The Cambridge History of Judaism, Volume 6: The Middle Ages: The Christian World

Description

Volume 6 examines the history of Judaism during the second half of the Middle Ages. Through the first half of the Middle Ages, the Jewish communities of western Christendom lagged well behind those of eastern Christendom and the even more impressive Jewries of the Islamic world. As Western Christendom began its remarkable surge forward in the eleventh century, this progress had an impact on the Jewish minority as well. The older Jewries of southern Europe grew and became more productive in every sense. Even more strikingly, a new set of Jewries were created across northern Europe, when this undeveloped area was strengthened demographically, economically, militarily, and culturally. From the smallest and weakest of the world's Jewish centers in the year 1000, the Jewish communities of western Christendom emerged - despite considerable obstacles - as the world's dominant Jewish center by the end of the Middle Ages. This demographic, economic, cultural, and spiritual dominance was maintained down into modernity. Contents List of Figures Introduction Part I. Jews in the Medieval Christian World 1 The Prior Church Legacy 2 Medieval Church Doctrines and Policies 3 Mutual Perceptions and Attitudes 4 Byzantium 5 Italy 6 The Iberian Peninsula 7 Southern France 8 Northwestern Europe 9 Germany 10 Northeastern Europe Part II. Social and Institutional History 11 The Sources 12 Demography and Migrations 13 Economic Activities 14 Communal and Religious Organization 15 Schools and Education 16 Annual Cycle and Life Cycle 17 The Family Part III. Spiritual and Intellectual History 18 The Sources 19 Languages and Translations 20 Book Production 21 Bible Studies 22 Talmudic Studies 23 Jewish Law 24 Liturgy and Piyut 25 Philosophy 26 Science and Medicine 27 Mysticism 28 Belles-Lettres 29 Polemics 30 Historiography 31 Material Culture and Art Suggested Readings Index