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Medieval European. Rhetoric, Religion, and War. The Crusades in a hot 16 minutes (plus some words from our sponsors). Fall of Rome in Song (sort of) 1095 Papal Indulgences, Papal Bulls & Infidels 1098 Holy War The Crusades Mid-11th Century
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Medieval European • Rhetoric, Religion, and War
The Crusades in a hot 16 minutes (plus some words from our sponsors) • Fall of Rome in Song (sort of) • 1095 Papal Indulgences, Papal Bulls & Infidels • 1098 Holy War • The Crusades Mid-11th Century • Holy lance, Batman! It's material & visual rhetoric!
Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) • Very important figure in the Catholic Church • Benedictine Monk who also studied under Albert the Great, an Aristotelian • Used Aristotle’s theory of “substance & accidents” to explain the Holy Eucharist
Studied theology at the University of Paris • Taught that knowledge begins with sensation, a precursor to John Locke • Ascetic life leads to sharpened senses, helps to reveal the underlying substance of a phenomenon • Truth is the end of speculation, right reason leads to truth • His rhetoric is inextricable from philosophy, theology
Wedded Aristotelianism with hierarchical modes of discourse: • rhetoric is lesser and lower than logic • no science trumps scripture, hence, if an opponent believes nothing is divine, one must drop down to the lower level of argumentation • ergo, “it is impossible to change a man by speech from what he holds by inveterate habit.” • If you live by your passions you can’t be persuaded by goodness.
Pope Urban II and the Crusades • Delivered a moving speech at the Council of Clermont, November 27, 1095, of which no exact transcription exists. Five, written later, vary from one another. • All of them appeal to God.
Justifications for War • Fulcher of Chartres: “destroy that vile race from the lands of our friends; Christ commands it.” This was accompanied by a promise of remission of sins for whoever took part in the crusade, according to Fulcher. • Robert the Monk: “wrest that land from the wicked race, and subject it to yourselves ... God has conferred upon you above all nations great glory in arms. Accordingly undertake this journey for the remission of your sins, with the assurance of the imperishable glory of the Kingdom of Heaven.” Robert reported that the response from the crowd was, "It is the will of God! It is the will of God!"
Aquinas’ Rhetoric in Action in Kingdome of Heaven Gratuitous shot of Liam Neeson • Here's Orlando Bloom rhetoricking it up
Gratuitous Nonsense • Geoffrey Chaucer