Magnificent
castles and fortresses in remote, mountainous regions were built for
refuge and defensive purposes by the Ismaili Muslims of Iran and Syria
fleeing from persecution during the early middle ages. Often superior in
construction to those built by the Crusaders, these castles withstood
numerous offensives for over two centuries until the middle of the
thirteenth century when most were captured and demolished by the
Mongols. Peter Willey describes the discoveries he made during the
course of more than 20 expeditions to these Ismaili sites spanning the
past forty years. The book is illustrated with photographs, maps and
plans. As well as being a piece of original scholarship, it is also a
readable personal account of the challenges encountered in expeditions
to remote, inaccessible and often hazardous locations.