CEHI 0902 - The Crusades

Institution:

Brown University

Subject:

Description:

Recent events in the Middle East and talk of an impending ‘clash of civilizations’ have made the medieval Crusades newly relevant. In considering this protracted conflict from the perspectives of the three great civilizations that participated in it—Western Christendom, the Byzantine Empire, and the Muslim world—we will discuss the latent forces unleashed by Pope Urban II in 1095, the creative and destructive impact of Crusading, and the evolution of the idea of holy war. Much of our time will be focused on close readings of medieval eyewitness accounts in order to uncover their motives and biases. Why did people go on Crusade? How did Muslim and Jewish communities respond to attacks? How did intimate contact between people of different faiths alter their perspectives? We will also look at the Crusades’ place in modern popular and political culture. Did the Crusades set the stage for later conflicts in the Middle East? Does the way we understand medieval religious strife affect how we view current events? The brief writing assignments will emphasize developing and sustaining a convincing argument through judicious use of evidence.

Credits:

0.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.brown.edu

Phone Number:

(401) 863-1000

Regional Accreditation:

New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Calendar System:

Semester

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