Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.
This course surveys the period of the “Crusades” from its inception in the late eleventh century, to its maturity in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, and through its final demise in the later Middle Ages. The examination of the development of the idea of crusade throughout these periods is crucial in understanding the Crusades themselves, as the idea of crusade changed dramatically during each period. In this course we will examine each of the crusading periods, taking into consideration the various developments in the idea of crusade. We will also consider the impact that the memory of the Crusades has on modern events.