The Real History of the Crusades

Crisis Magazine ^ | March 19, 2011 | Thomas F. Madden

[Biggirl]

Many historians had been trying for some time to set the record straight on the Crusades — misconceptions are all too common. These historians are not revisionists, but mainstream scholars offering the fruit of several decades of very careful, very serious scholarship. For them, current interest is a “teaching moment,” an opportunity to explain the Crusades while people are actually listening. It won’t last long, so here goes.

[Biggirl]

This is being posted because after dealing with a President who is "pretending" to be an historian, let's read from a REAL historian for a change.

The date is from the time it was first published, just to let other FRpers know.

[P-Marlowe]

We have a president who is not only pretending to be an historian, but is also pretending to be a Christian and pretending to be an American.

[Biggirl]

But remember, Mr. Madden’s book and presentation blows up any efforts by Mr. Obama to make false claims.

[rlmorel]

Great article, thanks for posting it!

[central_va]

Our Muslim terrorist enemies don’t use the Crusader moniker for the USA’s “war on terror”. But our esteemed C-I-C does.

[Heuristic Hiker]

When it has fit his agenda, Obama has favored the nation with teachable moments. It is apparent that Obama was out to lunch (munchies with the chu gang?) for this historical teaching moment:

"Many historians had been trying to set the record straight on the Crusades long before Clinton discovered them. They are not revisionists, like the American historians who manufactured the Enola Gay exhibit, but mainstream scholars offering the fruit of several decades of very careful, very serious scholarship. For them, this is a “teaching moment,” an opportunity to explain the Crusades while people are actually listening. It won’t last long, so here goes."

[Skooz]

bump

[skinkinthegrass]

*

[IronJack]

And pretending to be a president ...

[Nifster]

Thanks. Glad you posted it. I know the history of the Crusades but from the comments I read even here at FR not many else do.

[LS]

Two things: first, as a historian who is not a specialist in this area, I have come from a search committee in which we had to hire a specialist in the Medieval period, and every candidate gave his or her "intro" lecture on the Crusades, so it proved very informative, not the least of which was to get an assessment of the latest scholarship. It is as the author says.

Second, prior to that committee, I had begun reading the massive "God's War," which is an excellent and incredibly detailed history of the Crusades. I highly recommend it, but it is tough sledding.

However, I did find that in his assessment of the post-crusading period, the author neglected to mention the siege of Malta, wherein Sulieman (not personally, but his forces) attacked the 10,000 or so Knights Hospitalers on the island with 100,000 soldiers and sailors . . . and lost. It was one of the most remarkable defenses in human history. His generals wasted more than 20,000 men, or perhaps 1/3 of their land forces, on tiny Fort St. Elmo before even assaulting the two larger forts. That, the failed siege of Vienna, and the Christian naval victory at Lepanto turned the tide and saved Europe from total occupation in my view.

[GreyFriar]

An there is still the classic three volume “A History of the Crusades” by Steve Runciman. I still have my set from when I bought it in college in the 1960s.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/849946.A_History_Of_The_Crusades_3_Volume_Set

[Biggirl]

The writer:

http://www.thomasmadden.org/

[Biggirl]

Thank-you for your reference.

[Heuristic Hiker]

The author of the posted article (Dr. Madden) describes Runciman's work as entertaining, but not highly factual:

"Misconceptions about the Crusades are all too common. The Crusades are generally portrayed as a series of holy wars against Islam led by power-mad popes and fought by religious fanatics. They are supposed to have been the epitome of self-righteousness and intolerance, a black stain on the history of the Catholic Church in particular and Western civilization in general. A breed of proto-imperialists, the Crusaders introduced Western aggression to the peaceful Middle East and then deformed the enlightened Muslim culture, leaving it in ruins. For variations on this theme, one need not look far. See, for example, Steven Runciman’s famous three-volume epic, History of the Crusades, or the BBC/A&E documentary, The Crusades, hosted by Terry Jones. Both are terrible history yet wonderfully entertaining."

[Former Proud Canadian]

Great post. We should be embracing the Crusades. They represent a noble effort.

[Yollopoliuhqui]

>>However, I did find that in his assessment of the post-crusading period, the author neglected to mention the siege of Malta

You must read Tim Willocks “The Religion”, a beautifully written historic novel about the Turkish siege of Malta.

[Finny]

Great article — thank you for posting it.

[Biggirl]

You are welcome!

[agincourt1415]

What is meant by the Enola Gay Exhibit? What exactly is that. I have studied Islam through Dr. Bill Warner and really like his work and video’s on youtube.