Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Medieval Europe: A Time of Limited Coexistence Amid Continued Conflict

Throughout medieval Europe, it is clear that to a certain extent Jews, Christians, and Muslims lived side by side, sometimes peaceably, sometimes even lovingly. It is even more evident that Jews were regarded as central to the financial well being of the surrounding area, as they were a large source of trade and income for the areas in which they lived. Although these examples of symbiosis are promising, the fact still remains that Jewish ideology was rejected, Jews were walled off from the rest of society, and Jews were heavily discriminated against in societies in which they lived. In many cases Jews lived with Christians, Jews traded with Christians, Jews were protected by Christians, but Jews were never treated as first class citizens to be treated with dignity, respect, and understanding. Steps in many areas were taken to minimize effects of bands of crusaders, but ultimately no official doctrine was released regarding the beliefs of Jews and calling for community-wide understanding of Jewish ideology. A basic requirement of coexistence, comprehension of beliefs other than one’s own, was not met. In fact, as is demonstrated by the years of perpetual turmoil in medieval Europe that plagued the period of time from the fall of the Roman Empire to the about the 16th century, conflicting ideologies led to violent conflict. By not recognizing each specific way of thought as important, and valid, the climate of the times was not one of coexistence, but of conflict, in the theological realm and in the violent streets of the villages of Europe.

[1] Benjamin R. Gampel, “Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Medieval Iberia: Convivencia through the eyes of Sephardic Jews,” in Convivencia: Jews, Muslims, and Christians in Medieval Spain, ed. Vivian B. Mann, Thomas F. Glick, and Jerrilynn D. Dodds (New York: G. Braziller, 1992), 13-14.

[2] Medieval Sourcebook: Innocent III: Constitution for the Jews (13 November 2007).

[3] Gampel 14

[4] Gampel 21

[5] Lynn Hunt, The Making of the West (Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2007), 391.

[6] Gampel 22

[7] Medieval Sourcebook: Bishop of Speyer: Grant of Lands and Privileges to the Jews, 1084 (13 November 2007).

[8] Robert Chazan, In the Year 1096…The First Crusade and the Jews (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1996), 157.

[9] Medieval Sourcebook: Lateran IV: Canon 68 – on Jews (13 November 2007).

[10] Lateran IV: Canon 68 – on Jews

[11] Bishop of Speyer: Grant of Lands and Privileges to the Jews,1084

[12] Gampbel 29

[13] Gampbel 34