The Golden Age of Aragonese Jewry: Community and Society in the Crown of Aragon, 1213-1327 (The Littman Library of Jewish Civilization) - Softcover

Yom Tov Assis

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1904113761 ISBN 13: 9781904113768

Publisher: The Littman Library of Jewish Civilization, 2008

Synopsis

The medieval Crown of Aragon reached the peak of its power and influence in the thirteenth century, and Jews took an active part in this expansion. In this detailed and meticulously researched study Yom Tov Assis deals with many important aspects of this period, which was truly a 'Golden Age' in the history of Aragonese and Catalan Jewry, both in terms of their relationship with the Crown and of their own cultural achievements. Professor Assis provides the most extensive treatment yet of Jewish self-government in the Hispanic kingdoms and the mutual interdependence of the Jewish and Christian communities. He describes institutions in very great detail, and examines the acute social problems that arose in the Jewish community and the dissent, polemics, and controversies that divided it. He shows how the proximity of the country to France and Provence on the one hand, and to Castile and Andalusia on the other, made Catalan Jewry a point of contact between Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jewry, demonstrating the effect this had on religious and cultural life, and in particular the consequences of the growing influence in Spain of Franco-German Jewry. The book is based on a very wide variety of primary sources-Jewish and non-Jewish, archival and halakhic material, notarial and royal records-in Latin, Catalan, Aragonese, and Hebrew. By drawing on these extensive sources, the author has been able to create a comprehensive description of the social, religious, and administrative aspects of Jewish life that throws much light on the wider society and economy of that period under the Crown of Aragon. The abundant detailed source notes make this an indispensable work of reference for all scholars of medieval Spanish history.

About this title

Review

A most welcome book, solidly based on vast documentation. It crowns several decades of work by the author in these sources . . . it offers the reader a richly textured understanding of the real context of Jewish life in Iberia during this period. --David J. Wasserstein, Mediterranean Historical Review

A much needed distillation of the fruits of scholarship on the Jews in the Crown of Aragon . . . conveys a sense of the variety and creativity of the Jewish experience in the Middle Ages, and of Jewish history as viewed from the inside. When all is said and done, this is an essential book for anyone interested in Jewish life in medieval Spain, or in medieval Europe. --Elka Klein, Medieval Review

Significant contribution to medieval Jewish history . . . absorbing and enlightening reading . . . One finishes the book with a satisfying impression of Jewish life in medieval Catalonia and Aragon. In addition to the superb text, bibliography and index, the book's appendices are of great value: maps, a glossary of relevant Hebrew Castilian, Catalan, Aragonese, and Arabic terms, a genealogical chart of sovereigns, and an explanation of the currency with monetary equivalents. --Leila Arvin, Jewish Book World

Synopsis

'A much needed distillation of the fruits of scholarship on the Jews in the Crown of Aragon ...conveys a sense of the variety and creativity of the Jewish experience in the Middle Ages, and of Jewish history as viewed from the inside ...an essential book for anyone interested in Jewish life in medieval Spain, or in medieval Europe.' Elka Klein, Medieval Review 'A most welcome book, solidly based on vast documentation. It crowns several decades of work by the author in these sources ...it offers the reader a richly textured understanding of the real context of Jewish life in Iberia during this period.' David J. Wasserstein, Mediterranean Historical Review 'Solidly based on both Jewish and non-Jewish sources ...The picture that emerges from this monumental work does indeed contain many of the elements of a "Golden Age" ...[contributes] significantly to our understanding of some vibrant Jewish communities which have often been neglected ...is to be lauded ...excellent and valuable.' John Edwards, Journal of Jewish Studies 'Significant contribution to medieval Jewish history ...absorbing and enlightening reading ...One finishes the book with a satisfying impression of Jewish life in medieval Catalonia and Aragon.

' Leila Arvin, Jewish Book World The medieval Crown of Aragon reached the peak of its power and influence in the thirteenth century, and Jews took an active part in this expansion. In this detailed and meticulously researched study Yom Tov Assis deals with many important aspects of this period, which was truly a 'Golden Age' in the history of Aragonese and Catalan Jews, both in terms of their relationship with the Crown and of their own cultural achievements.

About this edition

• Publisher: The Littman Library of Jewish Civilization
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1904113761
• ISBN 13: 9781904113768
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 400