/14/2023
Series:	Variorum Collected Studies
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	348
Sales rank:	702,795
File size:	30 MB
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About the Author

Denys Pringle is a Professor in the Cardiff School of History, Archaeology and Religion at Cardiff University, UK

Table of Contents

Contents: Introduction; Towns: Town defences in the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem; Crusader Jerusalem; King Richard I and the walls of Ascalon; Rural Settlement: Crusader settlement and the landscape: some reflections on method in the light of recent archaeological work; Two medieval villages north of Jerusalem: archaeological investigations in al-Jib and ar-Ram; Magna Mahumeria (al-Bira): the archaeology of a Frankish new town in Palestine; Burj Bardawil and Frankish settlement north of Ramallah in the 12th century; Castles: Towers in Crusader Palestine; Templar castles on the road to the Jordan; La Fève: a Crusader castle in the Jezreel Valley; Reconstructing the castle of Safad; A 13th-century hall at Montfort Castle in western Galilee; Index.

Editorial Reviews

In 12 essays reproduced from their original publications between 1983 and 1995, Pringle (history and archaeology, Cardiff U.) examines the physical remains of Frankish settlement in Palestine during the 12th and 13th centuries. He focuses on the relationship between fortification and settlement, particularly the role of castles, towers, and other semi-fortified rural structures, the physical planning of two of the New Towns established by the canons of the Holy Sepulchre, the measures undertaken to defend urban settlements, and the contributions that town walls and castles made to the security of the kingdom. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

'...a notable contribution to our understanding of Frankish life... sound methodology and keen eye for context.' Medieval Archaeology

From the Publisher