A study in evil : Najm al-DiÌn II-GhaÌziÌ and Renaud of ChaÌtillon as 'the other' in the histories of the crusading period
Throughout the medieval period, the chroniclers who wrote the sources which modern historians use as the bases of their enquiries wrote them with particular concepts in their minds. These concepts permeate every aspect of their work, from grand, sweeping themes to the vocabulary employed, and each aspect makes a contribution, large or small, to the history of ideas. This thesis will use a case-study approach to explore one aspect of medieval chronicles of the crusades: the concept of the evil 'other'. This will be achieved by examining the image of two of the most controversial figures in the history of the crusades, Najm al-DiÌn II-GhaÌziÌ and Renaud of ChaÌtillon. This thesis will examine the themes in the writings of the period, to understand the reasons for the presentations of the individuals in each chronicle, and whether the themes cross political and religious boundaries, and if so, why. In the first chapter, the image of II-GhaÌziÌ in the Christian chronicles will be examined, to help in the understanding of the reasons for and development of Christian ideas of the Muslim as evil. This will be followed by his image in the Islamic chronicles, in the second chapter, to elucidate whether the same
Mallett, Alex
A study in evil : Najm al-DiÌn II-GhaÌziÌ and Renaud of ChaÌtillon as 'the other' in the histories of the crusading period. Throughout the medieval period, the chroniclers who wrote the sources which modern historians use as the bases of their enquiries wrote them with particular concepts in their minds. These concepts permeate every aspect of their work, from grand, sweeping themes to the vocabulary employed, and each aspect makes a contribution, large or small, to the history of ideas. This thesis will use a case-study approach to explore one aspect of medieval chronicles of the crusades: the concept of the evil 'other'. This will be achieved by examining the image of two of the most controversial figures in the history of the crusades, Najm al-DiÌn II-GhaÌziÌ and Renaud of ChaÌtillon. This thesis will examine the themes in the writings of the period, to understand the reasons for the presentations of the individuals in each chronicle, and whether the themes cross political and religious boundaries, and if so, why. In the first chapter, the image of II-GhaÌziÌ in the Christian chronicles will be examined, to help in the understanding of the reasons for and development of Christian ideas of the Muslim as evil. This will be followed by his image in the Islamic chronicles, in the second chapter, to elucidate whether the same
study evil the history crusade period throughout medieval_period chronicler write_source modern_historian use base enquiry write particular concept mind concept permeate every_aspect work grand sweeping theme vocabulary employ aspect make large_small history_idea use case_study explore one_aspect medieval chronicle crusade concept evil other achieve examining image controversial figure history crusade examine theme writings period reason presentation individual chronicle whether theme cross political_religious boundary why first image christian chronicle examine help reason development christian idea muslim evil follow image islamic chronicle second elucidate whether