Crusades Come to Life

By Kathryn Galland

September 19, 2008

Beginning Friday, Sept. 26, the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies will host a series of lectures that will examine the Crusades in the context of the Middle Ages and today's society. The four part series is free and open to the public.

Lectures will analyze the history of the Crusades, its legacy and the role of religion. Two of the lectures will closely examine the First Crusade and its influence.

Other topics to be covered will comprise of the effects of spreading Christianity and a discussion on the notion of "crusade" in the 21st century. A question and answer period will follow each speech.    

Prominent speakers will include professor Gregory Bell from Duke University and professor Jay Rubenstein from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The lectures will also feature distinguished speakers from the University of North Carolina, Chapel-Hill and Virginia Tech.

Matthew Gabriele, Assistant Professor of Humanities and Coordinator of Medieval and Early Modern Studies, expresses his hope that students will acquire an appreciation of the past. According to Gabriele, "The past matters. Understanding the past can lead to a better understanding of today's world."

He notes the underlying question of the series addresses, "How do medieval ideas of violence and religion impact the world we live in today?" The lectures will evaluate this question from the Christian and Islamic perspectives.

All four events will be held in Torgersen Hall, room 1040, from 7-8 p.m. A complete schedule of speeches and dates can be found online at www.idst.vt.edu/humanities/medieval/events/index.html.