Intensive Course: The Crusades and Islamic History, July 20–22 2026, University of Pennsylvania
Mon 20 Jul
|Kislak Center University of Pennsylvania
This three-day intensive course will focus on reading medieval primary sources for the social, economic and religious history of Egypt and Greater Syria, including Palestine during the period of the Crusades, roughly 1050-1500.
Time & Location
20 Jul 2026, 09:00 – 22 Jul 2026, 17:00
Kislak Center University of Pennsylvania, 3420 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
About the Event
This three-day intensive course will focus on reading medieval primary sources for the social, economic and religious history of Egypt and Greater Syria, including Palestine during the period of the Crusades, roughly 1050-1500. It is intended for advanced graduate students and other qualified participants and will be offered by Prof. Paul M. Cobb (University of Pennsylvania) in collaboration with Prof. Ann Zimo (University of New Hampshire) and Prof. Reuven Amitai (Hebrew University of Jerusalem).
The course will include close reading and historical analysis of published Arabic literary sources (chronicles and the like), Frankish sources in translation, and modern secondary literature. The overall goal is to provide students with in-depth understanding of the conventions and genres of historical writing on the Crusades and what we gain (and lose) by understanding the Crusades in their Middle Eastern context.
The number of participants will be limited to a maximum of 12.
Applications for…