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The lecture on Medieval Antisemitism by historian Dr. Jacob Lackner from "The Study of Antiquity and the Middle Ages" Youtube channel was super intriguing. It gave me a huge insight into the modern stereotypes around Jewish people and invited me to think!
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The lecture on Medieval Antisemitism by historian Dr. Jacob Lackner from "The Study of Antiquity and the Middle Ages" Youtube channel was super intriguing. It gave me a huge insight into the modern stereotypes around Jewish people and invited me to think!
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The lecture started off by discussing how anti-Judaism (hatred against Jews because of their religion) dated back to ancient times. Peoples such as Babylonians were disappointed after conquering Jewish land since Jews were persistent to stick with their monotheistic religion.
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In class we had seen examples of temples dedicated to Greek gods built in lands that were conquered by the Greeks. Keeping that in mind, "spreading religion/gods" was probably important for ancient peoples.
That explains the said disappointment of the Babylonians.
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That explains the said disappointment of the Babylonians.
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The anti-semitism, however,-different from antiJudaism in that it's fueled also by conspiracies about Jews-didn't start until the destruction of the Church of Holy Sepulchre in 1026.
Jews were blamed for the destruction of this church-significant bc of its connection to Jesus.
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Jews were blamed for the destruction of this church-significant bc of its connection to Jesus.
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In reality, however, it was destroyed by Al-Hakiim (the extremist Muslim caliph at the time), and it wouldn't make sense for the Jews to help him bc he was also destroying some of Jewish people's holy sites.
Jewish people were expelled from cities in Europe, regardless.
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Jewish people were expelled from cities in Europe, regardless.
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The hatred got even worse after the murder of a Christian boy named William (St. William now) in Norwich, England got associated with the Jews.
This incident formed the basis of a concept referred to as "ritual murder" and led to the formation of a larger conspiracy theory:
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This incident formed the basis of a concept referred to as "ritual murder" and led to the formation of a larger conspiracy theory:
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"Jews would gather at Spain every year at a conference containing representatives from major Jewish communities and the community to draw the short straw would crucify a Christian child (a reference to Jesus) during passover."
Another conspiracy called "blood libel" followed.
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Another conspiracy called "blood libel" followed.
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It was concerning Jews consuming the blood of the Christian children they crucified.
Then, another one called "host desecration" came. According to this conspiracy theory, Jews were stealing communion wafers and harming them (stabbing, eating, boiling, etc.).
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Then, another one called "host desecration" came. According to this conspiracy theory, Jews were stealing communion wafers and harming them (stabbing, eating, boiling, etc.).
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The common point of all these conspiracy theories was that they were suggesting that Jews wanted to destroy Christianity- the common denominator of anti-semitism.
The depiction of this hatred against Jews in medieval art pieces somehow reminded me of our class materials.
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The depiction of this hatred against Jews in medieval art pieces somehow reminded me of our class materials.
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Both the Roman civilization and the Greek civilizations were trying to glorify themselves by disparaging the enemies.
In a way, Christians were also strengthening their community through this hatred of the Jews and the narrative that they are trying to destroy them.
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In a way, Christians were also strengthening their community through this hatred of the Jews and the narrative that they are trying to destroy them.
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The friezes on the Parthenon of Athens, for instance, were trying to uplift the city-state of Athens through showing how strong they are *compared to* their mythological enemies.
Amazonomachy, Centauromachy, Iliupersis, Gigantomachy were some of the depicted scenes [2].
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![The friezes on the Parthenon of Athens, for instance, were trying to uplift the city-state of Athens through showing how strong they are *compared to* their mythological enemies.Amazonomachy, Centauromachy, Iliupersis, Gigantomachy were some of the depicted scenes [2]. /11](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EmL9gr7XcAEAN1u.jpg "The friezes on the Parthenon of Athens, for instance, were trying to uplift the city-state of Athens through showing how strong they are *compared to* their mythological enemies.Amazonomachy, Centauromachy, Iliupersis, Gigantomachy were some of the depicted scenes [2]. /11")
Amazonomachy, Centauromachy, Iliupersis, Gigantomachy were some of the depicted scenes [2].
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A similar theme underlies this image that portrays the communion wafer turning into Baby Jesus as it's boiled. The message here is that Jews are trying to hurt Christianity but Christianity is too strong to be harmed. Also it reinforces the idea of transubstantiation.
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Romans employed this in the games that they hosted-gladiatorial combats, naumachia (sea battles), etc. Historical context was provided for these battles. The parties involved were representing parties involved in fictional&nonfictional battles-Athenians, Persians, etc.[3]
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![Romans employed this in the games that they hosted-gladiatorial combats, naumachia (sea battles), etc. Historical context was provided for these battles. The parties involved were representing parties involved in fictional&nonfictional battles-Athenians, Persians, etc.[3]/13](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EmMia8VXMAApTxZ.jpg "Romans employed this in the games that they hosted-gladiatorial combats, naumachia (sea battles), etc. Historical context was provided for these battles. The parties involved were representing parties involved in fictional&nonfictional battles-Athenians, Persians, etc.[3]/13")
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My #RR17 tweet also shows an example of this phenomenon where an enemy (Dacians) is utilized to unify and strengthen the ideological narratives ( https://twitter.com/ulgenCLST6/status/1324503540958662657?s=20)
Jews were that enemy for the Christians. They were utilized in a lot of the Christian narratives.
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Jews were that enemy for the Christians. They were utilized in a lot of the Christian narratives.
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But aside from this small similarity, what Jews went through was really distinctive. They were oppressed, massacred, marginalized throughout history. It can't really be compared to anything else.
This was a truly informative and intriguing lecture, thank you @NickBarksdale.
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This was a truly informative and intriguing lecture, thank you @NickBarksdale.
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Sources:
[1]
[2] Stansbury-O'Donnell, Mark. A History of Greek Art. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons Inc., 2015.
[3] Dunkle, Roger. Overview of Roman Spectacle. 2013. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118609965.ch25
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[1]
[2] Stansbury-O'Donnell, Mark. A History of Greek Art. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons Inc., 2015.
[3] Dunkle, Roger. Overview of Roman Spectacle. 2013. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118609965.ch25
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Images:
Church- https://www.britannica.com/place/Holy-Sepulchre
William of Norwich- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_of_Norwich
Host Desecration- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Host_desecration
Parthenon- https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1816-0610-40
Baby Jesus- http://intothedeepwater.blogspot.com/2010/03/host-desecration-project-3-saga-begins_29.html
Naumachia- http://theaterhistoryonline.blogspot.com/2014/08/roman-naumachia.html
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Church- https://www.britannica.com/place/Holy-Sepulchre
William of Norwich- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_of_Norwich
Host Desecration- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Host_desecration
Parthenon- https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1816-0610-40
Baby Jesus- http://intothedeepwater.blogspot.com/2010/03/host-desecration-project-3-saga-begins_29.html
Naumachia- http://theaterhistoryonline.blogspot.com/2014/08/roman-naumachia.html
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