Positive Relationships In Outremer And Usama Ibn Mun

The early 12th Century was a time of change throughout the Middle East. A direct result of the first crusade, the County of Edessa, the Principality of Antioch, the County of Tripoli, and Jerusalem all became known as a part of the crusading states, or Outremer. Along with the naming of these states, there came an issue of harmonious living. With Muslims and Franks living alongside each other, there became inevitable opportunities for peace among cultures. However, conflict was still prevalent among the inhabitants of Outremer, and Usama ibn Munquidh’s recounts his experiences in his book, “The Book of Contemplation.” His writing depicts varying degrees of amity throughout Outremer, and this account ultimately proves that the relationships …show more content…
From Munquidh’s perspective, positive relationships were often based on two criteria: the length of time a Frank had spent in Outremer or the perception of the individual being noble or respected. Further, this account proves that, while negative relationships were prevalent, positive relationships could flourish based on the prior criteria.
Positive relations are first depicted in an account between Munquidh and a Frankish knight who is described in writing as being “respected.” Munquidh recounts that the knight grew to spend a considerable amount of time with him while he pilgrimaged throughout Outremer. Munquidh even states that the knight called him “my brother” and that there “were ties of amity and sociability.” In the eyes of Munquidh, this relationship built off the facts that this knight was both respected and had spent a considerable amount of time in Outremer. As a gesture of kindness – derived from …show more content…
The account depicts one of Munquidh’s men, who meets a Frank that welcomes him into his home as a gesture of kindness. The Frank goes so far as to provide Muslim-friendly food for his guests, stating “I don’t eat Frankish food: I have Egyptian cooking-women and never eat anything except what they cook. And pork never enters my house.” Despite his hospitality, after the meal a Frankish woman spots the Muslim in a market and accuses him of murder. Fortunately, the Frank is able to rectify the situation in a matter of seconds, the report stating that “the effect of that meal was deliverance from death.” By dispersing the crowd, the Muslim man was saved from the angry mob, and while this account shows both the cruel and accusatory nature of the Franks, as seen in the market, it also represents generosity and kindness viewed through the host of Munquidh’s man. This account gives the reader a strengthened awareness of the contrasting actions of the Franks who have dwelled in Outremer for an extended period of time and those who have recently arrived. Munquidh sees this classification as a factor of the character of Franks. As he would put it, “Among the Franks there are some who have become acclimatized and frequent the company of Muslims. They are much better