Abstract
This paper compares Donald Queller's "The Fourth Crusade" to other contemporary books regarding the Fourth Crusade and contrasts between them.

From the Paper
"In The Fourth Crusade, Donald E. Queller describes both the political and financial motives that led to the fourth crusade to Constantinople. Through heavy use of primary sources, the entire journey is told in a story-like fashion. Unfortunately, this story is not one without opinions. The Fourth Crusade is filled with Queller's personal opinions about both the historical event and contemporary historians. While these can sometimes be distracting, they neither take away from the significance of this study nor alter the historical facts. Queller's work, by all means, is one of the better historical studies of the events leading up to the sacking of Constantinople."

Tags:crusade, fourth, queller, historical, motives, Constantinople

Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses whether the First Crusade was based upon economic motives or upon genuine religious sentiments. The writer highlights that this issue of economic versus religious causes is controversial, but there is a general historical consensus that the First Crusade, initiated by Pope Urban II on November 27, 1095, was primarily motivated by religious fervor and determination to establish Christian control over Jerusalem and the Holy Land.

From the Paper
"For decades, most Western historians considered the First Crusade and subsequent crusades to be colonial ventures based upon economic motives, and dismissed the idea that the Crusades were motivated by genuine religious sentiments. It is only recently that modern scholars have acknowledged that Christian faith may have been the primary motivation, and that the economic advantages Europe gained after the First Crusade were of secondary consideration for the Crusaders."

Tags:the, first, crusade

Abstract
This essay examines the writings of Villehardouin in, Joinville and Villehardouin, "Chronicles of the Crusades". Great care is taken in examining this work from a militaristic approach with regards to Villehardouin's merits, biases, and historical accuracy. While a familiarity with the time period and the Fourth Crusade is helpful in gaining full understanding of this work, care has been taken to make the text usable for the layman as well.

From the Paper
"The fourth crusade can be said to begin in 1198 when pope Innocent III encouraged yet another crusade into the holy lands. The merits of this individual crusade make defining an ending date rather hard. Possible dates for ending this crusade could range from its roots in 1201 with the deal struck with the Venetians, to as late as 1311 when the last of the Franks were destroyed by rebellious mercenaries, but most likely falls sometime in between. Villehardouin's account takes in to consideration the relatively small, but vastly important amount of time from 1198 to 1207. From its onset the crusade seemed to be doomed. Its chosen leader, Theobald of Champagne died before the expedition even began. Of not is that Villehardouin, writing his words years later, doesn't connect the early misfortunes of the crusaders as signs of its eventual failure, though it is important to note that Villehardouin no where mentions that the crusade was a failure in anyway. Perhaps this is because of the rather abrupt ending to his book which may have been due to his death."

Tags:crusade, fourth, history

Abstract
This paper reviews 'The New Crusade' by Rahul Mahajan, a book about the war on Terrorism. The paper holds the perspective of the United States elites wanting this war so that they could make an example of Afghanistan.

From the Paper
"Books about the political and social effects of September 11th, 2001 are very common. The books tend to be either very conservative and defend the actions of the United States. Or they tend to be very liberal and criticize the action of the United States through out the world. In 'The New Crusade' Rahul Mahajan has written a very liberal book that criticizes the leaders and other elites in the United States. Mahajan's major criticism of the leaders and other elites in the United States is that they are more then willing to sacrifice innocent people to further their own goals."

Tags:the, new, crusade

Abstract
The paper explores the Children's Crusade in 1212, when thousands of children in Germany and in France marched willingly to their deaths in the horrifyingly naive belief that they could return the Holy Sepulcher into Christian hands. The paper discusses how this is among the more lugubrious tales that have been passed down to us from the Middle Ages. The paper reviews what made these children believe they could do what battle hardened armies could not and it examines how they behaved on their fateful march and what ultimately became of them.

Tags:children's, crusade, medieval

Abstract
The paper examines the events experienced by Eleanor of Aquitaine and her first husband Louis while on route to Jerusalem during the Second Crusade. Although Louis would be viewed favorably for his efforts, Eleanor would be plagued for the rest of her life with rumors of impropriety and incest.

From the Paper
"Pernoud records the couple's stay at Antioch in much the same way as Seward. However, Pernoud seems to give more credence to the possibility that an unnatural closeness may have existed between Eleanor and her Uncle. "If we adhere to historical fact, it seems unquestionable that Eleanor acquired a bad reputation at Antioch."(Pernoud,72) He states that the charge of incest was leveled by the chronicler, "William of Tyr, who cannot be dismissed lightly" (Pernoud,72) Despite this assertion, Pernoud also insinuates that Eleanor's reputation may have been the result of her open disputes and disagreements with her husband Louis while displaying complete agreement with her Uncle. Seward does not mention William of Tyr by name, his account states that the only chronicler to make this allegation wrote of them forty-years later. Seward also relays that contemporary authorities have found no evidence to conclude the possibility of incestuous behavior on behalf of Eleanor or her Uncle. "

Tags:antioche, aquitaine, armour, christianity, constantinople, crusade, eleanor, france, holy, jerusalem, knights, land, louis, queen, religion, war

Abstract
This paper takes a look at the Third Crusade, or the Kings' Crusade and explains why it was structurally the most prepared and organized crusade to have happened. The author explains how crusades were the Pope's answer to God's wishes concerning the lands that did not embrace Christianity and discusses the leadership of each of the Kings involved: King Richard of England, King Philip of France and the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick. The paper accounts for the non-achievement of this crusade but notes that it did prove beneficial as it united three different nations under a common cause and re-established just how important the spread of Christianity was.

From the Paper
"Urban III was one of the main driving forces behind the expeditions of the First and Second Crusades during the early 12th century. However, with his death it was now his successor Gregory VIII that was sending out an appeal for a new crusade to be taken up. This call was answered by King Richard, Philip and Frederick who believed it was their duty to recapture Jerusalem and place it back into the holy hands of the Christians. Throughout this campaign to recruit soldiers the crusading mentality was beginning to shift. This thought now revolved around the connections the clergy were presenting to the people in regards to the link between crusading and their spiritual lives."

Tags:christianity, unification

Abstract
This paper examines how "The Fourth Crusade" by Donald Queller and Thomas F. Madden is valuable in its reasoned, articulate description of a confusing and tumultuous time in human history. It looks at how the authors follow the entire period from Pope Innocent III's initial call for a holy war in 1198 to the sacking of Constantinople in 1204. Queller and Madden outline how crucial overestimating the number of crusaders was in the misdirection of the Fourth Crusade. It shows how the book is clearly written, organized, well-researched and, ultimately, valuable in providing an in-depth understanding of the complexities and realities of the often confusing events of the Fourth Crusade.

From the Paper
"Queller and Madden's book covers the periods before, during and after the Fourth Crusade, and is valuable as a thorough description of the events of the Fourth Crusade. The Fourth Crusade, which took place from 1202-1204, was originally intended to conquer Egypt, but ultimately resulted in the conquering of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire in 1204. The book's analysis of the crusades begins with an analysis of Pope Innocent III's 1198 elevation to the papacy. Queller and Madden note the pope, "acutely conscious of his responsibility as the head of Christendom, intended to reassume papal leadership of the holy war," (1) and proclaimed a new crusade in the same year."

Tags:constantinople, byzantine, empire, christianity

Abstract
Marching under a proclamation by Pope Urban II, Christians marched in the year 1095 from Western Europe to Jerusalem to reclaim the Holy Land, then under Muslim control. This became known in history as the First Crusade. Several more were to follow, including the infamous Children's Crusade in the year 1212, in which most of the children perished long before reaching the Holy Land, or were sold into slavery after being captured. Our focus will be solely on the First Crusade, its success (or lack of it) and how it was conducted, by whom, etc.

Abstract
This paper will discuss the book "The Origin of the Idea of Crusade" by Carl Erdmann and seek to understand the basic theories of the Crusades of the Christian medieval kingdoms. This book promotes its main thesis that the Crusades were formed for the cause of the Church to expand its lands.