Bart Brown
Strate
HIS 120-02
3 October 2011
The Book of Contemplation / Islam and the Crusades From reading The Book of Contemplation I feel that the Franks are Inferior to the Muslims, in the eyes of Usama Ibn Munqidh. Throughout the literature when Usama refers to the Franks, a “may God curse them” usually follows. Usama rarely sheds a positive light on the Franks’ beliefs, actions, or practice of medicine. The first instance of Usama referencing the Franks was in the story “In the service of Nur Al-Din (Munqidh 43).” In the story Usamas' family and possessions were being transported from Egypt to come to be with him. For the journey they were granted “safe passage” from the King of the Franks. Upon arriving to Acre, from …show more content…

In the story “Digression: A Bridal Surprise” Usama relates a story about a future wife of his uncles’ is kidnapped. Usama’s uncle Sultan sent an old woman along with one of her followers to take a look at her. Once assured by the old woman, that the woman who had been described to Sultan at an earlier time, as being beautiful and intelligent. The Sultan engaged and married her. Once Sultan learned that the woman was a mute, he had ransomed her back for 500 dinars and delivered her to her family. In the story “Examples of Ignorance: Playing with Fire,” Usama tells the story of a group of robbers who come across the Frankish army and intend on robbing them. The morning after seeing the Frankish army camped in a field of corn, during harvest season, the robbers went before the lord of Hama and told him of their intentions of burning up the army that night. The lord of Hama said I will cover you in honors if you do this. The robbers set out to start the fire and were spotted by the Franks, who in turn killed most of them (Munqidh 99). In the story “Speaking of Horses: Stout-Hearted Steeds,” in which Usama speaks of a horse that is sold to ‘Izz al-Dawla ‘Ali and then leased to a Frankish Knight from Kafartab. The horse being a strong steed surviving a few rough battles in which it was struck with a spear in the forehead, and another