Question

Hey guys I need help quickly.

In one paragraph, compare and contrast the similarities and differences found in the two accounts, and explain which account is more reliable. Use reasons and evidence from the readings to support your claim.

Ibn al-Athir's Account:The population was put to the sword by the Franks, who pillaged the area for a week. A band of Muslims barricaded themselves into the Oratory of Savid [Tower of David] and fought on for several days. They were granted their lives in return for surrendering. The Franks honored their word, and the group left by night for Ascalon [a city on the coast]. In the Masjid al-Aqsa [the Temple of Solomon] the Franks slaughtered more than 70,000 people, among them a large number of Imams and Muslim scholars, devout and ascetic men who had left their homelands to live lives of pious seclusion in the Holy Place.

Fulcher's Account: Some Saracens, Arabs, and Ethiopians took refuge in the Tower of David, others fled to the temples of the Lord and of Solomon. A great fight took place in the court and porch of the temples, where they were unable to escape from our gladiators. Many fled to the roof of the Temple of Solomon, and were shot with arrows, so that they fell to the ground dead. In this temple almost ten thousand were killed. Indeed, if you had been there you would have seen our feet colored to our ankles with the blood of the slain. But what more shall I relate? None of them were left alive; neither women nor children were spared. Page 1Page 2 Fulcher's Account:Some Saracens, Arabs, and Ethiopians took refuge in the Tower of David, others fled to the temples of the Lord and of Solomon. A great fight took place in the court and porch of the temples, where they were unable to escape from our gladiators. Many fled to the roof of the Temple of Solomon, and were shot with arrows, so that they fell to the ground dead. In this temple almost ten thousand were killed. Indeed, if you had been there you would have seen our feet colored to our ankles with the blood of the slain. But what more shall I relate? None of them were left alive; neither women nor children were spared.

Answer 1

Both accounts mention those who tried to take refuge in the Tower of David, but Fulcher claims all were killed, while al-Athir states they surrendered and were spared. The accounts both claim that all those in the Temple of Solomon were killed, but Fulcher says 10,000 were killed, while al-Athir claims 70,000 died. Fulcher's account is likely more reliable because he was a witness to the event, and his account was written just a few years after it happened, while al-Athir wrote his account more than one hundred years after the event.

Step-by-step explanation:

sample response

Answer 2

Answer: Ibn al-Athir's account

Step-by-step explanation: I've never had a question like this in my life, but it would make sense for the first account because it's objective and straightforward whereas Fulcher's account has much more emotion in it. Like journalism, reports are aimed to be straightforward and unbiased as possible. This includes lacking the writer's own personal feelings. If we analyze by these means, it would make sense for Athir's accont to be more reliable.

Ibn al-Athir's Account:The population was put to the sword by the Franks, who pillaged the area for a week. A band of Muslims barricaded themselves into the Oratory of Savid [Tower of David] and fought on for several days. They were granted their lives in return for surrendering. The Franks honored their word, and the group left by night for Ascalon [a city on the coast]. In the Masjid al-Aqsa [the Temple of Solomon] the Franks slaughtered more than 70,000 people, among them a large number of Imams and Muslim scholars, devout and ascetic men who had left their homelands to live lives of pious seclusion in the Holy Place.

Fulcher's Account:Some Saracens, Arabs, and Ethiopians took refuge in the Tower of David, others fled to the temples of the Lord and of Solomon. A great fight took place in the court and porch of the temples, where they were unable to escape from our gladiators. Many fled to the roof of the Temple of Solomon, and were shot with arrows, so that they fell to the ground dead. In this temple almost ten thousand were killed. Indeed, if you had been there you would have seen our feet colored to our ankles with the blood of the slain. But what more shall I relate? None of them were left alive; neither women nor children were spared.