Medieval Christians justified their ignorance of Muslims through humanitarian-sounding ideals.

Evidence

Ignorance was justified and fortified by the highest ideals: liberatio humani generis. This freedom of the human race has a modern and an unconvincing ring to it. — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 1480

Categorization

• SHARE: The observation that ‘liberation of the human race’ had an unconvincing ring to it even then, a medieval precursor to modern humanitarian-intervention rhetoric, would resonate with anyone studying the history of the responsibility-to-protect.