Latin law and the pre-existing populations of the Latin East, 1099-1291

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The main research question this project seeks to answer is: to what extent does the treatment andrepresentation of Levantine groups in Latin legal texts challenge modern interpretations of segregation,hostility, and exploitation in the Latin East? This new analysis of cross-cultural relationships between theLatins and their Levantine subjects is intended to challenge misconceptions of the medieval past andtheir impact on cross-cultural conflict in the Levant today.Latin Christians founded four polities in the Levant during and after the First Crusade (1095-1099).Nineteenth century European historians, influenced by contemporary colonial attitudes, presented theLatins' relationships with their heterogeneous Levantine subjects as mutually beneficial (Rey, 1866;Madelin, 1918). Conversely, mid-twentieth century historians, drawing parallels with contemporaryIsraeli/Palestinian conflicts, presented them as oppressive, exploitative and marred by 'apartheid' (Smail,1956; Prawer, 1980). Such perceptions of the medieval past are influential in popular Israeli, Palestinianand Arab thought today, leading to conflict, as recently occurred at the Al-Asqa Mosque; likewise Westernextremist groups misappropriate Crusades history to promote nationalism, white supremacy andIslamophobia (MacDonald, 2023; Esteve-Del Val, 2022; Roche, 2021). Orientalism and Colonialism,combined with ongoing regional conflict, have therefore encouraged a proliferation of powerful,7 / 24simplified interpretations of historical cross-cultural relationships which drive further conflict (Young,2021; Ellenblum, 1998). Given continued tensions, a deeper understanding of the origins of cross-culturalrelationships between Western settlers and existing Levantine populations, drawn from novel sourcesand methodologies, is required to complement contemporary work seeking to challenge thosemisrepresenting the past.This interdisciplinary study reappraises medieval cross-cultural relationships through an analysis of thetreatment and representation of Levantine populations in the Latin East's large surviving corpus of legaltexts. Levantine populations were generally ignored or vilified in traditional Western and elite-focussedCrusades chronicles, yet legal texts regulating everyday interactions with Levantine groups have beenneglected (Jotischky, 2009; Mayer, 1978). Their study, using innovative approaches to legal history(Critical Legal History and Comparative Legal History) offers a contextualised view of cross-culturalrelationships which challenges broad-brush interpretations of previous studies (Ibbetson, 2013;Sugarman, 2018).This project commenced part-time at NTU in January 2021. A case-study article inspired an invited paperat the Irish Research Council's New Approaches Conference (2022) and resulted in a publication inNottingham Medieval Studies (2023). Further papers have been presented at the Society for the Study ofthe Crusades and the Latin East (SSCLE) conference (2021); Northern Network for the Study of theCrusades (NNSC) workshop (2022); and NTU's Law, Human Rights and Religion Flashpoints Conference,2022. Chapter 1 will be presented at Leeds International Medieval Congress, 2023. Positive feedbacksuggests this project has already inspired other scholars' utilisation of novel sources and interdisciplinarymethodologies.Findings will be of interest to Christian, Muslim and Jewish faith groups and those with cultural heritageconnected to the Levant. Preliminary findings have been published for wider audiences through NTU'sCentre for the Study of Religion and Conflict (CSRC)'s blog, and Twitter. Further impact will be achievedby developing learning resources, hosting archive exhibitions, podcasts, and workshops.