Impact Of Reconquista On Iberia

The Reconquista is commonly recognized as the time when the Christians rulers “retook” the Iberian Peninsula from the Muslims. However, the significant impact the Reconquista had on the Jews living in Iberia is often disregarded. How did the standard of living for Jewish communities residing in the Iberian Peninsula shift during Muslim rule in comparison to the Reconquista and Inquisition wherein the Jews were living under Christian rule? According to several sources, Jews were tolerated under Muslim rule as their culture thrived and various cities such as Cordoba, Granada, and Toledo had large as well as prosperous Jewish communities. This changed overtime as by the 1300s, when Christians began to rule most of Spain, prejudice against Jews became prevalent. As the years passed, bigotry began to increase, the outbreak of the Black Death contributed to this discrimination because many individuals blamed the Jews for the plague. Subsequently, this hatred gained momentum in the 1400s whereby the Spanish Inquisition resulted in an abundant number of Jewish victims.

Was there anything in particular that initiated this drastic change? More to the point, was there anyone in particular that

commenced this vast change? Differing perspectives offer distinctive explanations as to why this shift in treatment was apparent. Some believe that the Jews created mischief against the Christians, so the Christians were merely committing acts of retaliation. On the other hand, others believe that the mistreatment of the Jews is unjustifiable and deeply rooted from religious division as well as greed.
In John Edward Longhurst’s The Age of Torquemada, the idea that the Black Death was a result of the behaviour of the Jews is reaffirmed as he says: “It became increasingly obvious that the plague was a diabolical Jewish plot to wipe out the entire Christian population of the West”. It is undeniably questionable as to how Jews were capable of executing a tremendously challenging task. As stated by Longhurst, “skulking about in the dead of night, [pouring] the poison into rivers, brooks, and wells from which Christians obtained their water” is the way in which the Jews conducted this. According to the first chapter of this source, the Black Death is primarily what caused the Christians to kill the Jews. Therefore, as mentioned before, some individuals believed the persecution of the Jews was an act of retaliation.
Additionally, in the beginning of David Nirenberg’s article, “The Two Faces of Sacred Violence”, the reader is introduced to the Franks and the annual event of attacking the Jews during Holy Week.

It is mentioned that the bishops tell the common folk that “the Jews have stolen your religion and yet the Jews live with you in your own land.” As a result, these words create violence as the common folk “rush out together in search of Jews, and when they find one they kill him.” The killings and violence committed during this time was also predominately recognized as acts of vengeance for many bishops and other Christians deem “the Jews as Christ-killers.” Again, this idea supports the notion that Jews created mischief and thus, the cruelty directed to them is understandable and

validated.
A consistent view among the majority of historians and writers is that the Muslims aimed to tolerate the Jews in contrast to the Christians who did not replay acceptance towards the Jews. The transition from tolerance to intolerance is one which remains disputable. In A History of Spain and Portugal Volume One, Stanley G. Payne attributed attitudes and policies of this nature to the fourteenth century. Payne claimed that “the official position of the Church … was to accept the guarantees of tolerance but at the same time to put pressure on the crown to keep the Jews in their place and prevent them from becoming too influential in Christian society.” This statement endorses the idea that the Church did not entirely trust the Christian people because one who firmly believes in their religion is unlikely to be influenced by others. Furthermore, “the church also collected a special tax from the Muslims and Jews of the Christian kingdoms.” For that reason, it is unfair to instill the sentiment that this action was exclusively carried out by Christian officials. Several sources have confirmed that Christians and Jews previously had to pay a special tax under Muslim rule in Al-Andulas.
The Christians are said to have been more interested in the destruction of the Jews. Henry Charles Lea’s A History of the Inquisition in Spain Volume 1, corresponds to this perspective. Chapter two particularly focuses on “the vicissitudes endured by the Jewish race, from when Christianity became dominant.” However, Lea does not solely condemn the Church alone.
Needless to say, the Jews lived in convergence with Muslim and Christians under Islamic Spain, Al-Andulas. It is evident that ruling Spain implied that Muslims had greater rights than non-Muslims. Nonetheless, in this century, Moorish toleration to other religions was present. It is necessary to differentiate between tolerance and equality because at this time period, tolerance was restricted and it did not extend to equality.