Islamic World and Near East History Commons^™

The Levant: France’S Colonial Crucible, Michael Adelson

French Summer Fellows

In the medieval era of religious and political tumult that culminated with the Crusades, (mostly) Roman Catholic Western European citizens from all walks of life committed themselves to conquer Jerusalem and wrest control of historically Christian lands from the Muslim polities that claimed the region. The historical Kingdom of France was a major contributor to the Crusades, and as such, the feudal realms established in the Levant in the wake of the First Crusade were dominated by former French crusaders and citizenry. The geographic boundaries and demography of these Crusader States are reminiscent of French hegemony in the Middle East …

'Not Cruelty But Piety': Circumscribing European Crusading Violence, Susanna A. Throop

History Faculty Publications

Was there such a thing as “crusading violence”? Traditionally the crusading movement has been sharply distinguished from other forms of Christian violence motivated, or at least justified, by religion. However, we have increasingly come to recognize the difficulties of drawing clear-cut boundaries between crusading and other aspects of western European culture in the Middle Ages. This chapter assesses the ways in which crusader violence was like and unlike other forms of medieval Christian violence.

A Fractured Family And Its Heirs: Seljuq Power And The “Sunni Revival” In The Middle East, 1000-1200 Ce, Elijah Sloat

History Summer Fellows

The Seljuq Turks were a group of nomadic warriors who converted to Sunni Islam by the end of the tenth century. Over the course of the next half century the Seljuqs conquered the majority of what we now call the Middle East. One Seljuq dynasty in particular, known to historians as the Great Seljuqs, positioned themselves as the dominant political power in the region as well as champions of Sunni Islam. Scholars refer to this period of Seljuq control as the “Sunni Revival” and debate heavily whether Seljuq political and religious practices were the cause of this “Revival,” as well …

Bosnia: Doomed To Failure Or A Rising Hope?, Caitlin V. Moore

Politics Honors Papers

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country that suffers from a lack of a national identity as it has three main ethnic groups, Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs, who are all fighting for power. After the Bosnian war, which lasted from 1992-1995 and involved genocide that was committed against the Bosniaks, the ethnic divisions were further entrenched. These divisions were not helped by the provisions of the Dayton Peace Accords, which was the peace settlement that brought an end to the war. Dayton created an ethnocracy within Bosnia that places more importance on ethnic groups than national identity. In order to see …

“A Battle For Hearts And Minds”: U.S. Public Diplomacy In The Cold War Middle East, Christopher M. Goss

History Honors Papers

This paper analyzes the development of American public diplomacy in the Middle East region from 1945-1961. The purpose of the paper is to situate the public diplomacy effort within existing histories of the Middle East and Cold War propaganda and to analyze the methods used by the U. S. to shape foreign opinion. Analysis reveals that the U.S. felt the need to implement a foreign information program under President Truman, which was later expanded and corrected under Eisenhower, and included a switch from short-term objective seeking to long-term goodwill fostering. The methods were primarily focused on two target audiences: educated …

Vengeance And The Crusades, Susanna A. Throop

History Faculty Publications

This article demonstrates that the popularity of the idea of crusading as vengeance was not limited to the laity, and, instead of fading away after 1099, the ideology grew more widespread as the twelfth century progressed. The primary aim here is to present the evidence alongside preliminary analysis, reserving further, more detailed interpretation for future publications.

American Indian Movement And The United Methodist Church: Presented To United Methodist General Conference, American Indian Movement

Iran and the Hostage Crisis

This nine-page typed document was written by members of the American Indian Movement addressing the United Methodist Church at a general conference held on April 22, 1980. It criticizes the way the church handles interactions with Native American groups, primarily because it does not give them administrative control over the funding for their programs. It also accuses the Church of effectively sabotaging the Hostage Mail Exchange Service due to the recall of John Adams from Tehran at a crucial moment.

The document contains a resolution in support of the Native American Study Committee and calls on the Church to establish …

Draft Call To Repentance And Prayer For Iran And The United States, United Methodist Church

Iran and the Hostage Crisis

This three page typed draft document is a call to prayer and repentance for Christians in the United States on Ash Wednesday, 1980. The first page argues that the American Church must seek repentance for its complacency and acceptance of United States support for Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi, who oppressed the people of Iran for many years. The following pages contain a prayer that asks for forgiveness and compassion towards the people of Iran.

Letter From William A. Means To President Abolhassan Banisadr, William A. Means

Iran and the Hostage Crisis

This is a typed one-page letter sent circa February 16, 1980 by William A. Means, member of the International Indian Treaty Council, to Abolhassan Banisadr, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The letter claims that the Hostage Mail Exchange Service has exposed efforts of the White House and State Department to prolong the hostage crisis for political purposes. Means seeks continued support for the Exchange Service, noting that it is useful for exposing the lies of the United States government.

Letter From John Thomas And John P. Adams To Members Of The Revolutionary Council Of Iran, John Thomas, John P. Adams

Iran and the Hostage Crisis

This is a five-page typed letter sent circa February 16, 1980 from John Thomas and John P. Adams to the President and Foreign Minister of Iran. The letter gives thanks to the Muslim students for allowing contact between the hostages and their families through the Mail Exchange Service sponsored by the International Indian Treaty Council. It requests that the hostages be released to the care of the Treaty Council and explains plans of the United Methodist Church to engage with the crisis.

Letter From James K. Mathews To John P. Adams, James K. Mathews

Iran and the Hostage Crisis

This is a one-page typed letter, circa February 11, 1980, by Bishop James K. Mathews to John P. Adams to convey a message to Imam Khomeini. Mathews sends his regards to the Iranian people on the first anniversary of their revolution. He notes that on Ash Wednesday, February 20th, many Americans will be praying for the people of Iran who have suffered due to the oppressive regime. The letter also calls for the release of American hostages under the premise of mercy, while acknowledging the injustices brought upon Iran by United States policies.

Letter From Rafeeuddin Ahmed To John P. Adams, February 7, 1980, Rafeeuddin Ahmed

Iran and the Hostage Crisis

This is a one-page typed letter from Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Rafeeuddin Ahmed to John P. Adams, sent on February 7, 1980. Ahmed sends his thanks to Adams on behalf of Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim for the work being done with the Hostage Mail Exchange Service, sponsored by the International Indian Treaty Council.

A Troubled Background: Some Notes On U.S. – Iranian Relations, 1953-1979, United Methodist Church

Iran and the Hostage Crisis

This two-page typed background document was created by the Center for Theology and Public Policy of the United Methodist Church in 1980 to provide context for the Iran Hostage Crisis. It contains a brief history of United States-Iranian relations, with the purpose of explaining the anti-U.S. sentiment of the nationalist revolution. Among other things, this document briefly discusses the U.S. backed coup in Iran, the Shah's close relationship with the U.S., and the rampant corruption and oppression of the Shah's regime.

A Call To Repentance And Prayer For Iran And The United States, Ralph T. Alton, James K. Matthews

Iran and the Hostage Crisis

This four-page typed copied document is the final version of "A Call to Repentance and Prayer for Iran and the United States," which urged United Methodist Church Bishops to ask their churches to observe Ash Wednesday 1980 as "a day of repentance and intercession for the U.S. and Iran." The American Church is called to confess its complicity in supporting the U.S. government's backing of Shah Pahlavi. A brief history of United States-Iranian relations is also presented, along with a prayer asking for forgiveness and compassion towards the people of Iran.

Message From John Thomas To Students At The Embassy, John Thomas

Iran and the Hostage Crisis

This four-page photocopied handwritten document is a letter from John Thomas to the Muslim students occupying the American Embassy in Iran. The letter, sent circa February 1980, provides updates from Thomas on the Hostage Mail Exchange Service. He recounts difficulties with the press, describes his progress and safety, and shares next steps.

A Working Agreement For The Release Of The Hostages Held At The Embassy Of The United States In Teheran, Iran, International Indian Treaty Council

Iran and the Hostage Crisis

This six-page document is a copy of a draft agreement proposed by the International Indian Treaty Council for the release of American hostages held in the United States Embassy in Tehran, Iran. The document, created circa February 1980, proposes that, under the leadership of Russell Means, the hostages be released into the temporary custody of the International Indian Treaty Council in the United States. It also requests amnesty for the students who took the hostages and proposes discussions be held between Iran and the United States in the spirit of future cooperation between the two countries.

Memorandum On The Hostage Mail Exchange Service, United Methodist Church

Iran and the Hostage Crisis

This is a three-page typed memorandum issued by the Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church, circa January 26, 1980. The memo provides background on the establishment of the Hostage Mail Exchange Service as well as its objectives and funding source. It provides locations of drop points for mail as well as the immediate schedule of deliveries made by John Thomas, noting that all mail is non-political, hand delivered and read by the Muslim students holding the U.S. Embassy before delivery.

International Indian Treaty Council Press Release, January 22, 1980, Michael S. Haney, William Thomas

Iran and the Hostage Crisis

This is a typed two-page press release issued by the International Indian Treaty Council on January 22, 1980. The document addresses controversy surrounding the Hostage Mail Exchange Service, noting that the hostages asked John Thomas to carry out the delivery of mail to families in the United States. It states that the Treaty Council was entrusted with this humanitarian mission because of its standing in the international community.

International Indian Treaty Council Press Release, January 18, 1980, International Indian Treaty Council

Iran and the Hostage Crisis

This is a typed one-page press release issued by the International Indian Treaty Council on January 18, 1980. The document provides a list of the states where mail from hostages held in the American Embassy in Tehran was delivered by John Thomas.

Letter From Karl H. Hertz To West European Members Of The Central Committee, January 7, 1980, Karl H. Hertz

Iran and the Hostage Crisis

This is a one-page typed letter from Karl Hertz, Director of the Ecumenical Institute of the World Council of Churches in Geneva, to West European members of the Central Committee. The letter, sent January 7, 1980, informs the recipients of an opportunity for John P. Adams of the United Methodist Church to consult with European member churches on the subject of conflict resolution.

Letter From Karl H. Hertz To John P. Adams, January 4, 1980, Karl H. Hertz

Iran and the Hostage Crisis

This is a one-page typed letter from Karl H. Hertz, Director of the Ecumenical Institute of the World Council of Churches in Geneva, to John P. Adams, Director of Community Relations of the United Methodist Church. The letter, sent on January 4, 1980, refers to a communication sent to all members of the Central Committee and notes the restraint of President Carter during the hostage crisis.

Imam Khomeini’S Message To The Christians Of The World, Rouhollah Moussavi Khomeini

Iran and the Hostage Crisis

This typed document is a message from the Imam Khomeini on December 23, 1979, distributed by the Islamic Republic Party. The message addresses several different groups such as Christians, oppressed people, and the United States. The document criticizes President Carter for his actions related to Iran, makes a plea for all oppressed people to rise up, and asks for the deposed Shah to be given to Iran. One side of this document has the message in English while the other side is written in Arabic.

Imam: Jesus Christ Would Have Reprimanded Carter, Rouhollah Moussavi Khomeini

Iran and the Hostage Crisis

This single page, legal sized, typed document is a transcription of a message from Imam Khomeini to Pope John Paul II in 1979. The message articulates the imperialism and anti-humanitarianism of the United States under the Carter administration. The Imam asks the Pope to condemn President Carter and argues that Jesus Christ would have done so.

The document is partially damaged.

Letter From Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson To Beekman Winthrop, June 25, 1909, Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson

Other Correspondence

The document is a carbon copy of a typed letter from the Assistant Secretary of State to Beekman Winthrop, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, concerning the movement of the ships the Montana and the North Carolina.

Letter From Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson To Fred W. Carpenter, June 16, 1909, Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson

Other Correspondence

The document is a typed letter from the Assistant Secretary of State to Fred Carpenter concerning a meeting between President Taft and the Turkish Ambassador.

Letter From Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson To Edward H. Ozmun, June 11, 1909, Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson

Other Correspondence

The document is a carbon copy of a typed letter from the Assistant Secretary of State to Edward Ozmun concerning a package of Turkish cigarettes.

Letter From Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson To Mabel Boardman, May 13, 1909, Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson

Other Correspondence

The document is a carbon copy of a typed letter from the Assistant Secretary of State to Mabel Boardman concerning a donation from the Christian Herald to the American National Red Cross.

Letter From Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson To Jacob Sloat Fassett, April 22, 1909, Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson

Other Correspondence

The document is a carbon copy of a typed letter from the Assistant Secretary of State to Jacob Sloat Fassett concerning the appointment of Arthur E. Valois to an international position.

Letter From Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson To Lewis Einstein, April 21, 1909, Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson

Other Correspondence

The document is a carbon copy of a typed letter from the Assistant Secretary of State to Lewis Einstein concerning the acquisition of Turkish cigarettes.