Exercise 1

During the Middle Ages, relations between Christians and Jews were not always good.  Nor were they always bad.  Read a Disputation of a Jew with a Christian reported by Gilbert Crispin to Anselm of Canterbury, then read Anselm's own discussion of How to Treat a Convert (both from the late eleventh century).  When you finish, take a look at two twelfth century views of contact between Christians and Jews, and a brief anecdote about an Israelite Bishop.  How do the attitudes expressed in these texts resemble and differ from those about which you have already read? How could Christians and Jews sometimes relate to each other over their religious differences? What peculiar myths about Jews did medieval Christians believe?

Exercise 2

Through the Crusades, Western Christendom sought to flex its muscles abroad.  Backed by the powerful High Medieval church, armies from throughout Europe descended on the Middle East and fought Muslim rivals for control of the Holy Lands.  Take a moment to add to what you already know about these expeditions with this overview of the Crusades.  When you finish, examine the following objects of Crusade-era art: Saint Louis window, enamel basin, effigy of Jean d'Alluye, and water vessel.  What do these objects tell you about how the crusaders saw themselves and wished others to see them? What do they tell you about how the crusaders' contact with the east helped shape the art and culture of Europe?