Fulcher of Chartres wrote an account of the origins of the crusades. He was a chaplain who accompanied the First Crusade and was present at the Council of Clermont (November, 1095) when Pope Urban gave his "most moving sermon." Urban placed his call to crusade squarely in the context of the Gregorian Reform, then expanded the concept of reform to solve problems in the Middle East, e.g., to contain the Weapons of Mass Destruction that were the Seljuk Turks from further harming Eastern Christians and Holy Places, or, was it to gain lands, power, money, glory, and/or religious influence etc.?

       Robert the Monk also wrote an account, probably the most cited text for crusade origins. For example, our Sherman text-reader contains Robert's account (p.122). Compare Fulcher and Robert: what similarities and/or differences do you see? Also, compare the online version of Robert's account with that in our Sherman text and again, compare: what do you see, or not see? What does that mean?

       Overall, (according to the sources) was this call to crusade a superstitious product of the European "Dark Ages?" Or, was it the only kind of honorable war (more honorable, e.g., than fighting to protect petroleum prices or unseat "tyrants")? How does the Just War Theory apply? If not, why not? How did Urban relate the concept of warfare to Christianity? Do you agree? Why and/or why not?