Anna Dereje
Mrs. Baehre
CP Sophomore English 122-4
24 February 2017
Jewish Politics in the Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural transformation from the Middle Ages to modern Europe. It occurred from the 14th century to the 17th century. The Renaissance was known as the “rebirth.” It was called that and is still called that today because it was the rebirth of art, literature, and religion creating a new era. It began in what is today now Italy. Florence, Milan, Naples, Venice, and Rome were very important cities in the Renaissance. Politics and the law played a very important role in these places. In these wealthy growing cities, Renaissance law was not applicable to all citizens and unfair toward Jews.
Renaissance law was not applicable …show more content…
Basically, Jews were forced to convert to Christianity or they would have to leave wherever country they were staying. This first appeared at the Spanish Inquisition, before 1500, when Spain drove Jews out of its country and Portugal forced its Jews to convert to Christianity. However, these forced conversions failed and began a conspiracy that the converts were practicing Judaism in secret. This suspicion led the governments and church officials in Spain and Portugal to create inquisitions (Grendler 210).
Renaissance law was not applicable to all citizens because of limitations. Christians were afraid of themselves being hated or blasphemous from Jewish literature. Christian authorities in many places exercised control over Hebrew printing. Their main goal was to prevent blasphemy and anti-Christian statements in Jewish literature. In the 1550s the pope ordered the burning of copies of the Talmud as part of his struggle against heresy. The church later changed its policy to checking books before their publication (Grendler …show more content…
Another source of friction between Jews and Christians was usury. Usury was allowed for Jews but Christians were just mad because they were banned from doing it. Christians were so against it that they wanted separation from the church. In the 1500s, members of the Franciscan religious order began protesting against usury and other bad activities by Jews. People began to call loudly for the separation of Jews and Christians. Some Christians made accusations against Jews, including that Jews in Trent killed a Christian child and used his blood in their rituals. This claim led to the fall of Trent's Jewish community in 1475 and started violence in other Italian cities.
Renaissance law was not applicable to all citizens because of government. Jews never really had their own government. Even where large groups of Jews lived together, they never really controlled their own government. Kings, nobles, popes, and town councils interfered constantly in the affairs of the
Mrs. Baehre
CP Sophomore English 122-4
24 February 2017
Jewish Politics in the Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural transformation from the Middle Ages to modern Europe. It occurred from the 14th century to the 17th century. The Renaissance was known as the “rebirth.” It was called that and is still called that today because it was the rebirth of art, literature, and religion creating a new era. It began in what is today now Italy. Florence, Milan, Naples, Venice, and Rome were very important cities in the Renaissance. Politics and the law played a very important role in these places. In these wealthy growing cities, Renaissance law was not applicable to all citizens and unfair toward Jews.
Renaissance law was not applicable …show more content…
Basically, Jews were forced to convert to Christianity or they would have to leave wherever country they were staying. This first appeared at the Spanish Inquisition, before 1500, when Spain drove Jews out of its country and Portugal forced its Jews to convert to Christianity. However, these forced conversions failed and began a conspiracy that the converts were practicing Judaism in secret. This suspicion led the governments and church officials in Spain and Portugal to create inquisitions (Grendler 210).
Renaissance law was not applicable to all citizens because of limitations. Christians were afraid of themselves being hated or blasphemous from Jewish literature. Christian authorities in many places exercised control over Hebrew printing. Their main goal was to prevent blasphemy and anti-Christian statements in Jewish literature. In the 1550s the pope ordered the burning of copies of the Talmud as part of his struggle against heresy. The church later changed its policy to checking books before their publication (Grendler …show more content…
Another source of friction between Jews and Christians was usury. Usury was allowed for Jews but Christians were just mad because they were banned from doing it. Christians were so against it that they wanted separation from the church. In the 1500s, members of the Franciscan religious order began protesting against usury and other bad activities by Jews. People began to call loudly for the separation of Jews and Christians. Some Christians made accusations against Jews, including that Jews in Trent killed a Christian child and used his blood in their rituals. This claim led to the fall of Trent's Jewish community in 1475 and started violence in other Italian cities.
Renaissance law was not applicable to all citizens because of government. Jews never really had their own government. Even where large groups of Jews lived together, they never really controlled their own government. Kings, nobles, popes, and town councils interfered constantly in the affairs of the