The Golden Age of Spain Period - Research Paper Example

? The Golden Age of Spain Period The Jewish history pose as aseries of events that bear the marks of exile, separations and tragedy thus in their powerful and most dominant culture among other cultures. The golden age of Spain period serves as a good example used by historians to describe this nature of events although they are numerous examples that stand to oppose this general view. This was within the period roughly between the tenth and twelve century, a time when Iberian Peninsula was under the Islamic command. The Jewish people marked this as their period that they had expansive participation in the economic and public life as well as their flourishing Hebrew culture. This Jews living in this era were very educated and cosmopolitan too (Lasker 80). Moreover, they engaged themselves in philosophy, science, literature and art though they remained committed to their religious traditions. It is important to note that the Jewish community living in Spain experienced a lengthy and extremely rich history that revolves back about 2000 years to roman rule. The roman period is a time when the Jewish left their territory Jerusalem and dispersed around the globe. The land of sepharad or sefarad thus Spain in Jewish language, is one of the largest contingents of Jewish settlement. The Sephardic community existed in times of peace and lots of prosperity for centuries though it endured some spells of oppression including prosecution (Lasker, 85). In the present day, the rediscovery of a lot of vibrant Jewish heritage of the ancient Iberian Peninsula has been noted and seen. A revival is underway on the Sephardic surroundings on various cultural events and the medieval synagogues in the vast lands of Spain. It has been noted that the confluence of Jewish culture in this particular area provides an interesting journey in studying the past. Cities such as Barcelona, Palma, Oviedo, Seville, Girona, Jean, Cardoba, Leon, Avila, Toledo, Segovia and Caceres found in this region still pose as Spanish Jewish sites (Lasker, 89). The discovery of other Jewish importance’s in Spain is still made up to date in cities such as Lorca where there is a well preserved synagogue that is visible when one is positioned at the Lorca Parador hotel. This is made even though there are cities existing notably possessing very rich Jewish heritage. This synagogue has more than 50 rare glass including oil amps that have been unearthed. Guests from all over flock in Spain to witness the overwhelming rich Jewish culture that is evidently characterized by vibrant architecture, grand hotels, art and to some extends some Jewish festivals (Hill, 55). Jewish religious authority was centered back in Babylonia a place where the Jewish Muslim counterparts held great Jewish leadership in great esteem. Hasdai ibn shaprut a Jewish physician through his efforts enabled the Jewish living in Spain to learn from the Jewish scholarly books. They no longer had to rely on the on the Babylonian academies religious authorities. The golden age was a time of partial Jewish autonomy. Especially as a dhimmis thus a protected non-Muslim living in the Islam world had to pay jizya which is different from zakat which is administered and paid separately by the Muslims. The jizya is similar to a head tax also a payment to non-conscription in the military. It was structured in the Muslim empire for non-Muslims not to precipitate in military activities including bearing arms or receiving any basic martial art. So as attribute, the Jewish society had their own legal system including social services (Hill, 60).In that time, monotheist religions were tolerated thus of the people of the book. The activities that were not allowed were conscious displays of religious faith. This includes bells and processions that were heavily opposed and discouraged. In the Islamic world, identified Jewish including Christians were allowed to practice more freely than the Islam’s could in the heavily dominated Christian Europe. The Jewish were far more integrated within the political and economical way of life in the Islamic society comparing it the medieval Christian Europe. The medieval Islamic world treatment of the Jewish community was very different. Although one may argue that there were some incidences of persecution existing in the Islamic world, generally the Jews faced minimal violence from the Muslims who allowed them to practice their culture (Hill, 67). The Roman Period in France The Jewish lived in France from the roman time all through to the present date. They have been there all through the countries rich hiccupped history. Their hope and fate depended on powerful leaders that included several kings. The Jewish academic and spiritual life continued to shine to greater heights though there was so much of physical hardships’ including a kind of anti-Semitic atmosphere. They produced some of the globes famous thinkers and Jewish rabbis including the likes of Rabenu Tam and Rashi. The Jewish community lived and started building in France during the Roman period. The community living in France was composed of isolated individuals instead of a firmly connected community. This was just after the Romans seized the Jewish town of Jerusalem. The Jewish fled through their boats to French cities such as Bordeaux, Lyons and Arles. Jewish objects from the archeological findings have the objects with menorahs imprinted on them dating back through the fifth century (Tigay, 43). Well, it is vital to know that the Jewish contributed almost in all aspects of French culture including the French society. They have good performance in the field of finance, theater, literature and medicine. Up to date, France hosts the largest Jewish community in Europe an estimate of close to 480000 heads. Statistics indicates that France has more kosher restaurants comparing to cities such as New York. The Jewish communities have records in 465 in Vannes thus Brittany and in 524 in Valence as well as 533 in Orleans. Various attempts were made to try to convert the Jewish to Christians because it was a time where the Jewish migrated in large numbers (Tigay, 43).Records state that in the 6th century the Jewish community had prosperity in France major city Paris. They even put up a synagogue around the lle de la cites in the town but it was torn down, and a church was instead built in its place. In this early time, the anti Jewish sentiments were not that common. After a Jewish man was brutally murdered in Paris in the 7th century, his death was avenged by Christian mob. In the 8th century, the Jewish were very active in the field of commerce and medicine. This led the Crolingian emperors to deploy them to being accredited purveyors in various imperial courts. Besides all this priorities, they involved themselves in the field of agriculture and particularly dominated in the field of viticulture. This was particularly helpful to the Christians for the reason that they provided wine for mass. However, a series of persecutions on the Jewish was noted all over Europe. In the first crusade, it had no immediate consequences on the Jewish fraternity of France in-between the years 1096-99. In the Rouen statements made by the crusaders justified clearly there persecutions of the Jewish all over Europe. It is understood that immediately after the second crusade between the years 1147-49; it was followed by a long series of Jewish persecution (Cater, 14). The French clergymen gave anti-semic sermons frequently leading to some cities such as Beziers forcing the Jewish community to pay a kind of special tax every Palm Sunday. Cities such as Toulouse, the Jewish representatives, were forced to go to the cathedral on every weekly basis to have their ears boxed as a reminder for their guilt. Records state that the first blood libel birth to occur in France took place in Blois in 1171 where a total number of 31 Jews were burnt alive. Patterns Observed in the Two Periods The Jewish fate and hope living on foreign land depended on several powerful leaders in command of the regions. The Jewish thrived under the mercy of Islam rulers during the golden age of Spain period. This was a period when the Iberian Peninsula was under the Islamic command. Likewise, in the roman period in France, their hope and fate depended on powerful leaders that included various kings. This indicates that after the Jewish had fled to exile after the Romans invaded Jerusalem, they fled to other territories that were governed by leaders who allowed them to live in their land. They paid tax just like everyone else and coexisted freely (Cater, 14). The Jewish coexisted freely in the territories that they were involved in issues to do in politics, economics and social matters in this foreign lands. Particularly in the golden era, the Jewish community marked this as their period that they had expansive participation in the economic and public life as well as their flourishing Hebrew culture. This Jews living in these eras were very educated and cosmopolitan too. During the roman period in France, the Jewish contributed almost in all aspects of French culture including the French society. They have good performance in the field of finance, theater, literature and medicine (Hill 70).The Jewish on both periods were allowed to practice their culture freely. They were allowed to move with their own religion by the Islam’s in the peninsular and Christians living in France. Despite the Jewish flourishing in their foreign lands, they faced a series of persecutions. In the golden age period, persecutions were minimal though records indicate that they were killed in some areas. Some incidences of persecution still existed in the Islamic world though it is alleged that they enjoyed long spells of freedom. In France, persecutions were done in broad daylight. After the 1st and 2nd crusade, the Jewish suffered under the hands of their hosts. They were forced to face humiliations as well as being massacred where in 1171 where a total number of 31 Jews were burnt to death (Hill, 78). Work cited Lasker, J. Review of Under Crescent and Cross, The Jews in the Middle Ages by Mark R. Cohen. 2007 print. Hill, F. et al. A History of the Islamic World. 2003 print. Tigay, A. The Jewish Traveler. 2004 print. Cater, D. Fears of Anti-Semitism: More and More French Jews Emigrating to Israel. 2012 print. Read More