The Crusades

15

I'm writing my AQA 'independent study' on the Crusades, but I'm not sure about my question. My teacher has suggested: 'What were the causes/origins of the first Crusade?'

I've read 'The Crusades' by Terry Jones and Christopher Tyerman's (who interviewed me as well!) 'A very short introduction to the Crusades', but they're both very assertive in their views of the origins of the first Crusade. I can't see much room for debate, let alone 3,000 words of essay.

So, could anyone answer some of the following questions:

1) Do you think this is a viable question?

2) Can you suggest any other questions where there is definite historical debate to do with the Crusades?

3) Could you recommend any other books to read? (I'm currently reading J. Riley-Smith's 'Crusades' which has contributions from a variety of authors).

4) If you’re studying ‘The Crusades’ for A-level, what text books do you use?

I have found this: http://www.ocr.org.uk/Data/publications/teacher_support_and_coursework_guidance/AS_A_Level29092.pdf

Page 9 details books related to the Crusades. Can you recommend any?

Thanks in advance

Reply 1

Loulabell

I did the Crusades at AS and I loved it :smile:

From what I can remember there isn't really an arguement, however, you could argue about whether they went for religiuos reasons, or for their own gains? Either that or about whether they we're successful - thats more towards the 2nd and 3rd Crusades
As for text books, we had a year 8 one, which was quite could for the basics and Thomas Asbridge The First Crusade, which was really good.
If you have any more questions I'll do my best.

Reply 2

JohnStuartMill

8

Jonathan Riley-Smith is the leading British expert on the crusades so I should imagine his books would be particularly useful. He wrote the Oxford History of the Crusades (and illustrated version), but there are more specialist works of his available also.

Reply 3

TheConfuddledOne

10

Wez

I'm writing my AQA 'independent study' on the Crusades, but I'm not sure about my question. My teacher has suggested: 'What were the causes/origins of the first Crusade?'

I've read 'The Crusades' by Terry Jones and Christopher Tyerman's (who interviewed me as well!) 'A very short introduction to the Crusades', but they're both very assertive in their views of the origins of the first Crusade. I can't see much room for debate, let alone 3,000 words of essay.

So, could anyone answer some of the following questions:

1) Do you think this is a viable question?

2) Can you suggest any other questions where there is definite historical debate to do with the Crusades?

3) Could you recommend any other books to read? (I'm currently reading J. Riley-Smith's 'Crusades' which has contributions from a variety of authors).

4) If you’re studying ‘The Crusades’ for A-level, what text books do you use?

I have found this: http://www.ocr.org.uk/Data/publications/teacher_support_and_coursework_guidance/AS_A_Level29092.pdf

Page 9 details books related to the Crusades. Can you recommend any?

Thanks in advance

To create debate, could you not instead question whether or not it was justified or not rather than just outlining the causes/origins of it. You could try and get some primary sources with christian views about how it was justified and contrast that with the modern view and question how they came to such conclusions in the present day. What were they influenced by? Why has the view changed? There are still some different debates i believe, you might have to look at slightly earlier sources than contemporary ones now though.

Reply 4

-CBee-

I don't know much about the crusades, but for primary sources 'Chronicles of the Crusades' edited by Elizabeth Hallam would be useful I'd imagine. I used one of the excerpts in it for my personal study. It's mainly extended excerpts from original chronicles giving mostly first hand accounts of the crusades with some pages of basic background information.

The Crusades

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