“The persecution of the Jews had a negative impact on medieval European society.” Discuss.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the statement that the persecution of Jews had a negative impact on medieval European society. Candidates may refer to their role as important traders or money lenders to merchants and kings and that their persecution often disturbed commerce or the flow of capital in many European countries. Some may argue that the segregation of Jews in particular districts and their exclusion from certain aspects of urban life had a negative impact on social and economic relations. Some may argue that rulers used Jews as scapegoats for economic problems to win favour with their population and candidates may consider this as having a positive effect for the rulers or a negative impact due to rulers’ failure to address the real cause. Other relevant factors, for example, religious fanaticism and violence between Christians and Jews in the context of the Crusades could be seen as drivers of persecution, but it could be argued that it had a unifying effect on Christians in society. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the statement that the persecution of the Jews had a negative impact on medieval European society.