One of the most enduring memories of Western contact with Islam is that of the Crusades. However, the symbols and narratives of the Crusades are often used today as a convenient political narrative with little regard to the actual events of the Crusades.
For this assignment, you will be examining a collection of primary sources focused on the First Crusade and conducting secondary research to understand these sources.
Using the primary sources and the secondary sources you find (try to use JSTOR.org on Advanced Search), you will be answering ONE of the following questions (DO NOT answer all three):
Why would someone want to go on the First Crusade? You must examine multiple personal motivations in your paper, even if you conclude that one motivation was the most important.
Was the First Crusades primarily a religious conflict? You must examine the various ideologies that played into the conflict, even if you argue that it was primarily religious.
What effect did the First Crusade have on non-Christian populations? You must examine at least two such populations in your essay.
Your essay should be 750-1000 words long, exclusive of front and back matter (for example, your works cited page is not included in the word count). You should include at least three of the provided primary sources and at least two scholarly secondary sources (see the video for more information as to what does and does not count as a scholarly secondary source; providing a non-scholarly secondary source will result in a lowered grade). You may use your textbook as well, but it will not apply toward your source count.
You must cite your sources using either MLA or Chicago Manual of Style, providing a “Works Cited” page at the end of the essay. The provided sources may be cited as a website.
Your essay will be assessed using the following point values (Note: You will not receive full marks simply for having these elements, but rather these are the maximum points you may achieve with that element):
Thesis: 5 points
Organization: 5 points
Sources: 20 points
Analysis: 40 points
Guidelines: 5 points
Primary Sources:
NOTE: Any link that is listed as “Collected Accounts” contains several accounts of the same event. Each account from those selections may be used as a separate source.
Urban II: Speech at Council of Clermont, 1095, according to Fulcher of Chartres -https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/urban2-fulcher.asp
Albert of Aix and Ekkehard of Aura: Emico and the Slaughter of the Rhineland Jews – https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/1096jews.asp
The Crusaders at Constantinople: Collected Accounts – https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/cde-atcp.asp
The Siege and Capture of Jerusalem: Collected Accounts – https://
sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/cde-jlem.asp
William of Tyre: Godfrey of Bouillon Becomes “Defender of the Holy Sepulcher” – https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/tyre-godfrey.asp
For a research paper, the third question, “What effect did the first crusades have on non-Christian populations?” might be the best to answer. This question allows for a comprehensive exploration of the social, economic, and cultural impact of the First Crusade on various groups, providing a broad scope for analysis and research. It also encourages examining multiple perspectives and sources, which can lead to a more in-depth and nuanced paper.
Potential Thesis:
The First Crusades generated demographic change, economic dislocation, and cultural exchange that shaped the broad Mediterranean and Near East regions.
MUST INCLUDE A WORKS CITED PAGE WITH IN TEXT CITATIONS IN MLA FORMAT!
