Antisemitism in France - Antisemitism in Europe in The Middle Ages

Antisemitism in Europe in The Middle Ages

Antisemitism in Europe in the Middle Ages was largely influenced by the Christian belief that the Jewish people were collectively responsible for the death of Jesus, through the so-called blood curse of Pontius Pilate in the Gospels.

On many occasions, Jews were also accused of the ritual murder of Christian children in what was called "blood libels". The first known blood libel was the story of William of Norwich (d. 1144) who's murder sparked accusations of ritual murder and torture by the local Jews.

Another aspect of medieval anti-Semitism was the many restrictions imposed on the Jews. As such, Jews were excluded from many occupations because of the fear of competition with the local population. The Jews were limited to settle in specific parts of the cities known as ghettos and were forbidden to own land. Jews were also ordered to wear distinguished clothing or signs (such as badges) since the 1215 Fourth Lateren Council. Some Jews managed to avoid this by bribing the local authorities.

Another cause for the persecution of Jews was the Black Death which devastated Europe in the 14th century. Jews were scapegoated for the plague and accused of poisoning the wells. As a result, many Jewish communities in western Europe were destroyed in a wave of violence. in 1348 and in 1349 the same fate came to the Jews of Strasbourg.

Persecutions against Jews were widespread during the Crusades when a number of communities, especially on the Rhine and the Danube, were massacred. In other places such as England (1290) and France (1396) the Jews were expelled. The greatest expulsion of Jews was in Spain (1492) and Portugal (1496) where Jews were ordered to convert to Christianity or to leave the country within a couple of days.