Understanding+the+Crusades+Through+Primary+Sources

=Case Study: The European Crusades (1095 - 1291 CE)=

Background Information:

In 638 CE, the Arab people conquered Jerusalem and added it under the control of the Islamic Caliphate. After the Arab conquest, Jews were given permission to re-enter. Also, it is important to mention that there was a treaty signed between the Islamic Caliphate and the Coptic church, that promised that the Muslim people would protect the Christian people and holy sites / relics. Eventually the Dome of the Rock was built and coexisted in the midst of Jewish and Christian temples in the 7th Century. However, the next several centuries were a bit unstable.

As the Western Roman Empire began to decline and collapse, the Holy Roman Empire began to emerge out of its ashes in Central Europe (962 -1806), which marks the beginning of the Middle Ages. This period in history is a prime example of how conflict can occur between people within the context of differing ideologies (you could also argue it was over resources).

The following documents, which have been translated into English, are considered primary sources:

Document 1: Pope Urban's Speech Document 2: Ekkehard’s Hierosolymita Document 3: The Siege of Jerusalem Document 4: The Spoils Taken by the Christians Document 5: Latins in the Levant - Book 3 Document 6: Saladin’s Speech (1187) Document 7: The Jewish chronicler (1096) Document 8: Usmah Ibn Munqidh (1095-1188) Document 9: Annales Herbipolenses, s.a. 1147

After all group members have finished reading their document(s) and answered their questions, begin discussing the main point of your assigned documents. Discuss and share the questions (and answers) with your group members. Through discussion, try to gain a clear picture of the conflict at hand (i.e., what was really going on?)