The Jews of Medieval Western Christendom
The Jews of Medieval Western Christendom
Between the years AD 1000 and 1500, western Christendom absorbed by conquest and attracted through immigration a growing number of Jews. This community was to make a valuable contribution to rapidly developing European civilisation but was also to suffer some terrible setbacks, culminating in a series of expulsions from the more advanced westerly areas of Europe. At the same time, vigorous new branches of world Jewry emerged and a rich new Jewish cultural legacy was created. In this important historical synthesis, Robert Chazan discusses the Jewish experience over a 500 year period across the entire continent of Europe. As well as being the story of medieval Jewry, the book simultaneously illuminates important aspects of majority life in Europe during this period. This book is essential reading for all students of medieval Jewish history and an important reference for any scholar of medieval Europe.
- The first new synthesis of medieval Jewish history to be published in ten years
- Written by one of the world's leading authorities on medieval Jewish history
- Covers 500 years and the entire continent of Europe
Reviews & endorsements
"...this book is highly readable and well conceived." -Dean Phillip Bell, H-HRE
" Robert Chazen has presented a clear, concise, yet complex synthetic history of medieval European Jewish communities from 1000-1500. There is much here of use for a variety of readers..."
- Dana Wessell Lightfoot, Canadian Journal of History
"...well rounded and highly informed presentation..." -Michael Toch, The Medieval Review
"As a survey of Jewish-Christian relations, this is certainly a good starting point for students." -R. N. Swanson, Sixteenth Century Journal
Product details
December 2006Adobe eBook Reader
9780511254765
0 pages
0kg
3 maps
This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.
.jpg)
Table of Contents
- List of maps
- Preface
- Introduction
- Part I. Prior Legacies:
- 1. The Muslim legacy
- 2. The Christian legacy
- 3. The Jewish legacy
- Part II. The Pan-European Roman Catholic Church:
- 4. Theological doctrine
- 5. Ecclesiastical policies
- 6. Imagery of Judaism and the Jews
- 7. Cultural and spiritual creativity: danger, challenge, stimulus
- 8. Looking ahead
- Part III. The Older Jewries of the South:
- 9. Southern France
- 10. Christian Spain
- 11. Italy and Sicily
- Part IV. The Newer Jewries of the North: Northern France:
- 12. Northern France
- 13. England
- Part V. The Newer Jewries of the North: Germany and Eastern Europe:
- 14. Germany
- 15. Eastern Europe
- Part VI. Material Challenges, Successes and Failures:
- 16. Obstacles and attractions
- 17. The governing authorities
- 18. Successes
- 19. The dynamics of deterioration
- Part VII. Spiritual Challenges, Successes and Failures:
- 20. Proselytizing, conversion and resistance
- 21. Strengthening traditional lines of Jewish cultural creativity
- 22. Innovative lines of cultural creativity
- 23. New and creative Jewish culture
- Epilogue
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index.
