Examine the role and contribution of Jews to royal bureaucracies in medieval Europe.

The question requires that candidates consider the role and contribution of Jews to royal bureaucracies. Candidates may refer to their contribution writing legal documents and enlarging the royal archives. Candidates may also consider that their knowledge of different languages and mathematics, and their cultural background allowed them to occupy different roles as ambassadors, (especially in frontier areas between Christian and Muslim kingdoms); officials responsible for the collection of taxes; and moneylenders for the crowns. In England both Henry I and Henry II relied on Jews for tax collection. Candidates may refer to the cases of Jews that reached high positions in the royal bureaucracy enjoying authority over many Christian or Muslim officials. Candidates may also examine the role played by many Jews as scapegoats blamed for measures applied by Christian or Muslim kings. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates consider the role and contribution of Jews to royal bureaucracies in medieval Europe. Few responses were seen to this question. Some of them had good in-depth knowledge; others tended to rely on generalisations.