The Jews in western Europe, 1400–1600 (Manchester Medieval Sources)

This work traces the experience of Jews in Europe during the vital and turbulent period from 1400-1600. As European politics, society, economy and religion underwent epoch-making changes, the treatment of Europe's Jews by the non-Jewish majority was, then as in later periods, a symptom of social problems and tensions in the Continent as a whole. Through a broad-ranging collection of documents, this book sets out to present a vivid picture of the Jewish presence in European life. Subjects covered include the Jews' own economic presence and culture, social relations between Jews and Christians, as well as the policies and actions of Christian authorities in Church and State. The author also draws upon original source material to convey popular Christian prejudices about Jews, including myths about Jewish "devilishness", money-grabbing and "ritual murder" of Christian children. This volume aims to provide a coherent working collection of texts for lecturers, teachers and students who wish to understand the experience of Jewish Europeans in this period. Full introductory and explanatory material also makes accesible the historical context of the subject and highlights the insights offered by the documents, as well as the pitfalls to be avoided in this area of historical enquiry. General introduction: Jews as Europeans in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries......Page 2 I: The Church and the Jews......Page 26 1. The New Testament and the Jews......Page 28 2. Pope Gregory IX’s attack on the Talmud......Page 31 3. Inquisitors and the Jews......Page 32 4. The ‘Jew’ defined......Page 34 5. The Inquisition and Jewish converts in Spain......Page 40 6. A Venetian Jew on trial......Page 44 7. Pope Julius III’s attack on the Talmud......Page 45 II: Expulsion of Jews......Page 47 8. Pogroms in Spain, 1391......Page 48 9. Local expulsion from Toro, 1404......Page 49 10. Expulsion edict, 1492......Page 50 11. Jews convert......Page 53 12. The Jews depart from Spain, 1492......Page 54 13. An offer of return, 1492......Page 56 14. Messianism among Jewish Christians......Page 58 15. Trial of a Messianic Jew......Page 59 16. Expulsion......Page 62 17. Returnees and the converts’ malaise: the case of Gonzalo de Vargas......Page 64 18. Massacre of New Christians in Lisbon......Page 65 19. The voice of the converso......Page 68 20. The Rabbis on conversion......Page 69 21. Bohemia, 1427......Page 72 22. Italy, 1504......Page 73 III: Jews in the European economy......Page 75 24. Economic laws: Spain, 1412, 1432......Page 76 25. The Jew as royal tax-farmer: Spain, 1488......Page 78 26. The Jew as moneylender: Italy, 1479; Spain, 1480......Page 79 27. The Jew as lawyer: Spain, 1484......Page 81 28. The Jew as royal treasurer: Spain, 1488......Page 82 29. The Jew as physician: Italy, 1462,1474......Page 83 30. Papal taxation of Jews: Italy, 1472......Page 85 IV: Jews in European society......Page 88 31. Social laws in Spain: 1412, 1432......Page 89 32. Jewish dress and badges: Spain, 1491......Page 92 33. Sunday travel by Jews: Spain, 1482......Page 93 34. A Jewish kidnapping: Italy, 1434......Page 94 35. Separation of Jews from Christians: Spain, 1477,1492; Italy, 1523......Page 98 36. Attempted starvation of Jews: Spain, 1484......Page 100 37. Racial laws against Jewish Christians: Spain, 1449; Portugal [undated]......Page 101 38. Ritual murder accusations: the story of Simon of Trent, Italy, 1475......Page 103 39. Ritual murder accusations: the story of the ‘Holy Child’ of La Guardia, Spain, 1491......Page 105 40. A Christian Hebraist: Johann Reuchlin......Page 118 41. Martin Luther on the Jews......Page 121 42. Jean Calvin on the Jews......Page 125 VI: Jews in European culture......Page 128 43. Jewish preaching: Spain and Italy......Page 129 44. Rabbinical scholarship protected by the pope: Italy, 1519, 1530......Page 134 45. The Jew as alchemist: Germany, 1472......Page 136 46. The Jew, religion and art: Italy, 1491......Page 137 47. Jews and the Roman carnival, 1472......Page 140 48. Life in the Roman Jewry, c. 1520......Page 141 49. The Jew and the Renaissance: Italy, 1571-1600......Page 144 Glossary......Page 147 Bibliography of printed works cited......Page 154 General introduction: Jews as Europeans in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries 2 I: The Church and the Jews 26 1. The New Testament and the Jews 28 2. Pope Gregory IX’s attack on the Talmud 31 3. Inquisitors and the Jews 32 4. The ‘Jew’ defined 34 5. The Inquisition and Jewish converts in Spain 40 6. A Venetian Jew on trial 44 7. Pope Julius III’s attack on the Talmud 45 II: Expulsion of Jews 47 Spanish persecutions and expulsions 48 8. Pogroms in Spain, 1391 48 9. Local expulsion from Toro, 1404 49 10. Expulsion edict, 1492 50 11. Jews convert 53 12. The Jews depart from Spain, 1492 54 13. An offer of return, 1492 56 14. Messianism among Jewish Christians 58 15. Trial of a Messianic Jew 59 Portuguese persecutions and expulsions 62 16. Expulsion 62 17. Returnees and the converts’ malaise: the case of Gonzalo de Vargas 64 18. Massacre of New Christians in Lisbon 65 19. The voice of the converso 68 20. The Rabbis on conversion 69 Other European expulsions 72 21. Bohemia, 1427 72 22. Italy, 1504 73 III: Jews in the European economy 75 23. The Jewish stereotype: Spain, 1492 76 24. Economic laws: Spain, 1412, 1432 76 25. The Jew as royal tax-farmer: Spain, 1488 78 26. The Jew as moneylender: Italy, 1479; Spain, 1480 79 27. The Jew as lawyer: Spain, 1484 81 28. The Jew as royal treasurer: Spain, 1488 82 29. The Jew as physician: Italy, 1462,1474 83 30. Papal taxation of Jews: Italy, 1472 85 IV: Jews in European society 88 31. Social laws in Spain: 1412, 1432 89 32. Jewish dress and badges: Spain, 1491 92 33. Sunday travel by Jews: Spain, 1482 93 34. A Jewish kidnapping: Italy, 1434 94 35. Separation of Jews from Christians: Spain, 1477,1492; Italy, 1523 98 36. Attempted starvation of Jews: Spain, 1484 100 37. Racial laws against Jewish Christians: Spain, 1449; Portugal [undated] 101 38. Ritual murder accusations: the story of Simon of Trent, Italy, 1475 103 39. Ritual murder accusations: the story of the ‘Holy Child’ of La Guardia, Spain, 1491 105 V: Jews in the Reformation 118 40. A Christian Hebraist: Johann Reuchlin 118 41. Martin Luther on the Jews 121 42. Jean Calvin on the Jews 125 VI: Jews in European culture 128 43. Jewish preaching: Spain and Italy 129 44. Rabbinical scholarship protected by the pope: Italy, 1519, 1530 134 45. The Jew as alchemist: Germany, 1472 136 46. The Jew, religion and art: Italy, 1491 137 47. Jews and the Roman carnival, 1472 140 48. Life in the Roman Jewry, c. 1520 141 49. The Jew and the Renaissance: Italy, 1571-1600 144 Glossary 147 Bibliography of printed works cited 154 Jews,Western,Europe Medieval history General Introduction: Jews As Europeans In The Fifteenth And Sixteenth Centuries -- I. The Church And The Jews. 1. The New Testament And The Jews. 2. Pope Gregory Ix's Attack On The Talmud. 3. Inquisitors And The Jews. 4. The 'jew' Defined. 5. The Inquisition And Jewish Converts In Spain. 6. A Venetian Jew On Trial. 7. Pope Julius Iii's Attack On The Talmud -- Ii. Expulsion Of Jews. 8. Pogroms In Spain, 1391. 9. Local Expulsion From Toro, 1404. 10. Expulsion Edict, 1492. 11. Jews Convert. 12. The Jews Depart From Spain, 1492. 13. An Offer Of Return, 1492. 14. Messianism Among Jewish Christians. 15. Trial Of A 'messianic' Jew. 16. Expulsion. 17. Returnees And The Converts' Malaise: The Case Of Ganzalo De Vargas. 18. Massacre Of New Christians In Lisbon. 19. The Voice Of The Converso. 20. The Rabbis On Conversion. 21. Bohemia, 1427. 22. Italy, 1504 --^ Iii. Jews In The European Economy. 23. The Jewish Stereotype: Spain, 1492. 24. Economic Laws: Spain, 1412, 1432. 25. The Jew As Royal Tax-farmer: Spain, 1488. 26. The Jew As Moneylender: Italy, 1479; Spain, 1480. 27. The Jew As Lawyer: Spain, 1484. 28. The Jew As Royal Treasurer: Spain, 1488. 29. The Jew As Physician: Italy, 1462, 1474. 30. Papal Taxation Of Jews: Italy, 1472 -- Iv. Jews In European Society. 31. Social Laws In Spain: 1412, 1432. 32. Jewish Dress And Badges: Spain, 1491. 33. Sunday Travel By Jews: Spain, 1482. 34. A Jewish Kidnapping: Italy, 1434. 35. Separation Of Jews From Christians: Spain, 1477, 1492; Italy, 1523. 36. Attempted Starvation Of Jews: Spain, 1484. 37. Racial Laws Against Jewish Christians: Spain, 1449; Portugal [undated]. 38. Ritual Murder Accusations: The Story Of Simon Of Trent, Italy, 1475. 39. Ritual Murder Accusations: The Story Of The 'holy Child' Of La Guardia, Spain, 1491 --^ V. Jews In The Reformation. 40. A Christian Hebraist: Johann Reuchlin. 41. Martin Luther On The Jews. 42. Jean Calvin On The Jews -- Vi. Jews In European Culture. 43. Jewish Preaching: Spain And Italy. 44. Rabbinical Scholarship Protected By The Pope: Italy, 1519, 1530. 45. The Jew As Alchemist: Germany, 1472. 46. The Jew, Religion And Art: Italy, 1491. 47. Jews And The Roman Carnival, 1472. 48. Life In The Roman Jewry, C. 1520. 49. The Jew And The Renaissance: Italy, 1571-1600. Translated And Edited By John Edwards. Translation Of Documents Originally Written In Latin, Hebrew, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, And Italian. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. As European politics, society, economy and religion underwent epoch-making changes between 1400 and 1600, the treatment of Europe's Jews by the non-Jewish majority was, then as in later periods, a symptom of social problems and tensions in the Continent as a whole.

Through a broad-ranging collection of documents, John Edwards sets out to present a vivid picture of the Jewish presence in European life during this vital and turbulent period. Subjects covered include the Jews' own economic presence and culture, social relations between Jews and Christians, the policies and actions of Christian authorities in Church and State. He also draws upon original source material to convey ordinary people's prejudices about Jews, including myths about Jewish 'devilishness', money-grabbing, and 'ritual murder' of Christian children.

Full introductory and explanatory material makes accessible the historical context of the subject and highlights the insights offered by the documents as well as the pitfalls to be avoided in this area of historical enquiry.

This volume aims to provide a coherent working collection of texts for lecturers, teachers and students who wish to understand the experience of Jewish Europeans in this period.

A collection of 49 documents in English translation (originally compiled in Latin, Hebrew, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian), intended to show Christian intellectual attitudes towards, and Christians' relations with, the Jews in their midst. The chapters deal with the topics: The Church and the Jews; Expulsion of Jews; Jews in the European Economy; Jews in European Society; Jews in the Reformation; and Jews in European Culture. The entries focus particularly on events in Spain, dealing with the precarious position of Conversos; laws against the Jews and against Christian relations with them; blood libels; the Inquisition; and expulsions from Spain, Portugal, and other countries. (From the Bibliography of the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism)