Printed Page 280-0(cont.)
A History of Western Society: Printed Page 280
PRIMARY SOURCE 9.5
The Capture of Jerusalem in 1099
In this illustration from a fourteenth-century French version of Archbishop William of Tyre’s history of the First Crusade, Crusaders enter the city of Jersualem on scaling ladders as engines hurl stones to breach the walls.
(Bibliothèque nationale de France)
EVALUATE THE EVIDENCE
Question
What do you think the artist’s point of view is about the events shown? Would you characterize the painting as a positive or negative depiction of war? What does this suggest about the artist’s motives in creating this work?
Question
How might the images shown be different if this had been drawn by a Muslim artist living in Jerusalem?