Lightbulb Café Talk: Penn’s Paul Cobb on Medieval Islam and Christian Holy War
Paul Cobb, professor of Islamic History in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations will give a talk “Getting Crusaded: Medieval Islam and the Pointy End of Christian Holy War” on Nov. 12 at the Lightbulb Café.
WHO: Paul Cobb
Professor of Islamic History, Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
WHAT: Penn Lightbulb Café talk, “Getting Crusaded: Medieval Islam and the Pointy End of Christian Holy War”
WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 12, 6-7 p.m.
WHERE: World Cafe Live Upstairs, 3025 Walnut St., Philadelphia
From 1095 to 1291, Christians from Europe launched a series of campaigns against Muslims in the Middle East known generically as the Crusades. On the basis of the accounts of the Crusaders themselves, these events have usually either been celebrated as a triumph of European ingenuity or a cynical perversion of Christian doctrine. But what happens when we view these events from the point of view of Middle Eastern Muslims, who also left rich and detailed accounts of the European invaders? What happens when we stop to let the Crusaded tell the story, instead of the Crusaders? The answer is not what you think.
The talk is part of the Lightbulb Café, a free public-lecture series presented by the School of Arts & Sciences and the Office of University Communications that takes arts, humanities and social-sciences scholarship out of the classroom for a night on the town. Each hour-long talk begins at 6 p.m. and is followed by an audience Q&A. Café events are free and open to the public.. Seating is limited. Menu items will be available for purchase.
