Gone Medieval Antisemitism in Medieval Europe
Aug 9, 2024
In this discussion, Professor Ivan Marcus, an expert on the Christian-Jewish dynamic in medieval Europe, explores the troubling history of antisemitism. He highlights the 1290 edict of expulsion in England, which made being Jewish illegal for centuries. The conversation digs into 'latrine blasphemy' and the ways religious ideologies defined each community. Marcus also examines the tensions that escalated during the Crusades, the dehumanizing stereotypes that emerged, and the chilling continuity of antisemitism from medieval times to the present.
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Latrine Blasphemy As Theological Polemic
- Jews inverted Christian ideas of holiness by associating Christ and Mary with bodily elimination as a polemical rebuttal.
- This latrine blasphemy reflected deep theological disagreement over incarnation and purity, not mere insult.
Why Jews Were Written Out Of Medieval Narratives
- Historians often ignore medieval Jews because 19th-century nationalism defined history by territorial rule.
- Jews lacked territorial sovereignty yet still shaped European history and deserve full inclusion.
Shared Scripture, Competing Birthright
- Christianity and Judaism claimed the same biblical past but each saw itself as the true recipient of the promise.
- That rival claim to chosenness made peaceful coexistence structurally fragile though daily interactions persisted.