Crusades: A Text Exercise (Take home portion of Test One)

News of the great conflict that has broken out on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea has traveled far and wide.  The emperor of China is particularly concerned.  He wants to establish a series of trading outposts that will stretch from Asia to Europe but has no knowledge of this region.  For that reason he sends you, one of his most trusted emissaries and diplomats, to the city of Jerusalem.  The city is now peaceful and under Arab control.  There in a dusty library you discover a series of documents that describes the conflict between the Crusaders and the Arabs from their respective points of view (documents from Weeks Five and Six).  From these texts you will compose a 3 page report (double-spaced) that you will send back to your master, the emperor in China.
In your report you must carefully assess these documents as you answer some of the following questions as well as those of your own.
**What are the values of each society?  What traits does each culture esteem most highly?  How are they different and what accounts for these variations?
**What specific biases does each society have as reflected through the authors of these texts?  Elaborate
**How do Muslims and Christians view each other, and what does this tell you about their respective society?  Give a number of specific examples.
**How does each side understand the role of God in this conflict?  How do their perspectives differ?  Do the Muslim historians understand God and his interaction in human affairs in a fundamentally different manner than the Christian chroniclers?  If so, how?
**What is characteristic of the code of warfare in this period? Do the two sides agree on this standard or do they vary?
**At what point do the texts disagree with each other?  What accounts for these differences and which side do you think is more reliable?  Why?
A thorough and effective report will rely exclusively on the documents you have read.  This is not a research paper but a text exercise, and you do not need outside sources.  You must be specific with this report, use concrete examples, and note page numbers throughout when you cite an example or a quote.  The essay must hold together as a coherent unit.  See my writing tips for help.
Within these constraints, feel free to be creative as you adopt the voice of a Chinese emissary in Jerusalem.

This assignment will be due in class on 26 September.