Jihad is an intense and lucid five-part series on the ideologies and tactics that drive the global jihadist movement. This introduction proves to be particularly insightful and relevant at a time when the world faces the constant threat of terrorist attacks instigated and perpetrated by ISIS.
The roots of this disturbing conflict, dating back to the seventh century, are explored in the first chapter (subtitled The Sword of the Prophets). As the popularity of the Islamic faith began to rise, it posed a clear threat to widely held Christian teachings. The resulting showdown between the Moors and Christians was a violent one and set the stage for an ongoing conflict that continues to this day of global politics and civil unrest.
As documented in The Jerusalem Crusade, Christians waged holy wars against Muslims until the 11th century, when bloody struggles for control of the Holy Land intensified. Hundreds of thousands of all faiths were massacred.
The Islamic Ottoman Empire aroused great fear throughout Europe, and their campaign to successfully conquer large swaths of the continent reached a critical turning point in September 1683, when the troops of the Christian League struggled to prevent the fall of Vienna. Known as the last holy war on European soil, this battle is described in chapter three entitled “The Turks at the Gates of Vienna”.
The Emperor’s Crusade takes us back to the outbreak of World War I, when British archaeologist TE Lawrence fought alongside the Arab army to defeat an Ottoman rebellion. Their efforts were coordinated according to British wartime interests and strategy.
The final chapter, entitled “Terror and Faith,” outlines the birth of the modern jihadist movement, the most significant of which occurred on September 11, 2001, when the World Trade Center was attacked. Viewers get a glimpse into the rise of Osama bin Laden and what his eventual death means for the scourge of radical Islamic terrorism around the world.
A well-made 5-part documentary series that is both educational and ambitious, Jihad could not be more urgent and relevant.
