The AssassinsFrom a master historian, the definitive account of history's first terrorists An offshoot of the Ismaili Shi'ite sect of Islam, the Assassins were the first group to make systematic use of murder as a political weapon. Established in Iran and Syria in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, they aimed to overthrow the existing Sunni order in Islam and replace it with their own. They terrorized their foes with a series of dramatic murders of Islamic leaders, as well as of some of the Crusaders, who brought their name and fame back to Europe.Professor Lewis traces the history of this radical group, studying its teachings and its influence on Muslim thought. Particularly insightful in light of the rise of the terrorist attacks in the U.S. and in Israel, this account of the Assassins--whose name is now synonymous with politically motivated murderers--places recent events in historical perspective and sheds new light on the fanatic mind. |
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Abbasid Caliph Afamiya al-Amir Alamut Aleppo allegiance anno Arabic army Assassins attack authority Baghdad Bahram Baybars beliefs Berkyaruq Bombay Buzurgumid Cairo captured castle century chief chronicler command Crusaders da'is Damascus dangerous Daylam death dinars doctrine East Egypt emir emissaries Empire enemy envoy extremist faith Fatimid Caliph fida'is followers fortress Girdkuh Hasan-i Sabbah historians Hodgson holy Hülegü Ibn al-Athir ibn Attāsh Imam Iran Iraq Isfahan Ismaili centres Ivanow Jalal al-Din Hasan Juvayni Kāshānī Khorazmian Khorazmshah Khurasan killed King Lamasar later leaders lord of Alamut Masyaf military mission Mongol mountains Muhammad murder Muslim Nizam al-Mulk Nizari Paradise Persia political princes Prophet Qazvin Quhistan Qur'an Rashid al-Din Rayy reign religion religious Resurrection Ridwan Rudbar Rukn al-Din ruler Saladin Sanjar says sect Seljuq sent Shi'a Shi'ite Sinan sources story Sultan Sunni Islam Syria Syrian Assassins Tehran translation tribute Turkish Twelver victims vizier