Time and Location

MWF 11:45-12:35

Turlington Hall 2318

Description

Crusades and crusading remain a very popular topic. The idea of holy war–either the Muslim jihad or the Christian crusade–conveys the image on epic clash between two of the world’s great religions. In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, this is in fact the prevailing view among those who are eager to project onto the present their interpretations of the past. Islamists call fellow Muslims to take part in a worldwide jihad against the people of the “West,” whom they label “crusaders.” In reality, medieval holy wars were much more complex and contradictory, often involving such things as friendship and alliances between Muslims and Christians, triumphs of diplomacy rather than by the sword, as well as crusades launched agains Christians or jihads proclaimed against fellow Muslims. The historical understanding of what happened is therefore vital for a positive outcome of the present turmoil in that trouble part of the world, the Middle East. This course is designed as a chronological and topical introduction to the history of the Crusades, from the beginning to the present. Since this is a survey, it is impossible to cover everything. Instead, the course will offer a selection of representative topics from a much larger possible list. We will examine some of the key concepts of theology that had historical significance, the political circumstances leading to the launching of the Crusades, and the main aspects of Christian-Muslim interactions throughout the Middle Ages. Our focus will at times shift towards the organization of the crusader states, but we will also take quick glimpses at some other Christian groups in the Near East, especially at the Orthodox and the Armenians, as well as the fate of the Jews in Europe. Anyone with enough curiosity and desire to learn is welcome. There are no pre-requisites and no special recommendations for this course.