THE CRUSADES

This counts as an exam- It is due no later than Monday, June 3

You have two options - watch the film Kingdom of Heaven or watch the Crescent and the Cross

They will both count as exams - by no means are you required to watch both films!

if you do both (the second one) will be considered extra credit for the 4th quarter - up to 50 points

If you are watching Kingdom of Heaven you must complete the lecture component first!

If you are watching the History Channel's Crescent and the Cross - it is unnecessary to do the lecture component

KINGDOM OF HEAVEN OR CRESCENT AND THE CROSS

PART I: Click on Lecture The Crusades and answer the following questions

  1. What factors contributed to the Crusades?
  2. Why did Christians travel to Jerusalem? What signaled an end to these visits?
  3. What factors contributed to the instability of both the Byzantine and Muslim empires?
  4. Why was Pope Gregory VII eager to intervene?
  5. Read the speech by Urban II (Gregory's successor) - Identify the reasons why Urban II wanted to go to war against the Muslims?
  6. How did he depict the Muslims? What parts of his speech were inflammatory?
  7. What does he promise these knights?
  8. Why were these crusaders so dangerous to the lands they traveled?
  9. What military orders of knighthood were founded at this time? What roles did they serve?
  10. Why did the Crusaders fail to achieve their objectives following the First Crusade?
  11. How did Saladin play an important role in the Crusades?
  12. How did the Crusades contribute to a growing division between the eastern and western kingdoms of Christianity?
  13. Why were the two Children Crusades a disaster?
  14. Why are the Crusades considered a successful failure in history?

CHOICE A-

WATCH THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN by Director Ridley Scott - Please be aware this is rated R primarily for its graphic violence - (Overall, the sex and language are not big concerns - the main thing is the violence)

It is not available on You Tube or streaming on Netflix - IT IS HOWEVER A GOOD OVERVIEW OF THE CRUSADES - IT IS NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH OR FAINT OF HEART- CHECK WITH YOUR PARENTS FIRST!!!

Amazon sells it for 7.19 or to stream for 2.99 to stream for 24 hours

The Kingdom of Heaven chronicles events surrounding the Crusades through the fictionalized story of Balian. It focuses on one of the most complicated but fascinating episodes of the Crusades—the last few years of the Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem leading up to the disastrous battle of Hattin in 1187 and the return of Jerusalem to Muslim control. This film generated a tremendous amount of controversy, with contradictory reviews. Some argued that the film was anti-Islamic, others anti-Christian, still others argued that the film promoted, above all else, the importance of diplomacy and dialogue.

The fictionalized story of Balian (Orlando Bloom), the illegitimate son of Godfrey of Ibelin (Liam Neeson), a crusader-lord from the Holy Land. Balian works as a blacksmith in France, but events compel him, as heir to Ibelin, to follow his newfound father to the Holy Land. Godfrey briefly trains Balian in swordsmanship and knighthood, but then Godfrey is mortally wounded in a skirmish and Balian must go on alone. Balian’s ship is sunk and he washes up on the Syrian shore, wherehe befriends a Muslim named Nasir (Alexander Siddig) who takes him to Jerusalem. There, Balian is caught up in royal intrigues. King Baldwin (Edward Norton) is a leper who knows he will die soon. Royal succession will pass through his sister Sybilla (Eva Green), who is unhappily married, to her husband, Godfrey’s rival Guy de Lusignan. Although The Kingdom of Heaven is fictionalized, much of the central events and main characters in The Kingdom of Heaven are drawn from or at least based on the historical record.

The world of Islam at the onset of the Crusades represented a civilization much more advanced than its Western counterpart. Many Muslims were concentrated in cities unrivaled in their day in both size and splendor. The cities throughout the region were laid out along the same design with a mosque and markets in the center of the town. In the principal cities, the ruler’s palace was surrounded by ramparts and crowned by a citadel. Pay careful attention to life in medieval England and that of Jerusalem

1. Why did so many people embark upon this journey to the Holy Land?

2. What issues divided the Crusaders?

3. Identify why the Crusaders faced so many difficulties trying to maintain control of the Holy Land?

4. Who are the bad guys in the film Kingdom of Heaven? Muslims or Christians or both?

Who is Saladin? How is he portrayed? Cite examples from the film

5. How are the Knights Templar depicted? Why would this portrayal have been viewed as offensive from the view of the Church?

6. How does technology and geography play an important role in the Crusades? Cite examples

7. .What does Kingdom of Heaven tell us about modern ideas about religion

8. Give the film a rating - Explain your rating (why 1 to 5 stars)

The film is rated R (for graphic violence, not for profanity or sexual content)

This is a trailer to the film

CHOICE B - Crescent and the Cross - from the History Channel

Part 1

Watch the History Channel's Crescent and the Cross and answer the following questions

1. Identify the reasons why the "Franks" were willing to risk everything to go on the Crusades? You will add to this as you watch the film.

2. How did William of Tyre depict this era?

3. How did Urban II play an important role in the Crusades? Describe how his appeal was so riveting? Why is this a political move for the Church?

4. What impact will Urban's message have on the future of the Crusades both at home and abroad?

5. Why is Emperor Alexio considered a scorpion? How does he play the game with the crusaders? How did Alexio double cross the Crusaders?

6. What perils did the Crusaders face on their journey to Jerusalem?

7. Why does Baldwin shift gears and "aid" Edessa?

8. Describe the city of Antioch. Why is important to the Crusaders? Why did the siege of Antioch so devastating? How did they defeat the Turks?

9. How did the First Crusade impact on the Muslim world? How does this impact in the Muslim world today?

Part 2 (First few minutes recaps highlights of part1)

1. Why were the Umayyads unable to launch a counteroffensive against the Crusaders?

2. What role did the Knights Hospitaller and Templar play?

3. How were the Muslims united under the leadership of Zengi? How did they capture Edessa?

4. Why was Nuradin more respected than his father Zengi? How did he wage his jihad?

5. What were the problems that Louis VII faced on the Second Crusade? What impact did this Crusade have on the Muslim world? future of the Crusades?

6. Why was Egypt an important site for both Muslims and Crusaders? Why did the Fatimids turn to Nuradin?

7. What role did Saladin play in this power struggle?

8.Who were the assassins? Roots of the name? Why was Saladin a target?

9. How did the actions of Reynald contribute to Saladin''s actions against Jerusalem? How did Saladin defeat the Christians?

10. How did Saladin treat the Hospitallers and the Templars? Why did Saladin allow Guy de Lusignan to live?

11. Why did Saladin enter Jerusalem in peace in 1187? What impact will this have on Christendom in Europe?

12. How did Richard I, come to lead the Third Crusade? How did Richard finance this Crusade? What was the impact of the siege of Acre?

13. Why would Richard the Lion Hearted be tried for war crimes today? What was his reasoning behind the massacre?

14. Why did Richard fail to capture the Holy Land of Jerusalem?

15. Why were Saladin's troops disillusioned? How did this contribute to the truce made between Saladin and Richard the Lion Hearted?

16. Why did the Crusades whither after the Third Crusade?

17. What impact did the Crusades have on the memory of the Middle East?