The Crusades: Pope Urban's Speech

Yesterday and today, the students read and analyzed Pope Urban II's famous speech to the Franks. The Pope asked the Franks to embark on a journey to Jerusalem, to reclaim it from the Turks. Here are some of the responses to my questions about the speech.

In his speech at Clermont, why did Pope Urban II refer to himself as "we" rather than "I"?

Diego and Kendall: He was trying to make the Franks feel like a team.

John and Asa: He was trying to include all the Christians, in order to convince them that it was everyone's responsibility to defend the Holy Land.

Isabel and Ford: The Pope was referring to himself and Jesus. That makes him seem more powerful and important, because it seems like he really knows Jesus.

Why might a historian prefer to read the transcript of Pope Urban's speech, rather than reading another historian's book that summarized the speech?

Annabelle and Sam: A historian would rather read the actual speech because it would be more detailed and would show how serious the medieval people were about their religion. It's a better way to understand the way that they thought and lived.

Zara, James and Joey: If another historian puts Pope Urban's speech into his own words, the details could be changed. This way, it's more reliable.

Why did Pope Urban include quotes from the Bible in his speech?

Fletcher and Eli: He wanted the Franks to believe they were doing God's will. Including the quotes from the Bible would make it more likely that they would decide to go on the Crusade.

Ellen, Carter V. and Lydia: Christianity was a focus of many people's lives back then, so he wanted to make the Bible a major part of his speech. This would help people to come on the Crusade, because they would feel that God is involved.