{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6467b7de03f4220011a934bd/6a4ce9ba5bc2f8d54a9ba055?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"314. The Fifth Crusade is the coolest Crusade with Thomas Smith","description":"<p>Forget what you think you know about medieval holy wars. Move over, Richard the Lionheart—the most action-packed, technologically wild campaign happened in the land of the pyramids, and it’s time to stop ignoring it!</p><p><br></p><p>In this live episode of <strong>History Rage</strong>, host Paul Bavill sits down with public historian, fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and author <strong>Thomas Smith</strong> to rescue the <strong>Fifth Crusade</strong> from historical obscurity. If you think the Crusades were just knights waiting around in a dusty Syrian desert, prepare to have your mind blown by a campaign dominated by amphibious warfare, terrifying medieval technology, and a truly jaw-dropping twist ending.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>What You’ll Discover in This Episode:</strong></p><p><br></p><ul><li><strong>The Strategic Shift:</strong> Why Western Europe realized that the true key to holding Jerusalem was actually conquering Egypt—the wealthy breadbasket of the Near East.</li><li><strong>D-Day in 1218:</strong> Discover the incredible engineering behind flat-bottomed landing craft, complete with bow ramps for cavalry charges, used 800 years before Normandy.</li><li><strong>Medieval Napalm &amp; Hand Grenades:</strong> Get a breakdown of Greek fire, the terrifying incendiary weapons used on the Nile, and the highly unpleasant acidic liquids required to put them out.</li><li><strong>The Floating Siege Engine:</strong> Meet Oliver of Cologne, the genius German schoolmaster who built a rotating wooden fortress on stilt-ships to conquer the Nile's impenetrable Chain Tower.</li><li><strong>Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory:</strong> How a combination of apocalyptic prophecy, a flooding River Nile, and a massive, poorly-timed wine-drinking session brought the entire campaign crashing down.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Links &amp; Resources Mentioned:</strong></p><p><br></p><ul><li><strong>Buy the Book:</strong> Grab your copy of Thomas Smith's ground-breaking new book, <em>The Fifth Crusade: A History of the Epic Campaign to Conquer Egypt</em>, from the <a href=\"https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9780300283952\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">History Rage Bookshop</a>.</li><li><strong>Recommended Episodes:</strong></li><li><strong>Episode 174:</strong> Steve Tibble rages about crime during the Crusades.</li><li><strong>Episode 300:</strong> Aleks Pluskowski rages that Crusades are not all in the Middle East.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Connect with the Guest:</strong></p><p><br></p><ul><li><strong>Instagram:</strong> Follow Tom for more incredible medieval insights @medieval_tom</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Support &amp; Follow History Rage:</strong></p><p>Join the Rage Train and make sure you never miss an episode where truth is liberated from the infidels!</p><p><br></p><ul><li><strong>Support us on Patreon:</strong> Get exclusive access to live streams, ask questions directly to our guests, and join the community at <a href=\"https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.patreon.com/HistoryRage\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">patreon.com/HistoryRage</a>.</li><li><strong>Apple Subscriptions:</strong> Listen completely ad-free for just £3 per month via your Apple Podcasts app.</li><li><strong>Spread the Word:</strong> If you love the show, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and tell a friend to hop aboard the rage train!</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Are you ready to look past the myths? Stay angry!&nbsp;</p>","author_name":"Paul Bavill"}