Feeling persecuted : Christians, Jews and images of violence in the Middle Ages

Abstract

Book synopsis: The medieval Christian attitude towards Jews included a pervasive fear of violence enacted against Christians. Many Christians believed that Jews committed crimes against Christian children, Christ’s body and the Eucharist, leading them to conclude that Jews were out to destroy their religion and way of life. They retaliated with expulsions, riots and murders that systematically denied Jews the right to religious freedom and peace. Feeling Persecuted exposes the violence enacted by the Jews in the imaginations of Christians and how the images of this Christian suffering and persecution were central to medieval ideas of love, community and home. Images and texts from the period reveal a surprising practice of recreational persecution of Jews and show that the violence perpetrated against medieval Jews was far from simple anti-Semitism; it was in fact a complex part of medieval life and culture. This comprehensive look at medieval poetry, drama, visual culture, theology and philosophy makes Feeling Persecuted an important read for anyone interested in the history of Christian–Jewish relations and the impact of this history on modern culture.

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