JEWISH MIGRATION - MEDIEVAL

Question 1

WHY & WHEN DID JEWISH PEOPLE MIGRATE?

Answer 1

1070 began Jewish migration
Expulsion from other European countries
Monarch protection - Invited by William I to be momeylenders from Rouen
Business - Religion prohibited Christians from using usury but Jewish people were not limited
Economic stability - Jewish families became moneylenders
Community establishment - ‘Jewries’ were established
Acceptance in England

Question 2

EXPERIENCES OF JEWISH MIGRANTS

Answer 2

Special freedoms offered by William I and Henry III allowed successful settlement
Homes in Jewries allowed people to establish communities with mikvehs, synagogues and kosher butchers - By 1135, more Jews migrated
Increasing antisemitism - Could pay for castle protection but the interest rate would increase - created resentment
financial exploitation - Jews accounted for 0.25% of population but were 8% of the royal income
Because of the war w France (1202-04) King John raised taxes on Jewish people.
Targeted hate - ‘Blood libels’ made antisemitism skyrocket - they were accused of using Christian child blood for rituals
Italian Competition - Henry III invites the Lombards and makes it legal for Christians to charge high interest rates in 1265
Expulsion - Jewish people were forced to either convert to Christianity or leave the country.

Question 3

Give me evidence for targeted hate

Answer 3

In 1189, 30 Jews were killed during Richard I’s coronation
in 1218, they were forced to wear a yellow cloth called a tabula.
In 1290 they were expelled because they weren’t Christian.

Question 4

IMPACTS OF JEWISH MIGRATION

Answer 4

Jumpstarted businesses b/c of loans
Erected building for unis - Merton College, Ox.
Words like Kosher & synagogue

Question 5

POSITIVE EXPERIENCES FOR JEWISH MIGRANTS

Answer 5

Special freedoms offered by William I and Henry III allowed successful settlement
Homes in Jewries allowed people to establish communities with mikvehs, synagogues and kosher butchers - By 1135, more Jews migrated

Question 6

NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES FOR JEWISH MIGRANTS

Answer 6

Increasing antisemitism - Could pay for castle protection but the interest rate would increase - created resentment
financial exploitation - Jews accounted for 0.25% of population but were 8% of the royal income
Because of the war w France (1202-04) King John raised taxes on Jewish people.
Targeted hate - ‘Blood libels’ made antisemitism skyrocket - they were accused of using Christian child blood for rituals
Italian Competition - Henry III invites the Lombards and makes it legal for Christians to charge high interest rates in 1265
Expulsion - Jewish people were forced to either convert to Christianity or leave the country.