Black Death Dbq Essay

But there was other theory about the source of the disaster claimed that the Black Death is not the punishment from god, but the plot of Jewish. During middle ages, there were more than 1.5 million of Jews lived in Europe. Most of them were follow financial careers. So that, they had large amount of property, which were more than all other social classes, include clergies and nobles. That made people suspected that they used illegal measures or witchcraft to earn their money. Jews also had religious conflict between mainstream society. Many negative rumors about Jews also spreaded widely. So that, anti-semitism was rooted in many European’s mind. At the Black Death era, because Jews have hygienic habits—Which based on Judaism’s religious

As a result, persecution aimed at Jews started. Heiko Augustinus provided compelling evidence about persecution aimed at Jews in The Roots of Anti-Semitism in the Age of Renaissance and Reformation, which is an over all thesis about Jews and Anti-Semitism in middle age. During the cruel persecution aimed at Jews that from 1348 to 1351, more than 350 massacres destroy 210 Jews communities. Many Jews forced to change their religious belief in order to keep alive. Some non-Jews also became victims. For example, Henry Suso, a German Mystic, was suspicious erroneously, and nearly threw into fire until his friend explained to rabid masses. But there were still some people did not believe Jews caused the Black Death, and tried to protect them. Pedro IV, the king of Aragon, punished criminals involved the persecution and send his army to protect Jews community. Pope Clement VI also ordered bishops and priests protect Jews. The persecution aimed at Jews may contribute to two reasons, the first is the conflict between mainstream society and Jews community based on culture and economical conflict, and the fear of disaster of mainstream society—which sharpen the first