An Analysis of the Turkish and Christian Factors That Instigated the Battle of Hattin 1187
An Analysis of the Turkish and Christian Factors that Instigated the Battle of Hattin 1187
Islam in Europe 3258
Professor Aitana Guia
Submitted by: Sunaina Mannan 209 334 574
York University
To account for the many factors that gave birth to the fall of Jerusalem in 1187, one must consider many interrelated and yet parallel factors that shaped The Battle of Hattin; as this was a historic battle for both the Turks and Crusaders. Respectively it justified Saladin’s struggle to unify his people under his leadership, and it also marked the steep fall for the Crusades as they were stripped of their castles and cities (Housley, 1987). This fall not only encouraged the Third Crusade, but a crusade with a defined goal, aiming towards taking back the Holy City once and for all. Due to its immense significance in the era of the Second Crusades, it is vital to uncover the factors that instigated such a battle. Therefore, in this essay, I suggest three major factors that gave birth to the Battle of Hattin, being the religious fervour that was a characteristic in the Muslims and more so in the Christians, the internal disunity among Muslims and in Christendom as well as the greed for power within the hearts of the rival leaders. Before such arguments are put forth, the significance of Jerusalem and the First Crusade will help the audience to understand the roots of the Battle of Hattin. Furthermore, throughout this paper, the award winning film Kingdom of Heaven (Scott, 2005) will be used only as a reference; as it depicts the Battle of Hattin and the three respective arguments of this paper.
Significance of Jerusalem
The Holy Kingdom of Jerusalem was a precious medal for the three monotheistic faiths. The Jewish viewed this as the site of the great temples of Heaven. For Christians, Jerusalem was the most significant point of salvation. Finally, in Islam it is believed that Muhammad
Islam in Europe 3258
Professor Aitana Guia
Submitted by: Sunaina Mannan 209 334 574
York University
To account for the many factors that gave birth to the fall of Jerusalem in 1187, one must consider many interrelated and yet parallel factors that shaped The Battle of Hattin; as this was a historic battle for both the Turks and Crusaders. Respectively it justified Saladin’s struggle to unify his people under his leadership, and it also marked the steep fall for the Crusades as they were stripped of their castles and cities (Housley, 1987). This fall not only encouraged the Third Crusade, but a crusade with a defined goal, aiming towards taking back the Holy City once and for all. Due to its immense significance in the era of the Second Crusades, it is vital to uncover the factors that instigated such a battle. Therefore, in this essay, I suggest three major factors that gave birth to the Battle of Hattin, being the religious fervour that was a characteristic in the Muslims and more so in the Christians, the internal disunity among Muslims and in Christendom as well as the greed for power within the hearts of the rival leaders. Before such arguments are put forth, the significance of Jerusalem and the First Crusade will help the audience to understand the roots of the Battle of Hattin. Furthermore, throughout this paper, the award winning film Kingdom of Heaven (Scott, 2005) will be used only as a reference; as it depicts the Battle of Hattin and the three respective arguments of this paper.
Significance of Jerusalem
The Holy Kingdom of Jerusalem was a precious medal for the three monotheistic faiths. The Jewish viewed this as the site of the great temples of Heaven. For Christians, Jerusalem was the most significant point of salvation. Finally, in Islam it is believed that Muhammad
References: Housley, N. (1987). Saladin 's triumph over the crusader states the battle of hattin, 1187. History Today, 37(7), 17. Madden, T. F. (1999). A concise history of the crusades: Critical issues in history. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield of America. Nicolle, D. (1993). Hattin 1187: Saladin 's greatest victory. United Kingdom: Osprey Publishing Ltd. Prawer, J. (1964). La bataille de haṭṭîn. Israel exploration journal, 14(3), 160-179. Scott, R. (Director) (2005). Kingdom of heaven [Theater].