Christans and Jews: An ongoing battle
From the first religious laws, councils and leaders of the Christian Church insisted that Jews were inferior and must be executed from all public rule over Christians. Before 900, this attitude had only minimal effect on Jews and Jewish communities. Later, however, it became official policy of the church. In 1063, Pope Alexander the second, made it so Jews were able to live among Christians, as long as they were willing to surrender political power and save the interests of Christian society. The statue of Jews was further clarified in the 1100s. In about 1120, Pope Calixtus the second granted Jews full protection of the law, but they had to be willing to yield at all times to the demands of the Christian church. As a result of such actions, in the text it states, "Jewish life became characterized by a fine balance between rights and restrictions"(Jordan, 49). For the remainder of the middle ages, the attitude of the Christian church toward the Jews continued to darken. This affected the attitude of Christian society as well. Most of the time, the Jews were regarded as outsiders and having minimal contact with Jews and Jewish things was seen as a corrupting influence and a threat to the Christian society. Sometimes Jews were falsely accused of terrible crimes, and this let to horrible prosecution and violence against the Jews and Jewish communities. This became particularly severe in the 1300s, when the Black Death led to an overall breakdown in medieval society. Ravaged by death, famine, and economic problems, many Christians vented their frustration and rage on the Jews, because they believed the Jews had stared the plague by poisoning wells.
FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE CHRISTIANS IMAGE OF THE JEWS:
1. Money lending and pawnbroking were common Jewish occupations during much of the middle ages, and those professions were very unpopular among the Christians. Jewish moneylenders generally granted loans in exchange for payments of interest from the borrower. Many Christians considered this form of lending usury, and they believed it to be morally wrong.
2. Medieval Jews were also involved in international commerce as merchants and bankers. Although Jews did not monopolize commerce, their involvement and wealth were sources of resentment on the part of many non- Jews.
3. In the 1300 and 1400s, economic failures were often blamed on the Jews because of their connections to the business, and this was a factor in attacks on them and expulsions.
FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE CHRISTIANS IMAGE OF THE JEWS:
1. Money lending and pawnbroking were common Jewish occupations during much of the middle ages, and those professions were very unpopular among the Christians. Jewish moneylenders generally granted loans in exchange for payments of interest from the borrower. Many Christians considered this form of lending usury, and they believed it to be morally wrong.
2. Medieval Jews were also involved in international commerce as merchants and bankers. Although Jews did not monopolize commerce, their involvement and wealth were sources of resentment on the part of many non- Jews.
3. In the 1300 and 1400s, economic failures were often blamed on the Jews because of their connections to the business, and this was a factor in attacks on them and expulsions.
Emico and the slaughter of the rineland jews
"Jewish people scattered throughout these cities and were slaughtered without mercy. This slaughter of Jews was done first by the citizens of the Cologne. These suddenly fell upon a small band of Jews and severely wounded and killed many; they destroyed the houses and synagogues of the Jews."
This proves that the Jews were hated, and they were treated very poorly and had a very hard life. They were discriminated against and were tormented without any mercy. The Jews were treated unfairly and were not given a chance to be an accepted part of society. This primary source document proves the torment and torture the Jews endured.
This proves that the Jews were hated, and they were treated very poorly and had a very hard life. They were discriminated against and were tormented without any mercy. The Jews were treated unfairly and were not given a chance to be an accepted part of society. This primary source document proves the torment and torture the Jews endured.