Jews in medieval England Flashcards
__ __ __ invited Jews to England in __.
William the Conqueror, 1070.
By __, there were around __ Jews living in England, mostly in towns.
1200, 5000.
Jews were the only non-Christian group allowed in England. How were they protected?
They were protected by charter by the King.
Name three freedoms/privileges which Jews had.
1) Could travel freely; didn’t have to pay customs duties and exempt from many tolls
2) Allowed to trade
3) Rights of inheritance guaranteed
Under the charter, Jews didn’t have to pay tolls and customs duties, and their rights of inheritance were guaranteed. However…
…They and their possessions were property of the King. He could tax them whenever - and however much - he wanted.
Why were Jews usually moneylenders? Give 2 reasons.
1) Restrictions banned them from most other jobs; e.g. they couldn’t join guilds so couldn’t be tradesmen.
2) The Church didn’t allow Christians to charge interest on loans (known as usury), but Jews were permitted to.
Define usury.
The act of charging interest on loans.
How were Jews essential to the English economy?
They loaned money not only to peasants, but to Knights and Barons, so that they could buy land.
Give 2 examples of Royal exploitation of Jews.
1) Jews were forced to pay tallages at any time- i.e. the King allowed them the freedom to make money through usury, then just taxed them, feeding off of them.
2) After 1194, the King could collect debts owed to a Jew if he died without a will.
After __, the King could collect debts owed to a Jew if he died without a will.
1194.
Antisemitism coincided with the growth of the Jewish population in England. Name at least three reasons why people were antisemitic.
1) Jews accused of being “Christ-killers”
2) Rumours of Jews killing Christian children in rituals
3) Jews didn’t have to pay tolls or customs duties, and they profited from usuries. Peasants, who were already poor, felt Jews were robbing them, so were hateful and jealous.
4) Crusades highlighted religious differences and caused tensions.
What is a pogrom?
A riot against a particular group.
When did the Jews offer a gift to Richard I at his coronation?
September 1189.
What resulted from the Jews offering a gift to Richard I at his coronation?
Christians in the crowd were outraged; a riot started and many Jews were killed.
How did Richard respond to the riot at his coronation? What followed?
He hanged the ringleaders and sent orders to every shire in England to leave Jews in peace. Despite this, riots spread across the country.
