History 294 - Jihad and Crusade

Course Syllabus

Course Information
Course Description
Required Texts
Course Website
The Grade
Assignments
Policies

Course Information:

Instructor: David M. Perry
Class Times: MWF 9:40-10:40
Location: MAIN 010
Office: Old Main 308
Office Phone: (507) 646-6668
Office Hours: MW 11:00-12:00
Email: perry@macalester.edu
URL: http://www.macalester.edu/courses/hist294

Course Description:

How do war and religion intersect and interact?

Over this semester, we are going to try and answer that question by learning about Christian and Muslim conflicts during the period of the Crusades (roughly 1095-1291). During this period, Western Christians attacked and colonized the "Levant," a region along the shore of the eastern Mediterranean. They followed, and continuously redefined, the precepts of "crusade," a relatively new medieval form of Christian sanctified warfare. Muslims, in response to these incursions, redefined their understanding of their traditions of Jihad, and launched a series of counter-attacks.

This course will examine the origins and development of the concepts of Christian and Muslim Holy War in the pre-modern world. We will discuss both the correlations and distinct elements between the two traditions, look at their disparate origins, and then examine the influence each had on the other as the Christian and Muslim worlds came into conflict. We will focus on the medieval centuries, but will talk about sacred violence in early Christian and Jewish texts, the origins of Islam, and invocations of "Jihad and Crusade" from 1453 (the fall of Constantinople) through to the modern era.

Beyond learning the specifics of the subject, we will also work on learning how historians work. We will analyze primary and secondary material, write about both types of texts in formal and informal writing, and finish the semester with a research paper on a medieval topic related to the subject of war and religion.

Required Texts:

F. Gabrieli, Arab Historians of the Crusades
T. Madden. The New Concise History of the Crusades
E. Peters, The First Crusade
E. Peters, Christian Society and the Crusades

You also must own an academic edition of the Bible and the Qur'an. I have had the following ordered for you, but you may use other editions if you already own them. Otherwise, buy these:

The Oxford Annotated Bible: Revised Standard Edition
An English Interpretation of the Holy Qur'an, by A. Y. Ali

Many of the readings will be placed on electronic reserve, or made accessible from the website. You are required to print them out and bring them to class on the day that they are due.

Course Website: http://www.macalester.edu/courses/hist100

Course Requirements and Assignments:

Reading Journal - 20% You will need to keep a reading journal on the readings. Each entry should be about a page. See the designation "R" (such as R-1) to see when journals are due.
- Somedays I will give you specific questions on which you should write. At other times, you will be free to write on whatever interests you. Consider the following types of issues. What can we learn from the readings? What should we ask about them in class? What problems do they present? You do not need to address all of the documents equally, but can focus on the sources you find most interesting.
- Approach each entry as if it were a compressed version of an essay. Try to come up with a central point (or two or three) to make about the readings. Connect your observation with specific instances. Demonstrate to me that you have done the readings.
- Write with polish. Take these assignments as a chance to practice your academic writing without the pressure of high-stakes grading. All entries must be typed and double spaced.
- There are 20days that require journal entries. Entries will be graded S(atisfactory) or U(nsatisfactory). Each S is worth 1% of your final grade.
- Reading journals exist to stimulate class discussion. Therefore, if you miss class without a documented excuse, your reading journal will not be accepted. If you fail to turn in an assignment, late entries will not be accepted.
Final Paper - 30% - Details forthcoming
- You will write an 8-10 page paper on a single extended primary source or event. You will need to read the primary source carefully and locate secondary materials to inform your reading. I will give you much more information on the assignment during the semester, including a list of potential sources and events. You may, however, choose to prepare a research paper on a topic of your own choosing. I am open to any topic pertaining to medieval holy war that you can base on primary research. Make sure to speak to me early in the semester if you want to develop your own topic.
- The final paper is worth the full 30% of your grade, but you will need to complete several steps along the way. If you fail to complete any of these steps, you will not receive higher than a C- on your final project. Assignments may vary if you choose a research topic, and you will need to meet with me individually. The steps are:
  1. Selection: Choose your document/topic and provide a preliminary bibliography. Explain the issues you wish to address and the core questions you hope to answer in your paper. Due Wed., Oct 18
  2. Summaries: Summarize the contents of your primary document. Due Wed., Oct 25.
  3. First Draft: Bring a complete draft of your paper to class. You will read one of your peer's papers (or possibly more) and comment on it. Due Monday, Nov. 27
  4. Final Paper is due on Monday, December 18, by 12:00
Short Essay - 5%
- 750-word paper on the First Crusade. Topic forthcoming. Due Monday, Oct. 2.
First Exam - 15%
- In-class exam consisting of several identification questions and an essay question. 50 Minutes Long. Thursday, October 13.
Second Exam - 15%
- In-class exam consisting of several identification questions and two essay questions. Tuesday, November 15
Participation - 15% of your final grade
- Participation is more than just showing up, but it starts with just showing up. You cannot participate if you are not here. I will take attendance every day. Unexcused absences will weigh heavily against your participation grade.
  - Excused absences - severe illness with doctor's note, death in the family, "acts of God," or official Macalester activities will obviously not incur any direct penalty. However, if you aren't here, you cannot participate, so you will need to work hard to make up for any classes missed legitimately. You are responsible for catching up on material missed by consulting both me and your peers.
- But participation is about more than just showing up. It's about doing the reading, being prepared to talk about it, volunteering your input, being involved in your group work, preparing for the debates, informal writing activities, and other discussions. Generally, be an asset to the class as a whole. We will have a variety of ways in which you can participate, but none matter more than being an active member in our small-group and full-class discussions.
- Your participation is a large percent of your grade. You will need to earn it. Take initiative. Do not expect to speak only when directly called upon and pass this section of the class.
- Finally, being late consistently may be counted as being absent. It will certainly lower your participation grade. So will falling asleep, being disrespectful to your peers, and other anti-social behavior.

The Grade:

Reading Journal - 20%
Final Paper - 30%
Short Essay - 5%
First Exam - 15%
Second Exam - 15%
Participation and Attendance - 15%

Course Policies

Follow the policies in the Macalester College Student Handbook. If you are unsure about whether something is plagiarism or cheating, ask first.
No assignment, under any circumstances, will be accepted by fax or email.
Students must bring readings to class on the day they are assigned. Print out online materials. If we don't talk about something in class, you need to bring it to the next class too unless told otherwise.
Writing assignments and examinations are due at the beginning of class. DO NOT EVER SKIP CLASS TO TRY AND FINISH YOUR PAPER. Printing errors and lost data are a fact of the computer age. If you wait until the last minute and encounter technical difficulties, your paper may still be counted as late.
For every day a paper or project is late, you lose one full grade per day (A to B, B to C, etc.). Do not test this system. Turn your work in on time. Stapled. With your name on every page. Typed. Double-spaced. In a 12-point font. With room on the margins for comments. Printed on only one side of the paper (for ease of comments). Please!


Course Syllabus Course Information Course Description Required Texts Course Website The Grade Assignments Policies Course Information: Instructor: David M. Perry Class Times: MWF 9:40-10:40 Location: MAIN 010 Office: Old Main 308 Office Phone: (507) 646-6668 Office Hours: MW 11:00-12:00 Email: perry@macalester.edu URL: http://www.macalester.edu/courses/hist294 Course Description: How do war and religion intersect and interact? Over this semester, we are going to try and answer that question by learning about Christian and Muslim conflicts during the period of the Crusades (roughly 1095-1291). During this period, Western Christians attacked and colonized the "Levant," a region along the shore of the eastern Mediterranean. They followed, and continuously redefined, the precepts of "crusade," a relatively new medieval form of Christian sanctified warfare. Muslims, in response to these incursions, redefined their understanding of their traditions of Jihad, and launched a series of counter-attacks. This course will examine the origins and development of the concepts of Christian and Muslim Holy War in the pre-modern world. We will discuss both the correlations and distinct elements between the two traditions, look at their disparate origins, and then examine the influence each had on the other as the Christian and Muslim worlds came into conflict. We will focus on the medieval centuries, but will talk about sacred violence in early Christian and Jewish texts, the origins of Islam, and invocations of "Jihad and Crusade" from 1453 (the fall of Constantinople) through to the modern era. Beyond learning the specifics of the subject, we will also work on learning how historians work. We will analyze primary and secondary material, write about both types of texts in formal and informal writing, and finish the semester with a research paper on a medieval topic related to the subject of war and religion. Required Texts: F. Gabrieli, Arab Historians of the Crusades T. Madden. The New Concise History of the Crusades E. Peters, The First Crusade E. Peters, Christian Society and the Crusades You also must own an academic edition of the Bible and the Qur'an. I have had the following ordered for you, but you may use other editions if you already own them. Otherwise, buy these: The Oxford Annotated Bible: Revised Standard Edition An English Interpretation of the Holy Qur'an, by A. Y. Ali Many of the readings will be placed on electronic reserve, or made accessible from the website. You are required to print them out and bring them to class on the day that they are due. Course Website: http://www.macalester.edu/courses/hist100 Course Requirements and Assignments: Reading Journal - 20% You will need to keep a reading journal on the readings. Each entry should be about a page. See the designation "R" (such as R-1) to see when journals are due. Somedays I will give you specific questions on which you should write. At other times, you will be free to write on whatever interests you. Consider the following types of issues. What can we learn from the readings? What should we ask about them in class? What problems do they present? You do not need to address all of the documents equally, but can focus on the sources you find most interesting. Approach each entry as if it were a compressed version of an essay. Try to come up with a central point (or two or three) to make about the readings. Connect your observation with specific instances. Demonstrate to me that you have done the readings. Write with polish. Take these assignments as a chance to practice your academic writing without the pressure of high-stakes grading. All entries must be typed and double spaced. There are 20days that require journal entries. Entries will be graded S(atisfactory) or U(nsatisfactory). Each S is worth 1% of your final grade. Reading journals exist to stimulate class discussion. Therefore, if you miss class without a documented excuse, your reading journal will not be accepted. If you fail to turn in an assignment, late entries will not be accepted. Final Paper - 30% - Details forthcoming You will write an 8-10 page paper on a single extended primary source or event. You will need to read the primary source carefully and locate secondary materials to inform your reading. I will give you much more information on the assignment during the semester, including a list of potential sources and events. You may, however, choose to prepare a research paper on a topic of your own choosing. I am open to any topic pertaining to medieval holy war that you can base on primary research. Make sure to speak to me early in the semester if you want to develop your own topic. The final paper is worth the full 30% of your grade, but you will need to complete several steps along the way. If you fail to complete any of these steps, you will not receive higher than a C- on your final project. Assignments may vary if you choose a research topic, and you will need to meet with me individually. The steps are: Selection: Choose your document/topic and provide a preliminary bibliography. Explain the issues you wish to address and the core questions you hope to answer in your paper. Due Wed., Oct 18 Summaries: Summarize the contents of your primary document. Due Wed., Oct 25. First Draft: Bring a complete draft of your paper to class. You will read one of your peer's papers (or possibly more) and comment on it. Due Monday, Nov. 27 Final Paper is due on Monday, December 18, by 12:00 Short Essay - 5% 750-word paper on the First Crusade. Topic forthcoming. Due Monday, Oct. 2. First Exam - 15% In-class exam consisting of several identification questions and an essay question. 50 Minutes Long. Thursday, October 13. Second Exam - 15% In-class exam consisting of several identification questions and two essay questions. Tuesday, November 15 Participation - 15% of your final grade Participation is more than just showing up, but it starts with just showing up. You cannot participate if you are not here. I will take attendance every day. Unexcused absences will weigh heavily against your participation grade. Excused absences - severe illness with doctor's note, death in the family, "acts of God," or official Macalester activities will obviously not incur any direct penalty. However, if you aren't here, you cannot participate, so you will need to work hard to make up for any classes missed legitimately. You are responsible for catching up on material missed by consulting both me and your peers. But participation is about more than just showing up. It's about doing the reading, being prepared to talk about it, volunteering your input, being involved in your group work, preparing for the debates, informal writing activities, and other discussions. Generally, be an asset to the class as a whole. We will have a variety of ways in which you can participate, but none matter more than being an active member in our small-group and full-class discussions. Your participation is a large percent of your grade. You will need to earn it. Take initiative. Do not expect to speak only when directly called upon and pass this section of the class. Finally, being late consistently may be counted as being absent. It will certainly lower your participation grade. So will falling asleep, being disrespectful to your peers, and other anti-social behavior. The Grade: Reading Journal - 20% Final Paper - 30% Short Essay - 5% First Exam - 15% Second Exam - 15% Participation and Attendance - 15% Course Policies Follow the policies in the Macalester College Student Handbook. If you are unsure about whether something is plagiarism or cheating, ask first. No assignment, under any circumstances, will be accepted by fax or email. Students must bring readings to class on the day they are assigned. Print out online materials. If we don't talk about something in class, you need to bring it to the next class too unless told otherwise. Writing assignments and examinations are due at the beginning of class. DO NOT EVER SKIP CLASS TO TRY AND FINISH YOUR PAPER. Printing errors and lost data are a fact of the computer age. If you wait until the last minute and encounter technical difficulties, your paper may still be counted as late. For every day a paper or project is late, you lose one full grade per day (A to B, B to C, etc.). Do not test this system. Turn your work in on time. Stapled. With your name on every page. Typed. Double-spaced. In a 12-point font. With room on the margins for comments. Printed on only one side of the paper (for ease of comments). Please!
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This site last updated: 8/26/05 Comments to: David Perry Homepage URL: http://www.macalester.edu/courses/hist294/ © 2006 by David Perry and Macalester College. All rights reserved.