Medieval EuropeanRhetoric, 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

Here's Orlando Bloom rhetoricking it up

Gratuitous shot of Liam Neeson

Gratuitous Nonsense

Geoffrey Chaucer