Title: Writing from Historical Perspective / point of view The Crusades – Crusader or Saracen?

A. When writing from a historical perspective you need: 1. To be well informed about the topic you intend to write about. In the case of the Crusades you should know why the people from Europe supported this Holy War and use some of the reasons in your writing. Use direct evidence - Be sure to use “quotation marks” when citing sources word for word & name or cite the source.

When writing from a historical point of view – you need to write as if you lived in the time period. When given a variety of sources to use, try to use something from each source but don’t use something if you don’t know what it means!

B. Seeing different perspectives is an important skill b/c: By looking at the world through someone else’s eyes we gain understanding of motives and an explanation of events. Learning about history is worthless if you don’t learn from history – seeing events through a different perspective helps us to learn from history. By working with the facts you know to write from historical perspective you engage in “hands on” history and it will make the facts stick because you are relating the information to what you already know – a good trick to remember any new piece of information.

A. When writing from a historical perspective you need: 1. To be well informed about the topic you intend to write about. In the case of the Crusades you should know why people from Europe supported this Holy War and use some of the reasons in your writing. Example: Everyone who is anyone is taking up the cross like King Richard and going to the holy city, Jerusalem. I was at mass on Easter Sunday, awestruck by the great new Cathedral, and the bishop said that all good and able bodied Christian men need to GO! Christians must retake Jerusalem from the pagan infidels who have closed Christ’s holy places, turning away our humble pilgrims and who commit unspeakable crimes against our brother & sister Christians. We must take up the cross and follow King Richard, he has a lion’s heart, and will surely lead us well. It was said by one of his solders, Richard de Templo, that the king rewarded bravery with gold coin, “three or even four gold-pieces” for soldiers who showed their bravery in sieging the walls of Acre who “set themselves zealously to lugging out the stones.” Surely King Richard knows that our faith is strong but that it is made stronger with such golden rewards for our valor. Be sure to use “quotation marks” when citing sources directly & cite source. Source: Richard de Templo - Massacre at Acre.

When writing from a historical point of view – you need to write as if you lived in the time period. When given a variety of sources to use, try to use something from each source but don’t use something if you don’t know what it means! Example: (continued from previous sample) Those who fight alongside the king will surely be rewarded as the king is known to reward treachery with death. Just look at the infidels who surrendered at Acre, when the payment by the Saracen leader Saladin was not paid in time, they were killed as promised*. Now the Saracens will know that Richard means business and will pay if they want the release of their family members. It is time to support Richard with our courage and our blood if necessary, but fear not, should our blood be needed heaven and paradise will be waiting. Our holy father, the Pope, has said that all who die in service of this great deed will go straight to heaven! * Source: Beha-ed-Din – Massacre at Acre (paraphrased information)

A Saladin supporter It will be morning soon, I cannot sleep, the bloody fighting will continue, we must make the Christians pay. The Infidels have killed the innocent, our unarmed and “bound with ropes” brothers and sisters of Acre, murderers! Why would their martyrdom be “decreed for this day” by Allah? They could not defend themselves but now, Allah be praised, rest in paradise. Saladin seeks to expel the Christian invaders, I will be fighting for him tomorrow. These invaders do not abide by the laws of civilized people when they unlawfully kill their prisoners, such deeds cannot be justified and must be punished. Some say the Christians may have been enraged by the sight of their images of Jesus and their Saints having been “dishonored and defiled” but such images only encourage idolatry and take away from the glory of God. Tomorrow I will fight in support of Saladin and Allah… what happens will be the will of Allah. Sources: Richard de Templo: Massacre at Acre Beha-ed-Din: Massacre at Acre