Posted on 10/11/2014 12:16:54 PM PDT by marshmallow
The four-part series is intelligent, balanced, and features good production values
As a professor with an academic specialization in the crusades, I'd like to think that I would be well informed about the existence of a new documentary series on those medieval campaigns (especially when the program features several professors from the institution where I did my graduate degrees). However, if it was not for a few email alerts from my parents earlier this week, I would have been completely unaware of the four-part documentary series, “The Crusades,” that EWTN has been showing over the last several nights.
The last major documentary on the crusades was produced by the History Channel – before that channel mostly ditched history and Hitler in favor of pawn shops and ice road truckers – back in 2005. The production values were impressive and it had some established scholars offering sensible opinions. But the program also had its fair share of flaws. Those shortcomings included prominently featuring Tariq Ali, a novelist who knows about as much (or perhaps less) about the crusades as my grandmother, covering only the first three major crusade expeditions to the Holy Land, and failing to provide a broader context for the genesis of the crusading movement.
Assessed on this metric, the new EWTN documentary series gets high marks. Tariq Ali, thankfully, is nowhere to be found. Part 1 of the series (which aired this past Wednesday night) intelligently explained the wider history of Muslim-Christian conflict in which the First Crusade emerged. Crusading in areas outside the Levant has been discussed over the first two episodes, and the promotional materials for parts 3 and 4 indicate that the series will be examining crusading activity up through the battle of Lepanto in 1571.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicworldreport.com ...
Good. The Crusades occasionally went astray—as all wars do—but on the whole they were thoroughly justified and beneficial.
It’s just too bad they couldn’t have followed through a little longer, held onto the Holy Land, and defeated the Muslim regime for good. But Protestants were busy fighting Catholics, and France was competing with the Holy Roman Empire for control of Europe.
We still got the Battles of Lepanto and Vienna, thank God.
You certainly couldn’t expect a decent review on the History Channel. I hope a good number of people see this, although I’m afraid not many PC Liberals watch EWTN.
The Crusades could be summed up by the great philosopher Popeye the Sailor Man: "I've had all I can stands, I can't stands no more!"
Hmmm. Right, then, what about the documentary produced in 2012 presented by Thomas Asbridge? Network: BBC TWO (UK). Why no mention of this one?
Thanks a lot! The programs, except for tonight, are already over! I hope they repeat them.
Also, a brief search shows that “The History Channel Crusades: Quest for Power” aired in 2003, not 2005. For an article attempting to comment about history, some history appears to be missing or not correctly mentioned.
Thanks marshmallow.
If you hear when this will air again, will you let me know? I live in Steubenville (home of Franciscan University), so if I hear word of reruns I’ll let those on this thread know.
We have these recorded (thanks again, NKP_Vet!) and had planned to watch this weekend but.... well, “life” got in the way! LOL. Hopefully this week.
For a true perspective on the Crusades:
“Why We Are Afraid” by Dr. Bill Warner
1,400 years, 270 million killed by Muslims
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_Qpy0mXg8Y
I don’t see anything on the EWTN site about repeats. I was not aware of it andI hope that they do run it again. Soon.
While on the subject of EWTN, Bishop Fulton Sheen reruns are also running. Used to watch him every week.
My mother and I watched, and are Protestant.
He was terrific at explaining life, the mind, good and evil, etc.
God bless the Templars and damn Phillip the Fair.
100% absolutely right
The Military Orders and the Crusades (13 videos, 1/2 hour each) on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnlOn-PNk1_WhRlM4Aw3pRgwX6Y9R5JVM
“Why no mention of this one?”
How many people in the U.S. watch the BBC 2? None.
I happened to stumble across it just last night while channel surfing and was much impressed. Only complaint is that the episode I watched was only a half-hour long.
I can easily refute with an identical comment to yours: How many people in the U.S. watch EWTN? None.
I live in the U.S. and watch BBC programs from time to time. Don’t recall ever watching anything from EWTN, though.
I see that accuracy is also not one of your strong suites.
Which is probably why you missed the point of the previous posts, namely that historical facts seem to be missing or misstated in the article, which makes it seem inaccurate thereby.
Just as your comment was also instantly recognized as inaccurate.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.