Noshin's Blog: June 2014

Monday, 30 June 2014

The Legacy of the Crusades

The Crusades had profound and lasting historical impacts. They had an enormous influence on the European Middle Ages such as European governments, Western advancements, trade, the Byzantine Empire, the future Islamic World and lay the future setting of antisemitism.

As Kings levied taxes and formed armies, much of the nobility population, in order to take part of the Crusades sold their serfs (land slaves) and land. The power of the Kings grew because as the nobles quickly lost their power over the land, the kings were able to create stronger central governments. With heavy taxation on trade, their wealth grew, and so with it their power.

The power of the European kings was not the only thing that progressed after the Crusades. Islamic knowledge of medicine and architecture grew and found itself in the western world after the end of the Crusade era. Arabic advances such as in Algebra and engineering were also transferred into the western worlds, leading to great advancements in many European universities, eventually leading to the Renaissance.

An Example of Islamic Art and Architecture

There was also military advancements after the Crusades. After many a long battle, and with deeper knowledge of defense tactics, castles in Europe developed from smaller wooden buildings to huge, strong, stone structures, much more well suited to defense.

The huge transportation of armies and equipment during the Crusades caused European trade to flourish. Local merchants in many areas were able to expand their areas of trade, as the ongoing transportation through their countries allowed for it. This increase in trade brought new, unknown goods to European shores such as spices, diamonds, the early developed gun powder, even oranges and apples. The Crusades prepared Europe to travel longer distances, especially with the incentive of new goods, so trade grew after the Crusades.

After the Crusaders took Constantinople in 1204, the Byzantine Empire fell eventually in 1453, having lost its previous power and strength. Constantinople had been the major city of the Byzantine Empire and the Fourth Crusade saw Constantinople conquered by the Crusaders, leading to its slow demise.

There was also an effect on the future Islamic World. For instance, the expressions 'Franks' and 'Crusaders' quickly became, in the Islamic World, expressions of disdain. To this day, many Muslim movements refer to Western involvement in the Middle East as a 'crusade.'The Crusades were not to be easily forgotten by the Islamic World, remembered as a violent rampage by European Christians.

There was also an effect on much of the Jewish community, although they were never really directly involved with the Crusades. During the Crusades there were many attacks on Jews in Europe, who were seen as anti-Christian, and regretfully, as some sort of enemy against the Christian plight. Huge atrocities were seen in the Crusade era against Jewish communities in German, Hungarian and French towns, while also in Palestine and Syria. These attacks during the Crusades form a vital part of the history of antisemitism, while also at the time hugely disrupting the social positions of Jews at the time.

An Image that Represents the Persecution of Jews by Christians in this Era

It is clear to see the effect the Crusades had, even in the short term. Many of these were part of the civilizations that followed, or such as the antisemitism that was clear in the Crusades were part of a much larger history.

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The Holy Wars - The Crusades

The word 'crusade' comes from the French word 'crois,' meaning cross. Those who fought against Muslims cut out red crosses, sewing them to their tunics. The word crois changed over time to croisades or crusades. The Crusades was a Holy War.

The Crusades simply were Christian campaigns to reinstate a Christian hold over the holy place of Jerusalem. Whereas for the Muslims, it was a fight to keep hold of it. This struggle consisted of eight crusades in total, spanning from 1096 to 1291, a 200 year plight.

What is the importance of Jerusalem for both Christians and Muslims? Jerusalem is known as the City of God for Christians. Jesus had been born in Bethlehem near Jerusalem and had lived there for the majority of his adult life. This therefore meant that Jerusalem was a revered place for Christians. For Muslims Jerusalem was of importance because Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had visited Jerusalem in his time. Specifically the Dome of Rock was of great importance to Muslims, where it is said the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had prayed.

The Dome of Rock

In 1076, the Muslims had captured this holy city. This led Pope Urban II to announce the First Crusade, which would be a military move to restore Christian access to the holy place of Jerusalem and its surrounding areas.

First Crusade 1095-1099 Many who fought had been told that if they killed to reclaim Jerusalem, they would go straight to heaven as their fight was for God. The crusaders travelled through Turkey, covering hundreds of miles. When water ran out, they had no other option but to drink their urine, animal blood or sewage water. Disease was rampant and conditions terrible with many suffering from dysentery. Once the Crusaders passed the walls of Jerusalem, according to recorded witnesses, Jerusalem was ankle deep in blood. Muslim records say that 70,000 Muslims were killed in the attack and treasure was taken from the Dome of Rock. As the Christians were successful, the Kingdom of Jerusalem was created. After the Crusade they continued to attempt to oust Muslims from areas around Jerusalem.

Second Crusade 1147-1149 The Second Crusade was a bid to defeat the ongoing threat of Muslims in the Holy Lands.

Third Crusade 1187-1192 This Crusade began with the Muslims uniting under Saladin, the Sultan of Egypt and Syria and Jerusalem was retook. The Third Crusade was an attempt to reverse this loss of Jerusalem. However Jerusalem remained under Muslim control.

Fourth Crusade 1202-1204 This was another attempt to recover Jerusalem, but yet again it failed. Although not the initial intention, Constantinople was conquered.

Fifth Crusade 1217-1221 The Fifth Crusade was clear proof of the determined Christian nature to regain the Holy Land of Jerusalem. Here there was an attempt to break the unity of Egypt so the Muslims would be forced to release Jerusalem to the Christians. However the Crusaders failed yet again and were forced to surrender and leave Egypt, and agree to an eight year truce. Their forces had been trapped in a canal by the flooding of the Nile and the remaining soldiers were captured by Ayyubid Sultan Al-Kamil's forces. This Crusade was specifically important as it marked the last crusade organised by the Church.

Sixth Crusade 1228-1229 This Crusade was not full of many battles and saw the Christian recapture of the Holy Land. Emperor Frederick II, the Holy Roman Emperor made a peace treaty with Al-Kamil, ruler of Egypt. Preoccupied with a Syrian rebellion, he agreed that for a decade long truce, Jerusalem, Nazareth and other towns would be returned to Christian control. In return, Frederick pledged to protect Al-Kamil against all enemies. Muslims, however, remained in control of their sacred areas.

Seventh Crusade 1248-1254 15 years after the success of the Sixth Crusade, the Holy Land was recaptured by the Turks in 1244. King Louis IX launched the crusade to free the land once again. His forces were defeated and the King captured. A ten year truce and ransom for the King was arranged.

Eighth Crusade 1270-1272 This was the last major attempt to take the Holy Land. In the attempt, King Louis IX died. His brother, Charles, began negotiating with the Bey of Tunis. The Crusaders agreed with the Sultan to retreat, for free trade with the city and safe residence for monks and priests in the area. The future king of England, Edward I attempted to undertake the Crusade from Louis IX, however his small forces did not make much difference. The death of his father caused him to return to England and the fall of the Crusader base in Palestine marked the end of the Crusades for the Holy Land. The time Edward I entered is also known as the Ninth Crusade.

The Crusades showed at its simplest level, the extent to which both Muslims and Christians would go to preserve their presence in the Holy Lands. However the Crusades were also important as they would have long lasting effects on the civilizations that followed.

Thursday, 19 June 2014

The Vietnam After The War - an interview

Having learnt about the Vietnam War as part of my AS Level History study, I was impelled to research into the aftermath of the war, which my school study did not elaborate into. I was interested in what happened when the Americans eventually left and what happened to Vietnam after the Spring Offensive of 1975. However I wished for a first person account. And so through many contacts I reached a Vietnamese woman, 60 years old, living in England, who wishes to remain anonymous in this blog, that fled from Vietnam in 1978 as Communist ruling took over. Due to her wish to remain anonymous, for the purpose of the blog, I shall refer to her as Linh.

Firstly I would like to thank 'Linh' for so kindly agreeing to talk to me and allowing me to write this blog post on her past. As mentioned, I discovered that Linh fled Vietnam in 1978. She had previously lived in South Vietnam and during the war, members of her family and her ex-husband were South Vietnamese soldiers, fighting against the Communists and the North. When the Communists eventually took over, things only became worse for Linh and her family. They had previously made their living by selling car parts, however when the Communists took over they called them a 'bad family' who stole money from the poor. The Communists took their home, their jobs and most importantly to Linh, their freedom.

Many of the South Vietnamese who had opposed the Communists in the war suffered great repercussions, especially the ex-South Vietnamese soldiers. Linh can say this from experience. Her now ex-husband (who was a South Vietnamese solider) was taken by Communists and tortured. Her brother-in-law who had dared to talk against Communism was taken in the middle of the night, disappeared, and has not been seen to this day. When I asked Linh if she had seen anyone being killed by Communists with her own eyes, after a short silence, she just said yes. However Linh said that even with no work and no home, and only living on family savings, she was one of the lucky ones.

The Boat People

According to Linh, much of the South Vietnamese wealth was taken by Communist officials, and much of Vietnam was thrust into poverty. Due to these conditions and the feeling of immense danger in Vietnam at the time, Linh felt she had no other option but to flee. To escape, Linh and her family had to secretly pay for a place on a boat that would leave Vietnam. Linh and her family were part of the hundreds of thousands who fled Vietnam, famously known as the 'Vietnamese boat people.' A trip that took months of planning and that was full of its own dangers was Linh's freedom from the repressive Vietnam. Linh then settled in the United Kingdom, where she resides to this day.

In recent years, Linh has occasionally returned to Vietnam. Although she is free from the grasps of Communism, on visits to her home town it is still apparent to her of their ongoing repressive policies. Linh mentions how the Vietnam that the western tourists see is not the true Vietnam, but a facade. Really South Vietnam in particular is in deep poverty and to this day the majority of people are afraid of saying the slightest thing against the Communist rule. Linh believes that if she was to ever say anything against them in the media and she was to return to Vietnam she would disappear as her brother-in-law did all those years ago. She maintains that the Communists are strong rulers, however they have deprived their people. Linh says it is the worst case when she has seen a family member fall ill, and they have had to make the decision between buying food or medicine, because they did not have enough money for both. On the other hand, she has witnessed for herself the wealth of Communist officials, who can afford to send their children overseas to countries like the UK and the USA to be educated, many of which she has come across.

Linh finally said solemnly that even though the Communist rule in Vietnam to this day has power over the people, she hopes that one day there will be a rebellion and they will be free.

Friday, 6 June 2014

What Were The Normandy Landings?

The Normandy Landings are also known commonly as 'D-Day' or more uncommonly as Operation Neptune. However the phrase, 'D-Day', is used not just as another name for the Normandy Landings, but 'D-Day', in military terms, means the day an attack operation begins. The Normandy Landings was a huge-turning point in the course of the Second World War, and can be argued as a major contributing factor to the end of the war with the Allied victory. The anniversary of the Normandy Landings is today, June 6, and it took place in 1944. Reading articles in the newspaper about the Landings or seeing the anniversary of the Landings televised or even simply watching the film, Saving Private Ryan, clearly demonstrates the importance of this day, not just as a critical moment for the Second World War and the lives of many, but also as the largest seaborne invasion in history.

What happened in the build up to the Normandy Landings?

The Normandy Landings began the invasion of Nazi-Germany occupied areas, beginning at France, and was intended to involve its liberation. Leading up to the invasion, to prepare, troops and equipment began to assemble in Britain. Bombing also increased in German territories in order to hinder any progress of the German army. In the lead up to the invasion is that the Allied forces attempted, and can be said to have succeeded, in deceiving the Germans. In order to keep secret the plans of their invasion, the Allies duped the Germans into making it appear like they were going to attack north of Normandy instead. The Allies had wanted to wait to begin the invasion when there was good weather, and high tide, however the invasion continued despite overcast skies, on June 6 1944.

What happened in the course of the Normandy Landings and invasion?

Paratroopers were initially dropped inland, making way for the main part of the invasion where forces landed on the beach. Next, nearly 6,000 amphibious ships and warships crossed the English Channel, the warships beginning to bomb the beaches from the water. Soon this force approached the beaches of Normandy. Landings took place at the Omaha and Utah beaches, among others, with the fighting at Omaha beach being particularly fierce, with many US soldiers losing their lives, though securing victory over the beach eventually. By June 17th over half a million Allied troops had arrived and victory was becoming more likely as the Germans were thwarted. Eventually the Soviets advanced from the East and closed in on German-occupied areas and the Second World War was beginning to enter the stage where it would grind to a halt. Another landing in Southern France in August secured the French liberation.

The Movement of Forces in the Normandy Landings

Why was the Normandy Landings and Invasion so victorious?

It is clear to see that the Normandy Landings was a success, however was its victory a result of German failure or rather was it a result of the strength of the Allied forces? Could it be the failure of the Germans? Maybe it was the German preparation along the Atlantic Wall that were at fault, only partially finished, allowing the infiltrated Allied invasion. However it is more believable to be the strength of the Allied forces. Transportation infrastructure in German-occupied areas was severely disrupted by Allied bombers ad French resistance. The Allied forces also successfully duped the Germans. Among many other reasons, it can be seen that the Normandy Landings were victorious due to the strength of the Allied forces.

The Normandy Landings will forever be remembered for generations to come, especially for the countries involved. The lives that were damaged, lost and lived through this crucial invasion should never be forgotten.