Thomas Madden
Encyclopedia
Thomas F. Madden is an American
historian, a former Chair of the History Department at Saint Louis University
in St. Louis, Missouri
, and Director of Saint Louis University's Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies. He is considered one of the foremost historians of the Crusades
in the United States, and was often called upon as a historical consultant after the events of September 11, to discuss the connections between Jihad
, the medieval Crusades and modern Islamic terrorism.
He has frequently appeared in the media, as a consultant for various programs on the History Channel and National Public Radio. In 2007, he was awarded the Haskins Medal
from the Medieval Academy of America
, for his book Enrico Dandolo
and the Rise of Venice
, which was also a "Book of the Month" selection by the BBC History
magazine.
in 1986, and his Masters (1990) and PhD (1993) degrees in History from the University of Illinois.
Madden is active in the Society for the Study of the Crusades in the Latin East, and organizes panels for the International Congress on Medieval Studies
that takes place annually in Kalamazoo, Michigan
. He is the Director of the Crusades Studies Forum and the Medieval Italy Prosopographical Database Project, both housed at Saint Louis University.
. His research specialties are ancient and medieval history, including the Fourth Crusade
, as well as ancient and medieval Italian
history. His 1997 book The Fourth Crusade: The Conquest of Constantinople was a selection of the History Book Club. He is also known for speaking about the ways that the history of the Crusades is often used for manipulation of modern political agendas. His book, The New Concise History of the Crusades has been translated into seven foreign languages.
His book Enrico Dandolo and the Rise of Venice won multiple awards, including the 2007 Haskins Medal from the Medieval Academy of America
and the Otto Gründler Prize from the Medieval Institute. It was also selected as Book of the Month by the BBC History Magazine. According to the Medieval Review, with this book "Madden more than ever stakes out his place as one of the most important medievalists in America at present."
His 2008 book, Empires of Trust: How Rome Built -- And America Is Building -- A New World, examines the histories of the Roman and American republics, seeking elements in both that led to the development of their empires. He finds that their citizens and leaders acquired a level of trust among allies and potential enemies that was based upon an unusual rejection of hegemonic power.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
historian, a former Chair of the History Department at Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University is a private, co-educational Jesuit university located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by the Most Reverend Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg SLU is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. It is one of 28 member institutions of the...
in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, and Director of Saint Louis University's Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies. He is considered one of the foremost historians of the Crusades
Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
in the United States, and was often called upon as a historical consultant after the events of September 11, to discuss the connections between Jihad
Jihad
Jihad , an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. In Arabic, the word jihād translates as a noun meaning "struggle". Jihad appears 41 times in the Quran and frequently in the idiomatic expression "striving in the way of God ". A person engaged in jihad is called a mujahid; the plural is...
, the medieval Crusades and modern Islamic terrorism.
He has frequently appeared in the media, as a consultant for various programs on the History Channel and National Public Radio. In 2007, he was awarded the Haskins Medal
Haskins Medal
The Haskins Medal is an annual medal awarded by the Medieval Academy of America. It is awarded for the production of a distinguished book in the field of medieval studies.-Award:...
from the Medieval Academy of America
Medieval Academy of America
The Medieval Academy of America is the largest organization in the United States promoting excellence in the field of medieval studies. It was founded in 1925 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts...
, for his book Enrico Dandolo
Enrico Dandolo
Enrico Dandolo — anglicised as Henry Dandolo and Latinized as Henricus Dandulus — was the 41st Doge of Venice from 1195 until his death...
and the Rise of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
, which was also a "Book of the Month" selection by the BBC History
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
magazine.
Biography
Madden received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of New MexicoUniversity of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
in 1986, and his Masters (1990) and PhD (1993) degrees in History from the University of Illinois.
Madden is active in the Society for the Study of the Crusades in the Latin East, and organizes panels for the International Congress on Medieval Studies
International Congress on Medieval Studies
The International Congress on Medieval Studies is an annual academic conference held for scholars specializing in, or with an interest in, medieval studies. It is sponsored by Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan and is held during the first half of May...
that takes place annually in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
. He is the Director of the Crusades Studies Forum and the Medieval Italy Prosopographical Database Project, both housed at Saint Louis University.
Awards
- 2005 Otto Grundler Prize, Medieval Institute
- 2007 Haskins Medal, Medieval Academy of AmericaMedieval Academy of AmericaThe Medieval Academy of America is the largest organization in the United States promoting excellence in the field of medieval studies. It was founded in 1925 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts...
, for the book Enrico DandoloEnrico DandoloEnrico Dandolo — anglicised as Henry Dandolo and Latinized as Henricus Dandulus — was the 41st Doge of Venice from 1195 until his death...
and the Rise of VeniceRepublic of VeniceThe Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
Writing
Madden has written numerous books and journal articles, including the "Crusades" entry for the Encyclopædia BritannicaEncyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
. His research specialties are ancient and medieval history, including the Fourth Crusade
Fourth Crusade
The Fourth Crusade was originally intended to conquer Muslim-controlled Jerusalem by means of an invasion through Egypt. Instead, in April 1204, the Crusaders of Western Europe invaded and conquered the Christian city of Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire...
, as well as ancient and medieval Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
history. His 1997 book The Fourth Crusade: The Conquest of Constantinople was a selection of the History Book Club. He is also known for speaking about the ways that the history of the Crusades is often used for manipulation of modern political agendas. His book, The New Concise History of the Crusades has been translated into seven foreign languages.
His book Enrico Dandolo and the Rise of Venice won multiple awards, including the 2007 Haskins Medal from the Medieval Academy of America
Medieval Academy of America
The Medieval Academy of America is the largest organization in the United States promoting excellence in the field of medieval studies. It was founded in 1925 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts...
and the Otto Gründler Prize from the Medieval Institute. It was also selected as Book of the Month by the BBC History Magazine. According to the Medieval Review, with this book "Madden more than ever stakes out his place as one of the most important medievalists in America at present."
His 2008 book, Empires of Trust: How Rome Built -- And America Is Building -- A New World, examines the histories of the Roman and American republics, seeking elements in both that led to the development of their empires. He finds that their citizens and leaders acquired a level of trust among allies and potential enemies that was based upon an unusual rejection of hegemonic power.
Books
- Empires of Trust: How Rome Built -- And America Is Building -- A New World, 2008, Dutton/Penguin
- The Fourth Crusade: Event, Aftermath, and Perceptions, 2008, Ashgate.
- The New Concise History of the Crusades, 2005, Rowman & Littlefield
- Crusades: The Illustrated History, 2005, University of Michigan Press
- Enrico Dandolo and the Rise of Venice, 2003, Johns Hopkins University Press
- The Crusades: The Essential Readings, 2002, Blackwell
- Medieval and Renaissance Venice, 1999, University of Illinois Press
- The Fourth Crusade: The Conquest of Constantinople, 1997, University of Pennsylvania Press
Select Popular Articles
- "Not Dead Yet: The Lost Tomb of Jesus -- One Year Later", NRO, March 21, 2008.
- "Unreasonable Response: Benedict XVI Hasn't Revived the Crusades", NRO, September 18, 2006.
- "Crusaders and Historians", First Things, June/July 2005.
- "Onward P.C. Soldiers: Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven, NRO, May 27, 2005.
- "The Real History of the Crusades", Crisis, April 2002.
- "The Truth About the Spanish Inquisition", Crisis, October 2003.
- "The Real Inquisition: Investigating the Popular Myth,", NRO, June 18, 2004.
- "America's Days Aren't Numbered", The Wall Street Journal, July 4, 2008.
Select scholarly articles
- "The Latin Empire of Constantinople’s Fractured Foundation: The Rift Between Boniface of Montferrat and Baldwin of Flanders," in The Fourth Crusade: Event, Aftermath, and Perceptions (Brookfield: Ashgate PublishingAshgate PublishingAshgate Publishing is an academic book and journal publisher based in Farnham, Surrey, United Kingdom. It was established in 1967 and specializes in the social sciences, arts, humanities, and professional practice...
, 2008): 45-52. - "Food and the Fourth Crusade: A New Approach to the 'Diversion Question,'" in Logistics of Warfare in the Age of the Crusades, John H. Pryor, ed. (Brookfield: Ashgate Publishing, 2006): 209-28.
- "Venice, the Papacy, and the Crusades before 1204," in The Medieval Crusade, Susan J. Ridyard, ed. (Woodbridge: Boydell and Brewer, 2004): 85-95.
- "The Enduring Myths of the Fourth Crusade," World History Bulletin 20 (2004): 11-14.
- "The Chrysobull of Alexius I Comnenus to the Venetians: The Date and the Debate," Journal of Medieval HistoryJournal of Medieval HistoryThe Journal of Medieval History is a major international academic journal devoted to all aspects of the history of Europe in the Middle Ages....
28 (2002): 23-41. - "Venice's Hostage Crisis: Diplomatic Efforts to Secure Peace with Byzantium between 1171 and 1184," in Ellen E. Kittell and Thomas F. Madden, eds., Medieval and Renaissance Venice (Urbana: University of Illinois PressUniversity of Illinois PressThe University of Illinois Press , is a major American university press and part of the University of Illinois system. Founded in 1918, the press publishes some 120 new books each year, plus 33 scholarly journals, and several electronic projects...
, 1999): 96-108. - "Outside and Inside the Fourth Crusade," The International History Review 17 (1995): 726-43.
- "Venice and Constantinople in 1171 and 1172: Enrico Dandolo’s Attitude towards Byzantium," Mediterranean Historical ReviewMediterranean Historical ReviewMediterranean Historical Review is a refereed journal, first published in 1986, which covers topics in the ancient, medieval, early modern and contemporary history of the Mediterranean basin...
8 (1993): 166-85. - "Vows and Contracts in the Fourth Crusade: The Treaty of Zara and the Attack on Constantinople in 1204," The International History Review 15 (1993): 441-68.
- "Father of the Bride: Fathers, Daughters, and Dowries in Late Medieval and Early Renaissance Venice," Renaissance Quarterly 46 (1993): 685-711. (with Donald E. Queller)
- "The Fires of the Fourth Crusade in Constantinople, 1203-1204: A Damage Assessment," Byzantinische ZeitschriftByzantinische ZeitschriftByzantinische Zeitschrift is a Byzantine studies journal established in 1892 by Karl Krumbacher....
84/85 (1992): 72-93. - "The Serpent Column of Delphi in Constantinople: Placement, Purposes, and Mutilations," Byzantine and Modern Greek StudiesByzantine and Modern Greek StudiesByzantine and Modern Greek Studies or BMGS is a peer reviewed British journal which contains articles that pertain to both Byzantine Studies and Modern Greek studies, i.e. the language, literature, history and archaeology of the post-classical Greek world, from Late Antiquity to the present day,...
16 (1992): 111-45.
Recorded lectures
- "God Wills It!" Understanding the Crusades
- The Decline and Fall of Rome
- From Jesus to Christianity: The History of the Early Church
- Upon This Rock: A History of the Papacy from Peter to John Paul II
- Empire of Gold: A History of the Byzantine Empire
- One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic: A History of the Church in the Middle Ages
- Christianity and the Crossroads: The Reformations of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries
- Heaven or Heresy: A History of the Inquisition
- The Catholic Church in the Modern Age
History Channel Documentaries
- Decoding the PastDecoding the PastDecoding the Past is a History Channel paranormal television series that "decodes" the past by looking for unusual, and mysterious things written about throughout history that may give clues as to what will happen in the future.-Episodes:...
, "Spear of Christ" - Decoding the PastDecoding the PastDecoding the Past is a History Channel paranormal television series that "decodes" the past by looking for unusual, and mysterious things written about throughout history that may give clues as to what will happen in the future.-Episodes:...
, "Secrets of the Koran" - The Big Build, "The Castle Tower"