131-469 The Crusade in Contemporary Eyes

Note

This subject is available to all students in the Faculty of Arts who are Honours students of any of the participating departments: Classics and Archaeology, English, Fine Arts, Music, or Philosophy. Consent of the Honours Coordinator of departments other than History is recommended.

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Acceptance into Honours in one of the participating departments (see above) or permission of the Coordinator.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

Through a close examination of Crusader Chronicles, and other writing of the period, this subject explores the ways in which Arab, Byzantine, and Western writers described the period of the crusades, and more particularly themselves and their enemies. Considerable attention will be given as well to current trends in historiography in order to put the primary sources into a modern theoretical perspective. A brief historical overview of the crusades will be provided at the first seminar with directions to the many excellent new secondary works in this area. The crusading period from about 1095 until 1291 is of crucial importance in examining medieval concepts since it was during this period that men and women in the west began writing in their own national languages instead of Latin. It is notable also for the great variety of texts available. Subjects under consideration are frequently military but also provide a window into social history, architecture, medical history, and weapons and tactics.

Assessment

Essays, class papers and assignments totalling not more than 6000 words.