History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 24, the Assassins.

Hello again.

Over the past two weeks we have looked at the Knights Templar.

This week we will take a closer look at what some see as the Islamic equivalent of the Knights Templar, the Assassins.

But before I begin, just a little comment and a disclaimer.

Trying to present an accurate history of the Assassins is no easy task.

Their history has mainly been written by their enemies, and much of it has been embellished and sensationalized.

The truth in historical studies is often a fluid and changing thing. It changes with our

attitudes, our politics and our perspectives. For instance, a history of slavery

written in the 1700s and gaining mainstream

acceptance during that time would be much different to a general history of

slavery published today. The facts may not have altered, but our attitudes and viewpoints

have, and this affects the way we tell the history of the subject. A History of the Crusades podcast series presented in the 1800s would be vastly different

to the podcast series you are listening to now.

Putting aside the technology issues, the Crusades were highly romanticized in the 1800s, and the mainstream view was of a bunch of heroic god-like knights journeying to the Holy Land, triumphing over the evil Muslims

their every action applauded and sanctioned.

I'd like to think that the podcast series you are listening to today takes a more balanced view,

seeing the perspectives of both sides of the conflict,

and perhaps seeing a little of what unites the adherents of the two religions rather than what divides them.

Undoubtedly in a hundred or so years this will be seen as an inaccurate portrayal of the Crusades as a different perspective

evolves and takes hold. I'd like you to keep this in mind as we look at the Assassins.

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