Author: Karen Givens

William Polk’s 2018 book, “Crusade and Jihad,” explores a complex and often contentious historical narrative. Despite its subtitle, “The Thousand-Year War between the Muslim World and the Global North,” the book rather surprisingly omits the first millennium of interactions and conflicts. This decision is justified by Polk on grounds that appear somewhat disingenuous, as the book primarily focuses on more recent centuries. Raymond Ibrahim, a noted figure in the study of Islamic history and doctrine, has written extensively on related topics. His works, such as “Defenders of the West: The Christian Heroes Who Stood Against Islam” and “Sword and Scimitar:…