ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how history movies can be a powerful tool for engaging students in examining a conceptually difficult issue in history and its connections and implications for the world today. It examines the instructional use of Kingdom of Heaven to teach about the medieval Crusades and their legacy of conflict with the Muslim world. Mr. Jackson's case illustrates important features of effective practice in using a movie to teach about a controversial or difficult issue in history. The film served as a tool for visualizing and dramatizing perspectives. He wanted students to consider that the Crusades meant different things to different groups in the past and were subject to a variety of motivations. Mr. Jackson wanted to move student thinking beyond presentism to look at how crusaders and Muslims at the time felt about the conflict. Furthermore, a chief goal was for students to reflect on the legacy of the controversial historical event for our world from alternative viewpoints.
