Treatment of Jews in the Middle Ages
In the middle ages, the Jewish people were commonly looked down on. During the Roman times, they were considered citizens, but in the middle ages, they were not even that. Instead, they were called resident foreigners. Their lives were a lot like those of the citizens, though. They still had to follow the king’s orders and put up with his changing moods against them. They also were given protection from the king like the serfs were. In fact, before the medieval times, the Christians and the Jews lived together for many centuries. Even though their work was about the same as a serf’s and their class was not too much lower, they weren’t included in the feudal or manorial system. They couldn’t have Christian slaves or take Christian oaths.
One reason the Christians despised the Jews was because almost all of the people who had power were Christians. The Jews were thought of as being different, strange, and some people even thought they could be siding with the Islamic people who were enemies with the Christians. For this reason they were also seen as traitors. Many people disliked the Jews and rules started to be made keeping the Jews from having equal rights to the serfs. One drawback was that the Jews could not own land. They were forced to live in sections of town called ghettos that were reserved for only Jewish people. Not only did the Christians view the Jews as traitors, but they were worried that the Jewish religion would begin to rise over Christianity. They did not want the Jews to spread their teachings because they didn’t want to lose supporters of Christianity.
As a result, the Jewish people were held back in society by the Christian people and leaders. They were very skillful, but because of their religion, not many jobs were available for them. For example, the Jewish people could not own land, so they could not be farmers. Others who were skilled in medicine could only treat their own people because the Christians did not trust them as doctors. The only jobs the Jews could take were those of artisans, traders, and money lenders. Although some Jews had trouble with these jobs and made little money, some money-lenders became very successful. Christian laws said that Christian people could not lend money out at an interest. However, many kings and queens needed money to pay for expenses in the empire. Because the Christian people could not lend money, the Jews took on this job and were rewarded with having a big role in the medieval economy as money lenders. However, this was a risky job to have. By lending out money and profiting by interest, you would lose money if the king or queen did not pay you back. The money was paid back sometimes, but many times, the king found it easier to throw the Jews out of his kingdom. Some kings also started to make laws saying that Christians did not have to pay the Jewish people back the money they had borrowed. In 1290, King Edward I of England threw the Jews out of his kingdom. Some moved safely to the Netherlands, and others moved to France only to be kicked out by their king, King Philippe a year later in 1291.
One reason the Christians despised the Jews was because almost all of the people who had power were Christians. The Jews were thought of as being different, strange, and some people even thought they could be siding with the Islamic people who were enemies with the Christians. For this reason they were also seen as traitors. Many people disliked the Jews and rules started to be made keeping the Jews from having equal rights to the serfs. One drawback was that the Jews could not own land. They were forced to live in sections of town called ghettos that were reserved for only Jewish people. Not only did the Christians view the Jews as traitors, but they were worried that the Jewish religion would begin to rise over Christianity. They did not want the Jews to spread their teachings because they didn’t want to lose supporters of Christianity.
As a result, the Jewish people were held back in society by the Christian people and leaders. They were very skillful, but because of their religion, not many jobs were available for them. For example, the Jewish people could not own land, so they could not be farmers. Others who were skilled in medicine could only treat their own people because the Christians did not trust them as doctors. The only jobs the Jews could take were those of artisans, traders, and money lenders. Although some Jews had trouble with these jobs and made little money, some money-lenders became very successful. Christian laws said that Christian people could not lend money out at an interest. However, many kings and queens needed money to pay for expenses in the empire. Because the Christian people could not lend money, the Jews took on this job and were rewarded with having a big role in the medieval economy as money lenders. However, this was a risky job to have. By lending out money and profiting by interest, you would lose money if the king or queen did not pay you back. The money was paid back sometimes, but many times, the king found it easier to throw the Jews out of his kingdom. Some kings also started to make laws saying that Christians did not have to pay the Jewish people back the money they had borrowed. In 1290, King Edward I of England threw the Jews out of his kingdom. Some moved safely to the Netherlands, and others moved to France only to be kicked out by their king, King Philippe a year later in 1291.
The Jews were welcome in some kingdoms, though. After the first Crusade, when much of the prosecution of the Jews started, many Jews moved to Poland because Crusaders killed many of them in Jerusalem. They were even encouraged by the Polish people to move to their country. They Polish wanted the money and education the Jews had to help them rebuild their country after the Mongol attacks. They gave the Jews special privileges. During the time that the Black Death hit Europe, Christians in Germany were killing Jews and blaming the disease on them. Some people claimed that the Jews were poisoning the wells. This caused even more Jews to flee to Poland.
Other countries began to throw them out, too. When the king and queen of Spain finished taking their country back from the Muslims, they made many changes to the country. One of these was to get rid of all of the Jews living there. The Jews moved from Spain to other kingdoms such as the Netherlands, the Ottoman Empire, or to the Hafsids in North Africa.
Other countries began to throw them out, too. When the king and queen of Spain finished taking their country back from the Muslims, they made many changes to the country. One of these was to get rid of all of the Jews living there. The Jews moved from Spain to other kingdoms such as the Netherlands, the Ottoman Empire, or to the Hafsids in North Africa.
The Jewish people were also being treated worse. When towns were started forming, more laws were made, and money was more important. The growing social and economic influence of the Jews angered people and resulted in the people persecuting the Jews more seriously. The Jews were commonly “scapegoats,” accused for murdering Christian children to make matzo for Passover. The Church then made the Jewish people wear yellow patches on their clothing to separate themselves from the Christians. This rule was made by the pope. They also claimed that the Talmud had some parts that were offensive to the Christians. They took many Talmuds from the Jews and burned them in public for all people to see. The Talmuds were not the only thing being burned, though. In some communities, an entire Jewish population was taken to a Jewish cemetery and burned to death. Some children were rescued from the fires and were baptized as Christians and brought up in this religion against their parent’s will.
After the 1200s, treatment of the Jews depended on the pope’s views towards them. For example, in 1295, Pope Bonifice VIII was mean to a visiting Jewish group that was sent to congratulate him on his position. He, like many others were against the Jews in a certain degree. Pope Eugenius was another example of a pope being against Jewish people because passed many laws against Jewish people holding office. However, some popes recognized the Jews as people and treated them similar to how Christians were treated. Pope Boniface IX, who ruled in 1389, was one of these popes. He recognized the rights of Jews as citizens.