Crusades scholar Jonathan Phillips to speak at OU April 7

Crusades scholar Jonathan Phillips to speak at OU April 7
Crusades lecture photo

In early April, Oakland University will welcome one of the world's foremost experts on the history and modern impact of the crusades. University of London Professor Jonathan Phillips will speak at OU at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, in the Oakland Center Gold Rooms B and C. His lecture, titled "Saladin: Life and Legend - The Memory of the Crusades in the Near East," will focus on the memory of Sultan Saladin and the continuing impact of the crusading movement on contemporary political culture. 

 

Jonathan Phillips

Jonathan Phillips, a leading expert on the history of the crusades, will present his lecture at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, in Oakland Center Gold Rooms B and C.

Dr. Phillips is professor of crusading history and head of the history department at Royal Holloway College, University of London. He is the author of numerous books on the crusades, including "Holy Warriors: A Modern History of the Crusades," "The Second Crusade: Extending the Frontiers of Christendom" and "The Fourth Crusade and Sack of Constantinople." A selection of books will be available at the lecture for purchase and signing.

 

James Naus, assistant professor of history at OU, said Dr. Phillips is among the most recognized and highest regarded scholars in his field. The lecture will delve into a range of issues, focusing on how the crusading movement continues to influence modern politics.

 

“Jonathan Phillips is one of the leading global experts on the history of the crusades, and his new research concerning the relationship between the crusades and Near Eastern politics is highly important,” Dr. Naus said. “Although the crusading movement ended centuries ago, it continues to animate modern politics, particularly in the Near East.”

 

Along with his writing, Dr. Phillips regularly appears on television documentaries and news programs for outlets such as the History Channel and the BBC. He also appeared in "Back from the Dead: Crusaders," a series that uses forensic techniques to examine the lives and deaths of soldiers from history.

 

Free and open to the public, the lecture is sponsored by OU's Department of History and the College of Arts and Sciences. Refreshments will be provided.

 

For more information, contact OU’s history department at (248) 370-3510.