Accept the terms or fight to the end?
At the siege of Jerusalem the Christian leaders offered to hand over the city if Saladin guaranteed the safety of its people and their property for a ransom. The decision: accept surrender on terms, or keep fighting at the risk of city and people?
The positions
Saladin and his commanders
the city and its people are dearer than the spoils of revenge
The evidence
he took the ransom, pilgrims and residents left safe, the city without blood
the terms-refusers
the foe is spent; more pressure takes everything
The evidence
they judged the siege had worn the garrison near collapse
You decide
Which decision would you have advised in the war council? Write your reason.
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