Skill Goal: Using one site in depth to address an issue
Subject: Jews and money-lending

In this chapter, one of the issues has been economic development. The important role of the Jewish community in providing essential credit was discussed. Another common appearance of Jews in accounts of medieval history is as victims of anti-Semitism.

Go to Medieval Sourcebook: Jewish Life.

Survey a variety of the texts there and explain why discussions of medieval Jewish life that address only economics and religious violence provide an inaccurate account. Try to answer this question:

From the point of view of Jews, what were the advantages of being a Jew in the Middle Ages? In other words, why given the huge social violence directed against them did Jews not simply convert to Islam and/or Christianity?