Opening Lecture: Thursday, April 10
The Crusades and Us: Medieval and Modern Perceptions of Christendom’s Holy Wars Dr. Thomas F. Madden (Professor of History and Director of the Center for Medieval Studies, Saint Louis University) |
The opening night lecture will be held on the evening of Thursday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Gonzaga's Jepson Auditorium. The lecture is sponsored by the William J. Davis S.J. Lecture Fund, and will be followed by a reception and an opportunity to meet the speaker for all attendees. In this lecture, Dr. Madden will examine the changing ways that Muslims and Christians have understood the Crusades from the time they were happening until today. It examines the constructed and reconstructed memories of the Crusades within the historical contexts and agendas of diverse people and places. It argues, among other things, that modern misconceptions of the Crusades are an important factor in the tensions between the Muslim and Western worlds. Dr. Madden's books include the best-selling New Concise History of the Crusades (2005) and the award-winning Enrico Dandolo and the Rise of Venice (2003). He has also published extensively on the ancient and medieval Mediterranean and the history of Christianity. Awards for his scholarship include the 2005 Otto Grundler Prize, awarded by the Medieval Institute, and the 2007 Haskins Medal, awarded by the Medieval Academy of America. Dr. Madden served for eight years as Chair of the Department of History at Saint Louis University. He received his B.A. from the University of New Mexico and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois with research specialties in Medieval Europe, Ancient Rome, and Islamic History. Dr. Madden continues to write and lecture on a variety of historical topics. His current research involves an examination of ancient Roman imperialism in light of modern events.
Consult Dr. Madden’s website for more information on his various projects and publications: Click Here |
