دانلود کتاب Origin of the Templars: And Origin of the Vatican’s Power

The explosive rise of the Knights Templar and the power of the Vatican was a much more complex and blemished journey than the idealized paths traditionally presented. Both of these secretive groups were shaped by conflicted people and events long before the Crusades began and a knightly brotherhood was formed. The rape of a daughter led to the conquest of a European country. Desperately needed services by an abbot were bought by giving him a abbey. The pope anointed a king and received an earthly kingdom in return. The sources of these many intriguing experiences begin with the writings of Barber, Addison and Gibbon but then go deep into the rich details and stories revealed by more recent research.In the early Middle Ages, Europe had no knights. The pope was relatively powerless. The Vatican was marshy land embracing a cemetery. Then all of this changed dramatically. In time, the pope lived in a palace and ruled cities. The Templars arose and soon exceeded all expectations. These knights were everywhere in Europe as bankers, advisors to kings, and champions from the Holy Land. And tantalizingly, their 870 European estates created a river of gold flowing across the continent. The impact of this strong brotherhood is still felt today.How did all of this happen? The fascinating answers can be surprising--sometimes even amazing--and are carefully documented. A wealth of maps and rare illustrations make this a highly visual journey among exceptional people and experiences that you will always remember.