Jews and Converts in Late Medieval Castile: Breaking with the Past PDF
Preview Jews and Converts in Late Medieval Castile: Breaking with the Past
Jews and Converts in Late Medieval Castile Jews and Converts in Late Medieval Castile examines the ways in which Jewish- Christian relations evolved in Castile, taking account of social, cul- tural, and religious factors that affected the two communities throughout the fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries. The territorial expansion of the Christian kingdoms in Iberia that fol- lowed the reconquests of the mid-thirteenth century presented new military and economic challenges. At the same time the fragile balance between Mus- lims, Jews, and Christians in the Peninsula was also profoundly affected. Economic and financial pressures were of over-riding importance. Most significant were the large tax revenues that the Iberian Jewish community provided to royal coffers, new evidence for which is provided here. Some in the Jewish community also achieved prominence at court, achieving dizzy- ing success that often ended in dismal failure or death. A particular feature of this study is its reliance upon both Castilian and Hebrew sources of the period to show how mutual perceptions evolved through the long fourteenth century. The study encompasses the remarkable and widespread phenom- enon of Jewish conversion, elaborates on its causes, and describes the pro- found social changes that would culminate in the anti-converso riots of the mid-fifteenth century. This book is valuable reading for academics and students of medieval and of Jewish history. As a study of a unique crucible of social change it also has a wider relevance to multi-cultural societies of any age, including our own. Cecil Reid completed his PhD in 2018 at Queen Mary, University of Lon- don. He was formerly a medical researcher and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Clinical Haematology at Imperial College, University of London. Studies in Medieval History and Culture Recent titles include The Triumph of an Accursed Lineage Kingship in Castile from Alfonso X to Alfonso XI (1252–1350) Fernando Arias Guillén Franks and Lombards in Italian Carolingian Texts Memories of the Vanquished Luigi Andrea Berto The Bible and Jews in Medieval Spain Norman Roth The Cursed Carolers in Context Edited by Lynneth Miller Renberg and Bradley Phillis Women in the Medieval Common Law c.1200–1500 Gwen Seabourne Jews and Converts in Late Medieval Castile Breaking with the Past Cecil Reid Mobile Saints Relic Circulation, Devotion, and Conflict in the Central Middle Ages Kate M. Craig For more information about this series, please visit: https://www.routledge. com/Studies-in-Medieval-History-and-Culture/book-series/SMHC Jews and Converts in Late Medieval Castile Breaking with the Past Cecil Reid First published 2021 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN and by Routledge 52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2021 Cecil Reid The right of Cecil Reid to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Reid, Cecil D., author. Title: Jews and converts in late medieval Castile : breaking with the past / Cecil D. Reid. Description: First edition. | New York : Routledge, 2021. | Series: Studies in medieval history and culture | Includes bibliographical references and index. Subjects: LCSH: Jews—Spain—Castile—History—To 1500. | Christians—Spain—Castile—History—To 1500. | Jews— Conversion to Christianity—Spain—Castile—History—To 1500. | Castile (Spain)—Ethnic relations. | Judaism—Relations— Christianity—History—To 1500. | Christianity and other religions—Judaism—History—To 1500. Classification: LCC DS135.S75 C3363 2021 (print) | LCC DS135.S75 (ebook) | DDC 946/.3004924009023—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020048366 LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020048367 ISBN: 978-0-367-47007-4 (hbk) ISBN: 978-0-367-72028-5 (pbk) ISBN: 978-1-003-03278-6 (ebk) Typeset in Times New Roman by codeMantra for Ruth Contents List of figures and tables xi Acknowledgements xiii Abbreviations, transliteration, transcription, and translation xv Introduction 1 1 For the greatest good: Jews in the service of the King 14 2 Demand and supply: Jews and taxes in fourteenth-century Castile 55 3 Neighbours in a century of strife 87 4 The disruption of civil war: prelude to a tragedy 107 5 Portrayal and self-portrayal of the Jew in Castilian and Hebrew literature 127 6 Pathways to conversion 149 7 Identity and power: the rebellions of 1449 198 Conclusions 214 Bibliography 221 Index 245
The list of books you might like
