The Jews

Elman (1937)

ultimately responsible for the expulsion was the payments made by the Jews to the crown

Richardson (1960)

sheriffs and constables, their serjeants and baliffs were potential oppressors

Moore (2007)

expulsion of Jews … was the result not of any growing hostility from the community at large, but of financial pressure which Edward I chose to meet by this single and arbitrary action

Stacey (2012)

Adam of Bristol booklet would fit comfortably within the Franciscan milieu, whether lay or clerical

Vincent (1995)

Jews had already sunk so low in the estimation of their Christian neighbours and were already so segregated that any specifically Jewish symbol…would only reinforce their otherness

What two economic functions did the Jews perform?

Means through which to pay debt without Christians having to moneylend

Source of additional tax for crown through tallages

Give two reasons Jews could no longer perform their economic function

Replaced by Gascons and Italians

Decline in prosperity

How did Magna Carta result in a decrease in Jewish prosperity?

Clause 14 stated king needed consent of common council the levy aid

What development under Edward I further disadvantaged Jews?

Development of parliamentary state

Give 3 areas of life in which the crown had afforded the Jews protection

Physical protection

Religious freedom

Legal rights

Give an example of Jews being granted physical protection

Sheltered at the castle during York pogrom

What protection did Henry II grant in 1177

Jewish cemeteries built outside of London

Provide a quote, supporting economic reasons for the expulsion, from Edwards letter to the Sheriff of Gloucester

throughout his bailiwick prohibiting any one from injuring or wronging the Jews

Name three stories of blood libel which were circulating

William of Norwich

Little St Hugh

Adam of Bristol

What “tradition” did the Jews have according to the tale of Little St Hugh?

Sacrificing a boy like Christ every easter

Give two examples of Jewish oppression being linked to Christian Holy days

William of Norwich murdered on Maundy Thursday

Jews had to leave by All Saints and All Souls 1290

Give an example of coexistence in the Adam of Bristol story

Samuels maidservant was a Christian

Give two example of the writer of Adam of Bristol being aware of Jewish anti-Christian polemic

how beautifully the Christian God smiles

Virgin Mary is “that whore”

What was the point of no return for Jewish Oppression?

1275 Statute of the Jewry

Provide an example of a state act of antisemitism

Henry III visited Little St Hugh’s burial site in 1255

What was the synods response to Sturt at the 144 Synod?

Sheriff protected Norwich Jews in castle

What does the case of Richard of Bisbrooke suggest?

Jewish records were always kept separately creating mechanism for othering

1221 decree that Jews should wear badges can be read as…

part of general increase distinction between groups using family crests etc

Where does the first explicitly anti-Jewish caricature appear?

1233 exchequer tax receipt marginalia

Why did Richard I’s coronation take place in a state of heightened religious fervor?

He played major role in the crusades

Give a quote from one of Richards advisors

Once the Jews in the city of London had been sacrificed to their father, the devil the other towns and cities in the region emulated the faithful Londoners

What was the final act of the York rebels?

destroyed the same bonds of unholy greed in solemn flames

What type of person bought into stories of blood libel the most?

Rural people who never interacted with jews

Why is bottom up history so important for medieval Jewish history?

Intolerance started at a localised level

What is the trend for the link between institutions and oppression?

became more involved, starting with church and ending with king

What is key about the historiography of this debate?

Emerges at important date for Jewish history eg Elman writing in 1937

Why is Lipton’s work so revolutionary?

Uses new type of source

give an example of post-1290 artwork which depicted Jews as monsters to regular people

Ecclesia and Synagoga imagery