Most studies of medieval Jews focus on Jewish-Christian relations or follow a "decline towards persecution and expulsion" narrative. Ray's mission is Most studies of medieval Jews focus on Jewish-Christian relations or follow a "decline towards persecution and expulsion" narrative. Ray's mission is to focus on Jewish life for its own sake. He discusses how Jewish communities thrived and suffered in the wake of the Christian conquest of Iberia. Most importantly, Ray takes us inside the communities themselves to show how they governed, disagreed, fought bitterly, cooperated, splintered, took risks, and worked oppressive systems to their advantage. He's even able to show differences between religious scholars' legal decisions and the day-to-day actions of elite and common members of Jewish society....more
What was it like to grow up in a Jewish family in medieval Ashkenaz? What was it like to raise children? Baumgarten reveals both what was distinctive What was it like to grow up in a Jewish family in medieval Ashkenaz? What was it like to raise children? Baumgarten reveals both what was distinctive about Jewish family life in the high and later Middle Ages, and how Jewish and Christian neighbors influenced each other and even helped each other raise their kids. A great example of how to use comparative history to highlight one story while illuminating a broader picture--and a fascinating look at a never-before-studied aspect of medieval Judaism....more
"Everyone knows" the story of Jews in the Middle Ages: moneylending, pogroms, blood libel, exile. Einbinder's study of Jewish martyr chronicles and so"Everyone knows" the story of Jews in the Middle Ages: moneylending, pogroms, blood libel, exile. Einbinder's study of Jewish martyr chronicles and songs challenges the conception you didn't know you had that medieval Jews were defined solely by persecution. She draws out an amazing amount of details about everyday life, how Jews coped practically and theologically with Christian oppression--and, not incidentally, allows Jewish literature itself to stand as proof of just how vibrant these communities really were....more
Written by one of the most prolific writers on the history of Israeli conflict, this "New Historian" book refutes many of the traditional Israeli histWritten by one of the most prolific writers on the history of Israeli conflict, this "New Historian" book refutes many of the traditional Israeli historian arguments about how Palestinian refugees came to be in 1948. It uses declassified documents to paint a far more comprehensive and well-sourced picture of the 1948 war's effect on the local population, and is one of the most well-researched books on the subject out there....more
This is an Israeli-historian based view of the history of the conflicts surrounding the Palestine region, and the Israeli conflict. It's great to balaThis is an Israeli-historian based view of the history of the conflicts surrounding the Palestine region, and the Israeli conflict. It's great to balance this against the Iron Cage book suggested below, to get a balanced view of both sides....more
This is a nice, concise history of the conflict that contains accessible documents that are relevant to the previous section. It is fairly PalestinianThis is a nice, concise history of the conflict that contains accessible documents that are relevant to the previous section. It is fairly Palestinian-leaning, but still provides a great overview in tandem with Benny Morris....more
This is a fantastic collection of biographical information on the authors and other primary source writings by Zionists throughout the history of ZionThis is a fantastic collection of biographical information on the authors and other primary source writings by Zionists throughout the history of Zionism pre-Israel especially. It provides description of the varieties of Zionism and has documents describing precisely what the theories of each were, from their main thinkers. Great for an introduction to Zionist ideas and how they evolved and differed....more
The go-to source for all questions on daily life in ancient Israel (in the Bronze and Iron ages). An excellent overview of all the various aspects of The go-to source for all questions on daily life in ancient Israel (in the Bronze and Iron ages). An excellent overview of all the various aspects of daily life, from food and cooking ways to economics and trade, to clothing, to religion, this book is the place to start. Perfect for answering all those questions about "what did people use for (blank) in the Ancient Near East?"....more
Fantastic book. The breadth and accessibility of this overview of the current state of research is incredible. The suggested reading at the end of eacFantastic book. The breadth and accessibility of this overview of the current state of research is incredible. The suggested reading at the end of each chapter provides a wonderful selection of equally readable texts. ...more
Liverani stands out as being perhaps the truest scholar of the Ancient Near East generally to write on the history of Israel, and this is valuable on Liverani stands out as being perhaps the truest scholar of the Ancient Near East generally to write on the history of Israel, and this is valuable on that basis alone....more
Dever has a decidedly more conservative flair, but trumps other more conservative scholars by being an archaeologist, and--for the most part--giving tDever has a decidedly more conservative flair, but trumps other more conservative scholars by being an archaeologist, and--for the most part--giving the archaeology priority....more
Among the most popular introductory level books on any biblical subject ever written. Just be a little bit careful, Finkelstein works in his "low chroAmong the most popular introductory level books on any biblical subject ever written. Just be a little bit careful, Finkelstein works in his "low chronology" without preface, which is good for his inteded audience, but bad for a broader view, as it remains contentious. It's worth picking up Ancient Israel: What Do We Know and How Do We Know It? to help spot where he does so....more
A study of Christian-Jewish violence in Spain in the fourteenth century, deliberately engaging with the narratives of Jewish persecution which surrounA study of Christian-Jewish violence in Spain in the fourteenth century, deliberately engaging with the narratives of Jewish persecution which surround Holocaust studies....more
This provides a thorough contextualizing of the critically important but relatively impenetrable Jewish text(s), the Talmud, by analyzing the sort of This provides a thorough contextualizing of the critically important but relatively impenetrable Jewish text(s), the Talmud, by analyzing the sort of religious culture described in the Talmud. A bit of background in Judaism in general is helpful for reading it (the Cambridge companion recommended above would work), but it is generally accessible to an audience without particularly in-depth knowledge going in....more
Discusses the political status of Jews in the Roman empire in a range of time periods and in both Judea and abroad. Because of the scope, it's rather Discusses the political status of Jews in the Roman empire in a range of time periods and in both Judea and abroad. Because of the scope, it's rather long, and not terribly accessible without a bit of background....more
A brilliant introduction to the multifaceted society of Medieval Spain, which consisted of a community of not only Muslims, Jews, and Christians livinA brilliant introduction to the multifaceted society of Medieval Spain, which consisted of a community of not only Muslims, Jews, and Christians living together, but of Arabs, Visigoths, Berbers, and other ethnic backgrounds. Very enlightening for those who have never read about Islamic Spain previously....more
A thorough survey of the status of Judaism at the time of Jesus, and how Christianity slowly positioned itself as 'not Jewish.' A readable classic in A thorough survey of the status of Judaism at the time of Jesus, and how Christianity slowly positioned itself as 'not Jewish.' A readable classic in the field....more
A critical response to Ardent's famous coverage of the trail, begins with his capture in Argentina. Attempts to provide a less one-sided story of the A critical response to Ardent's famous coverage of the trail, begins with his capture in Argentina. Attempts to provide a less one-sided story of the trial than Ardent. A short and surprisingly easy read for such a well-researched and written piece....more
Part of the debate with "Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland" by Christopher R. Browning, as both use the samePart of the debate with "Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland" by Christopher R. Browning, as both use the same data for different conclusions, but has generated a ton of controversy in the field. In that respect it's an interesting read, and pretty much every historian in the field has read it, but its actual historical validity is hotly debated....more
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