Wednesday, November 8 

 

There are two topics for today: the Investiture Controversy and the First Crusade.  Pick one of the following three topics:

 

Investiture controversy:  Go over what’s at stake for each side, then answer the following questions:

 

Lualdi 10:2 Letters of the Investiture Controversy: Here we finally see a breakdown in the system whereby emperors freely appointed bishops and abbots.  What is at stake for each side?  How does each party, Henry IV and Gregory VII, understand the basis for his authority?  Finally, with whom do you concur, and why?

Crusade: place in context of growth of papal power.  Peace of God, Truce of God, from previous chapter.  Then, questions:

1. Lim 10:10 Usama Ibn-Munquidh Memoirs: This source gives us insight into how the "other side" viewed the Europeans who came on crusade to the Middle East.  What did this author think of the Frankish Crusaders? And what impression do you get, based on the anecdotes recorded here, of relations between the two groups?  
2. Urban II's speech to the Council of Clermont begins by focusing on the state of affairs in western Christendom.  What are the evils he deplores?  What does he instruct the nobles and clergy at the council to do?  Next, he turns to a problem outside of Europe, to the east.  How does he make the case for holy war?  What language does he use to define the enemy?