Judiaism in Spain
4th Century
Jewish people have lived in Spain longer than any place before. The year 300AD marks a significant increase in Jewish settlement to the land.
The people coexisted with the people of other religions until the Visigoths converted to Catholicism and began to put harsh restrictions on them. Under the ruling Visigoths they were forced to convert or they would be exiled or executed. While some did decide to convert, they practiced Judaism in secret and were called the "Judaizing Christians."
In the mid 7th century these Jews would produce a Latin Code which was a Declaration of Faith that they would present to King Reeccewinth. This was met with opposition as these Jews that had not become Catholic yet were forced to convert.
After the Muslim invasion of 711, the Jewish people became integrated into the new Muslim society. In the Muslim capital of Cordoba, Jews helped play a role in the new cultural renaissance.
While the Visigoths were hostile to the Jewish people, the Jews and Muslims had little to no tension until the Almohad invasion in the 12th century.
Hebrew scripture on the walls of the synagogue in Cordoba
photo credit: Sinagoga de Córdoba via photopin
A portion of the Visigoth Code
Accessed from The Passive Voice
Jewish Influence in Spain
For most of their time in Spain, the Jewish living their they were being oppressed. However, their influence can still be seen in parts of Spain today.
Many of the cities such as Seville still have their Jewish quarters. This is where the majority of the Jews in the town lived and worked. They also brought the importance of the Hebrew language to Spain.
With the cultural Renaissance , the Jews would help the Christians translate their bibles from Hebrew to Spanish. They also produced Hebrew poetry and books that would have prominence.
Citations: Pictures
Totally Spain and Portugal . Totally Spain and Portugal . Accessed May 3, 2020. https://www.totallyspaintravel.com/2015/10/30/jewish-heritage-sights-in-spain/.
The Passive Voice. 2020. The Passive Voice. https://www.thepassivevoice.com/the-visigothic-code/.
Roth, Norman. "The Jews of Spain and the Expulsion of 1492." The Historian 55, no. 1 (1992): 17-30. Accessed May 3, 2020. www.jstor.org/stable/24448257.
“The Jews of Spain and Visigothic Code.” Internet History Sourcebooks Project. Accessed May 3, 2020. https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/jewish/jews-visigothic1.asp.
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