Hana Sato, Grade 12
UWC Costa Rica
If such magical technology like time machines existed, I would travel to the year 1226, in the absolute middle of the Middle Ages. I would travel back to Jerusalem to experience the alluring mixture of religions and cultures that happened during that epoch. Traveling back to experience the avant-garde results of the sixth crusade led by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II (my favorite historical character) would totally be an impossible but stunning experience. The years 1225 to 1228, when Frederick II became Jerusalem's king, were the only years during the long Middle Ages history in which Christian and Islamic religions were coliving peacefully in the same sacred region. Even nowadays, there remains religious conflicts in the Eastern region; it is such a radical incident that almost 800 years ago there existed, although ephemeral, religious peace.
Frederick II was first the king of Sicily, then he became the Holy Roman Emperor by heritage from his father. During the Middle Ages oftenly happened what is known as crusades (religious wars directed by the Roman church, commonly undertaken in external continents from Europe). After getting excommunicated (expelled from the Catholic religion) from the Catholic Church, Frederick II accepted to lead the Sixth Crusade to be religiously accepted again by the church. However, since at that era in Sicily there were many arabic and islamic religious population, he also grew up surrounded by this religious-cultural diversity, thus, his intentions were to avoid bloody wars and peacefully reach Jerusalem. Before leaving, he wrote an extensive letter to al-Kamil, Egyptian emperor and most powerful Islamic authority, to allow them rule Jerusalem temporarily within the conditions of not harming anyone nor islamic belief (including churches or philosophy). This petition being accepted, it was named as the Treaty of Jaffa.
I would terribly love to visit this era to meet Frederick II and have a long talk with him about his religious and cultural diversity perspective. He is known for having an unorthodox outlook during that era in which Christiany was dominant in Europe. I believe that even in this modern era in which we live there are still many values that we can learn from him as a pioneer of religious tolerance (in such a controversial historical period!). Also, I would like to ask him for a maybe not too-updated touristic guide for Sicily Island; he is also well-known as his motherland, Sicily, fanatic, what we would call as patriotic.
Surprisingly, once the religious divergence was accepted by higher authorities, both catholic and islamic believers lived harmoniously in Jerusalem. Regardless of the many cultural differences and unaccustomed traditions for both sides, they were able to thrive together. I would like to see this peculiar lifestyle. Imagine witnessing salah (Islamic five daily prayers) and Christian worship on the same day! This affirms that religious differences were not a justifiable reason to preclude culture and knowledge. Nonetheless, this harmony in Jerusalem only lasted about three years; but in my opinion, three years that demonstrated the prospect of multiple historical possibilities for the religion’s progress manners. Religious conflicts are still happening today, but I believe that there are so many people in the world awaiting the day in which all of this will cease and every belief will be equally and universally accepted.
Lastly, I may not be able to visit 1226 Jerusalem, however, I can still go to modern Jerusalem and view the amazing architecture there. Architecture, in my opinion, is one of the most fascinating art expressions throughout history since on many occasions it remains as a relic of various era's knowledge. Jerusalem is annually visited by so many people regardless of religion or ethnicity; some may travel to achieve their religious holy city, some others may travel to lively learn about other cultures, or simply to experience the mixed ambience of three different religions. Jerusalem is one of the cities I want to visit the most.
History is truly interesting, on many occasions it seems like it is being continuously repeated, over and over again; however, I believe that there is always at least a small change, a small improvement perhaps. Religion will always be a serious and profound topic, of course, it is about people's philosophy and values, there is no way it can ever be undervalued. But it does not mean that different religions can not coincide with each other, in fact, 800 years ago it was possible, and now we are in a more open minded world than that time. For today, such magical technology like time machines do not exist yet, so I will travel around the present to get to know a little bit about what I couldn't live. Perhaps in the near future I will be traveling in Sicily putting flowers on Frederick II's grave, who knows.
Bibliography
Cartwright, Mark. "Sixth Crusade." World History Encyclopedia Digital Edition, September, 2018.
Wolf, Gunther. "Frederick II". Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Dec. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frederick-II-Holy-Roman-emperor. Accessed 5 August 2022.
Paterson, Linda. "Frederick II and the Sixth Crusade." Singing the Crusades: French and Occitan Lyric Responses to the Crusading Movements, 1137–1336. Boydell & Brewer, 2018. 136-53. Print.
Image Courtesy: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frederick_II,_Holy_Roman_Emperor,_old_fresco.jpg
Frederick II was first the king of Sicily, then he became the Holy Roman Emperor by heritage from his father. During the Middle Ages oftenly happened what is known as crusades (religious wars directed by the Roman church, commonly undertaken in external continents from Europe). After getting excommunicated (expelled from the Catholic religion) from the Catholic Church, Frederick II accepted to lead the Sixth Crusade to be religiously accepted again by the church. However, since at that era in Sicily there were many arabic and islamic religious population, he also grew up surrounded by this religious-cultural diversity, thus, his intentions were to avoid bloody wars and peacefully reach Jerusalem. Before leaving, he wrote an extensive letter to al-Kamil, Egyptian emperor and most powerful Islamic authority, to allow them rule Jerusalem temporarily within the conditions of not harming anyone nor islamic belief (including churches or philosophy). This petition being accepted, it was named as the Treaty of Jaffa.
I would terribly love to visit this era to meet Frederick II and have a long talk with him about his religious and cultural diversity perspective. He is known for having an unorthodox outlook during that era in which Christiany was dominant in Europe. I believe that even in this modern era in which we live there are still many values that we can learn from him as a pioneer of religious tolerance (in such a controversial historical period!). Also, I would like to ask him for a maybe not too-updated touristic guide for Sicily Island; he is also well-known as his motherland, Sicily, fanatic, what we would call as patriotic.
Surprisingly, once the religious divergence was accepted by higher authorities, both catholic and islamic believers lived harmoniously in Jerusalem. Regardless of the many cultural differences and unaccustomed traditions for both sides, they were able to thrive together. I would like to see this peculiar lifestyle. Imagine witnessing salah (Islamic five daily prayers) and Christian worship on the same day! This affirms that religious differences were not a justifiable reason to preclude culture and knowledge. Nonetheless, this harmony in Jerusalem only lasted about three years; but in my opinion, three years that demonstrated the prospect of multiple historical possibilities for the religion’s progress manners. Religious conflicts are still happening today, but I believe that there are so many people in the world awaiting the day in which all of this will cease and every belief will be equally and universally accepted.
Lastly, I may not be able to visit 1226 Jerusalem, however, I can still go to modern Jerusalem and view the amazing architecture there. Architecture, in my opinion, is one of the most fascinating art expressions throughout history since on many occasions it remains as a relic of various era's knowledge. Jerusalem is annually visited by so many people regardless of religion or ethnicity; some may travel to achieve their religious holy city, some others may travel to lively learn about other cultures, or simply to experience the mixed ambience of three different religions. Jerusalem is one of the cities I want to visit the most.
History is truly interesting, on many occasions it seems like it is being continuously repeated, over and over again; however, I believe that there is always at least a small change, a small improvement perhaps. Religion will always be a serious and profound topic, of course, it is about people's philosophy and values, there is no way it can ever be undervalued. But it does not mean that different religions can not coincide with each other, in fact, 800 years ago it was possible, and now we are in a more open minded world than that time. For today, such magical technology like time machines do not exist yet, so I will travel around the present to get to know a little bit about what I couldn't live. Perhaps in the near future I will be traveling in Sicily putting flowers on Frederick II's grave, who knows.
Bibliography
Cartwright, Mark. "Sixth Crusade." World History Encyclopedia Digital Edition, September, 2018.
Wolf, Gunther. "Frederick II". Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Dec. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frederick-II-Holy-Roman-emperor. Accessed 5 August 2022.
Paterson, Linda. "Frederick II and the Sixth Crusade." Singing the Crusades: French and Occitan Lyric Responses to the Crusading Movements, 1137–1336. Boydell & Brewer, 2018. 136-53. Print.
Image Courtesy: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frederick_II,_Holy_Roman_Emperor,_old_fresco.jpg
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