Why I'm a history major
Canon 68:
In some provinces a difference in dress distinguishes the Jews or Saracens from the Christians, but in certain others such a confusion has grown up that they cannot be distinguished by any difference. Thus it happens at times that through error Christians have relations with the women of Jews or Saracens (muslims), and Jews and Saracens with Christian women. Therefore, that they may not, under pretext of error of this sort, excuse themselves in the future for the excesses of such prohibited intercourse, we decree that such Jews and Saracens of both sexes in every Christian province and at all times shall be marked off in the eyes of the public from other peoples through the character of their dress. Particularly, since it may be read in the writings of Moses [Numbers 15:37-41], that this very law has been enjoined upon them.
Moreover, during the last three days before Easter and especially on Good Friday, they shall not go forth in public at all, for the reason that some of them on these very days, as we hear, do not blush to go forth better dressed and are not afraid to mock the Christians who maintain the memory of the most holy Passion by wearing signs of mourning.
An Accusation of the Ritual Murder of a Christian Child by Jews (taken from my Western Civ. class):
(8 year old boy) Harold, who is buried in the Church of St. Peter the Apostle, at Gloucester...is said to have been carried away secretly by Jews, in the opinion of many, on Feb. 21, and by them hidden till March 16. On that night, on the sixth of the preceeding feast, the Jews of all England coming together as if to circumcise a certain boy, pretend deceitfully that they are about to celebrate the feast (Passover) appointed by law in such case, and decieving the citizens of Gloucester with the fraud, they tortured the lad placed before them with immense tortures. IT IS TRUE NO CHRISTIAN WAS PRESENT, OR SAW OR HEARD THE DEED, NOR HAVE WE FOUND THAT ANYTHING WAS BETRAYED BY ANY JEW. But a little while after when the whole convent of monks at Gloucester and almost all the citizens of that city, and innumerable persons coming to the spectacle, saw the wounds of the dead body, scars of fire, the thorns fixed on his head, and liquid wax poured into the eyes of the face, and touched it with the diligent examination of their hands, those tortures were believed or GUESSED to have been inflicted on him in that manner. It was clear that they had made him a glorious martyr to Christ, being slain without sin, and having bound his feet with his own girdle, threw him into the river Severn.
The Regulations of Avignon, 1243 (from the same book):
Likewise, we declare that Jews or whore3s shall not dare touch their hands either bread or fruit put out for sale, and that they should do this they must buy what they have touched.
What i've gathered...
The crusades were attempts to rid Islam and muslims from the Holy Land and anyone was not Christian. Military forces were sent to Jarusalem to rid the Holy Land of the "enemies of God." But back at home there was the fight to rid the Jews. Since kings and Popes were hand in hand, flewing they power over each other, it was easy to establish local beliefs and laws to convince the locals to rid the "Murderers of Christ." After Jews were excluded from practicing most trades by the guild system, some Jews turned to moneylending as a way to survive. Kings portrayed themselves as protectors of Jews in earlier years but took the money from Jewish communites and renounced their protection by the end of the 13th century. As expulsion of the Jews spread through europe, northern european countries forced jews into Poland (which became a factor for NAZI germany's invasion of Poland).
From my Western Civ. book...
"The Crusades prompted evil side effects that would haunt European society for generations. The first widespread attacks on the Jews began in the Crusades. As some Christians argued, to undertake holy wars against infidel Muslims while the 'murderers of Christ" ran free at home was unthinkable. The massacre of Jews became a regular feature of medieval European life."
Also
"Dissent from church teaching and practices grew, leading to a climate of fear and intolerance as the church responded with inquisitorial procedures to enforce conformaity to its teachings."
Take it as you will, i have my thoughts but i will spare them in this context.
This isnt meant to offend anyone or force any beliefs onto anyone. Its just what interested me in my readings tonight as well as a few of my thoughts.
In some provinces a difference in dress distinguishes the Jews or Saracens from the Christians, but in certain others such a confusion has grown up that they cannot be distinguished by any difference. Thus it happens at times that through error Christians have relations with the women of Jews or Saracens (muslims), and Jews and Saracens with Christian women. Therefore, that they may not, under pretext of error of this sort, excuse themselves in the future for the excesses of such prohibited intercourse, we decree that such Jews and Saracens of both sexes in every Christian province and at all times shall be marked off in the eyes of the public from other peoples through the character of their dress. Particularly, since it may be read in the writings of Moses [Numbers 15:37-41], that this very law has been enjoined upon them.
Moreover, during the last three days before Easter and especially on Good Friday, they shall not go forth in public at all, for the reason that some of them on these very days, as we hear, do not blush to go forth better dressed and are not afraid to mock the Christians who maintain the memory of the most holy Passion by wearing signs of mourning.
An Accusation of the Ritual Murder of a Christian Child by Jews (taken from my Western Civ. class):
(8 year old boy) Harold, who is buried in the Church of St. Peter the Apostle, at Gloucester...is said to have been carried away secretly by Jews, in the opinion of many, on Feb. 21, and by them hidden till March 16. On that night, on the sixth of the preceeding feast, the Jews of all England coming together as if to circumcise a certain boy, pretend deceitfully that they are about to celebrate the feast (Passover) appointed by law in such case, and decieving the citizens of Gloucester with the fraud, they tortured the lad placed before them with immense tortures. IT IS TRUE NO CHRISTIAN WAS PRESENT, OR SAW OR HEARD THE DEED, NOR HAVE WE FOUND THAT ANYTHING WAS BETRAYED BY ANY JEW. But a little while after when the whole convent of monks at Gloucester and almost all the citizens of that city, and innumerable persons coming to the spectacle, saw the wounds of the dead body, scars of fire, the thorns fixed on his head, and liquid wax poured into the eyes of the face, and touched it with the diligent examination of their hands, those tortures were believed or GUESSED to have been inflicted on him in that manner. It was clear that they had made him a glorious martyr to Christ, being slain without sin, and having bound his feet with his own girdle, threw him into the river Severn.
The Regulations of Avignon, 1243 (from the same book):
Likewise, we declare that Jews or whore3s shall not dare touch their hands either bread or fruit put out for sale, and that they should do this they must buy what they have touched.
What i've gathered...
The crusades were attempts to rid Islam and muslims from the Holy Land and anyone was not Christian. Military forces were sent to Jarusalem to rid the Holy Land of the "enemies of God." But back at home there was the fight to rid the Jews. Since kings and Popes were hand in hand, flewing they power over each other, it was easy to establish local beliefs and laws to convince the locals to rid the "Murderers of Christ." After Jews were excluded from practicing most trades by the guild system, some Jews turned to moneylending as a way to survive. Kings portrayed themselves as protectors of Jews in earlier years but took the money from Jewish communites and renounced their protection by the end of the 13th century. As expulsion of the Jews spread through europe, northern european countries forced jews into Poland (which became a factor for NAZI germany's invasion of Poland).
From my Western Civ. book...
"The Crusades prompted evil side effects that would haunt European society for generations. The first widespread attacks on the Jews began in the Crusades. As some Christians argued, to undertake holy wars against infidel Muslims while the 'murderers of Christ" ran free at home was unthinkable. The massacre of Jews became a regular feature of medieval European life."
Also
"Dissent from church teaching and practices grew, leading to a climate of fear and intolerance as the church responded with inquisitorial procedures to enforce conformaity to its teachings."
Take it as you will, i have my thoughts but i will spare them in this context.
This isnt meant to offend anyone or force any beliefs onto anyone. Its just what interested me in my readings tonight as well as a few of my thoughts.