Week 7: Tuesday - recognizing historical bias: the crusades

Formative quiz on ancient china today! (this is based on chapter 5)

Today, we will be taking a look at how historical records are not always 100% accurate. Even in our history records, which should be FACTS, we find bias (our own feelings and perspective) sneaking into the history books.We have to ask questions about historical records such as:

• Who is telling the story? (Is the story being told be the "winners", the "losers", the people in power, the powerless, the defeated, the conquerors, etc.?)
• Why are they telling the story?
• What is their perspective, their common-held beliefs about the world, etc.?
• Are there other accounts of history other than this record that can confirm this to be true --- or --- contradict this written record?

This is the case of The Crusades. We have 2 stories, written by 2 different groups (Christians and Muslims) who record history differently. It is up to historians and archeologists to piece together written records and artifacts to try to accurately describe human history and help distinguish facts from "story" or inaccurate accounts of history.

Helpful Resources for Today's Class:

• The Crusades - Textbook Chapter 14 Section 3 (Today's Reading & Discussion)
• The Crusades (presentation)
• Dynasty Group Presentations -  Peer Feedback Results (spreadsheet with peer scores and comments)