Two Faces of a Holy War:Christians, Muslims & the Crusader Period (1095-1270s)

Two Faces of a Holy War: Christians, Muslims & the Crusader Period (1095-1270s) The Background: Christianity and Islam both see themselves as the keepers of God's ultimate revelation of Himself to humanity, and both have built within their doctrines the commandment to proselytize and spread to include all peoples. Beginning in the 1000s A.D. both Christians and Muslim were willing to spread their respective faiths by force—eventually causing the clash of the two religions in what is today known as the Middle East. As Muslims, namely the Seljuk Turks, referred to this as holy jihad, European Christians undertook a holy pilgrimage of their own, later called the crusades. By the time the first Christian army arrived in Palestine in 1098, written accounts by one side about the other had been circulated and read (or listened to). There is little doubt that these accounts created perceptions and stereotypes in the minds of Christians who had never met Muslims, and vice versa. Moreover, it is clear that these accounts helped to formulate idea in each camp of how the other should be treated. 1) Determine and analyze the perceptions and stereotypes that Christians and Muslims created for the other. 2) Whether accurate or inaccurate, how might have these perceptions and stereotypes influenced the ways in which Christians and Muslims chose to deal with one another? The Requirements: Respond to the above question primarily by making use of at least 4 of the 6 sources from the set of document entitled “Two Faces of a Holy War” discussed in class and available on Canvas. To cite these sources, use the author and title of the primary source as seen on the pdf (ie. Usamah Ibn-Munqidh Describes the Franks) In addition, you must reference two additional sources (one of which can be your textbook). For these additional sources, please consult the MSJC library and make use of our library’s staff who are trained to help students find viable sources. To cite these sources in your paper, use which ever format you’re most familiar with (ie. MLA, APA, Chicago-Turabian). Next, your paper should be 1,200 words (approx. 4 pages) in length and should be double-spaced with standard margins and a standard 12pt font. Your paper must include a brief introduction, a thesis, supporting evidence (body), and a brief conclusion. Additionally, evidence and analysis will factor into your overall score as well as, spelling, grammar, sentence structure and organizational style. Finally, make sure to refer to the “General Assessment Criteria for the Written Response Papers” and the “Written Response Paper Grading Rubric”, both found on the Canvas page for our class.