What four (4) reasons do Davis et al. give for the Christian Crusades against the Muslim Empire that contradict how they are "often portrayed" (1371)?
The Christian knights had united to help Constantinople with a concealed agenda of recovering Jerusalem and occupying it.
The Christians started a “holy war” that was a retaliation against the Muslims conquest in the region
The Christians eventually settled and lived amongst Muslims after they found a way to live together.
The crusades helped the Papacy assert in Muslim and other religious and secular groups while assisting kings to expand and consolidate their authority.
What evidence is there to be found in "Pope Urban II's Call to the First Crusade" (1379-81) to support Davis' et al. claim that the Christian Crusades had a political and economic agenda?
The Pope is concerned that countries have been invaded and deprived off their people making them depopulated. The pope states, “a race has violently invaded the lands of those Christians and has depopulated them by pillage and fire” (Davis et al. 1380). He proceeds to encourage people to recover the royal city from the enemies of Christ. In another statement, the Pope states, “every one that hath forsaken houses or lands for my sake shall receive hundred fold” (Davis et al. 1380). This attribute emphasizes the manly achievements for all, which concedes for an economic perspective.
What evidence is there for the above in the anonymous "History of the First Crusade" (1381-85)?
The history reveals the war to retrieve land and the city of Jerusalem. In an economic perspective, the Christian needed the city for the resources it offered to them. It also offered better protection. The Christians were fight to win over their enemies in order to mark their political territories that had been taken by enemies. Furthermore, the journeys presented in the history shows that they were looking for habitable regions with sufficient resources to sustain them. They needed to become leaders of new regions which avails the political sense of their endeavors.
How does Pope Urban II's "Call" help us understand the Christian atrocities against the Turks, Arabs, and "Saracens" (i.e., Muslims) described by the anonymous author of the "History" (1382-85)?How did the Pope use Christianity to justify the brutality?
The Pope convinces the Christians that the land belongs to them and ought to be liberated. He informs the Christians that the churches of God had been destroyed and deprived its purpose and locality. Furthermore, the invaded had brought out sway of the Christian faith. The people give to the lord would receive a hundred times their offer where they offered property, life or land. He told them that it was the will of God that they save recover their areas.
What ideological reasons might explain why Davis et. al. preface Attar's poem (The Conference of the Birds) in the context of the First Crusade and Saladin's re-conquest of Jerusalem as described by the early modern historian Ibn al-Athir in the 12th century (1386-1393)?
It represents the results of Christians/birds coming together to find their true God or Simorgh bird. These Christians must undertake a journey and avail their reservations via the leader on the way where they discover their spiritual truth.
How is Attar's use of religion different than the State use of religion evidenced in the documents cited above (See Davis, Introduction to Conference pp. 10-25)?
The message delivered by Attar is concealed by signs and imagery while Davis presents the case in a direct manner mentioning the people and date involved in the plot (Aṭṭar and Sís 27). The poems meaning must be interpreted to align with Davis’ story.
Works Cited
Davis, Paul B., Gary Harrison, David Johnson, and John Crawford. The Bedford Anthology of World Literature. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2009. Print.
Aṭṭar Farīd, Al-Din, and Peter Sís. The Conference of the Birds. New York: Penguin, 2011. Print.
