| Unit name | Jews and Judaism in Medieval and Early Modern Europe |
|---|---|
| Unit code | HISTM0030 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Dr. Austin |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of History (Historical Studies) |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This module will trace the major shifts in the history of the Jews in Europe between c.1200 and c.1700, beginning with the growth of anti-semitic sentiment, leading to the expulsion of the Jews from virtually all of western Europe by 1492, their survival in pockets in Italy and eastern Europe through the sixteenth century, through to their gradual readmission into the west through the seventeenth century. Though following a roughly chronological framework, emphasis will be placed on themes which stretch over a broader time-period. Moreover, the relationship between Judaism and Christianity will not be seen in exclusively negative terms. Thus, while the growth of anti-semitism, the rise of persecution, and the reasons for both, will be considered, attention will also be devoted to understanding Jewish culture and learning on its own terms, to more positive attitudes towards Jews and Judaism from Christians, and to the reciprocal influences between Jewish and Christian cultures.
