Byzantium and the West in the Age of the Crusade
Byzantium and the West in the Age of the Crusades: The Dividing of Christendom?
Ryan Waddell
GHIST101
Professor Harding
November 14, 2013
(Reviewed by Professor Harding)
Christianity has played a crucial role in world history since the death of Christ. From its humble beginnings along the Sea of Galilee until its solidified spread amongst Western European nations, the religion has had its fair share of conflict. Most notable would be the Crusades. An in depth look at the motivation, conflicts, and outcomes of the Crusades can be perfectly associated with the History of Jerusalem, Siege of Constantinople, and letters from Pope Innocent III. The Crusaders began as a religious mission, originally for the reinstatement of Christian presence in the Holy Land. However, as time waged on and soldiers returned glorified and rich, the intentions of future Crusaders desired wealth, not just the preservation of Roman Catholicism in the Levant. These accounts share the Western perspective directly involved with the Crusades and their missions, illustrating the struggles, as well as the successes of Christianity at that time.
The author, Baldric of Dol, was a French Christian bishop. The bishop is most famous for his work, the History of Jerusalem, which accounts the First Crusade. This source provides a description of Pope Urban’s declaration to retake Jerusalem in 1095. Urban stated to all Roman Catholics in the West that the primary goal was to recapture the Holy Land in the East. Although not being a direct transcript, Dol’s account conveys the major points made by the Pope for the Roman Catholics throughout Western Europe. With this, the History of Jerusalem is a vital source for the First Crusade. In respect to historical context, recognizing Dol’s glorification of what the Pope said is crucial. It may not be a direct transcript, but its accuracy can be confirmed from comparison with
Ryan Waddell
GHIST101
Professor Harding
November 14, 2013
(Reviewed by Professor Harding)
Christianity has played a crucial role in world history since the death of Christ. From its humble beginnings along the Sea of Galilee until its solidified spread amongst Western European nations, the religion has had its fair share of conflict. Most notable would be the Crusades. An in depth look at the motivation, conflicts, and outcomes of the Crusades can be perfectly associated with the History of Jerusalem, Siege of Constantinople, and letters from Pope Innocent III. The Crusaders began as a religious mission, originally for the reinstatement of Christian presence in the Holy Land. However, as time waged on and soldiers returned glorified and rich, the intentions of future Crusaders desired wealth, not just the preservation of Roman Catholicism in the Levant. These accounts share the Western perspective directly involved with the Crusades and their missions, illustrating the struggles, as well as the successes of Christianity at that time.
The author, Baldric of Dol, was a French Christian bishop. The bishop is most famous for his work, the History of Jerusalem, which accounts the First Crusade. This source provides a description of Pope Urban’s declaration to retake Jerusalem in 1095. Urban stated to all Roman Catholics in the West that the primary goal was to recapture the Holy Land in the East. Although not being a direct transcript, Dol’s account conveys the major points made by the Pope for the Roman Catholics throughout Western Europe. With this, the History of Jerusalem is a vital source for the First Crusade. In respect to historical context, recognizing Dol’s glorification of what the Pope said is crucial. It may not be a direct transcript, but its accuracy can be confirmed from comparison with