New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

Jewish migration in medieval England

I can explain the reasons for and impact of Jewish migrants on medieval England, as well as the experiences of Jewish settlers.

New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

Jewish migration in medieval England

I can explain the reasons for and impact of Jewish migrants on medieval England, as well as the experiences of Jewish settlers.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Jewish people were invited to migrate to England by Norman rulers.
  2. Many Jewish people were encouraged to work as moneylenders, although many also worked in other professions.
  3. Due to increasing antisemitism, Jewish people faced greater discrimination from the late 1100s.
  4. Jewish people were expelled by Edward I in 1290, not to return for nearly 400 years.

Common misconception

All Jewish people who migrated to England worked as moneylenders.

Not all Jewish migrants took up jobs as moneylenders; many took up other jobs and assimilated into English society.

Keywords

  • Antisemitism - hatred of or discrimination towards Jewish people

  • Usury - the action of lending money and charging interest, called a sin by the Pope

In thinking about broader patterns of migration in this period, encourage students to see that Jewish migrants in medieval England are an example of a migrant group whose experiences were dramatically impacted by major events in Europe and changing relations with authorities.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which keyword is a term used to describe the collection of Christian kingdoms in the medieval period?
Correct Answer: Christendom, christendom
Q2.
Which keyword describes people who work in the Church, typically monks and bishops?
Correct Answer: clergy, Clergy
Q3.
Put the following events in chronological order.
1 - The Vikings took hold of England following their invasion.
2 - The Vikings left England for further trading opportunities or returned home.
3 - The English King, Edward the Confessor, died.
4 - The Normans successfully invaded England.
Q4.
Which Norman group migrated to England because of the wealth opportunities from England's fertile land?
Correct answer: Norman nobility
Norman monks
Norman royal family
Q5.
Which of the following was an economic incentive for Norman monks to migrate to England?
England's gold trade
Correct answer: England's wool trade
England's silk trade
Q6.
Why were the majority of Norman migrants not treated as 'aliens' despite this being the norm in the period?
because they were taken captive so experienced England as 'prisoners'
because they were invited so experienced England as 'guests'
Correct answer: because they invaded so experienced England as 'rulers'

6 Questions

Q1.
Which keyword describes the action of lending money and charging interest and was called a sin by the Pope?
Correct Answer: usury, Usury
Q2.
Which of the following jobs did Jewish migrants do in Norman England?
Correct answer: fishmongers
Correct answer: cheesemakers
monks
Correct answer: artists
Correct answer: doctors
Q3.
Why were Jewish migrants not initially treated as aliens?
because they were originally invited as ‘servants of the nobility’
Correct answer: because they were originally invited as ‘servants of the crown’
because they were originally invited as ‘moneylenders of the crown’
Q4.
Complete the sentence: Due to increasing , Jewish people faced greater discrimination from the late 1100s.
Correct Answer: antisemitism, Antisemitism
Q5.
Which of the following suggests that Jewish migrants still had a negative experience despite their protection status?
Correct answer: They were completely dependent on their relationship with the authorities.
Correct answer: They were taxed by the Normans at a far higher rate than other subjects.
They were able to do many jobs other than moneylending.
Correct answer: They had to give one third of all they owned to the monarch after their death.
Q6.
Who expelled Jewish people from England in 1290?
King William I
Correct answer: King Edward I
King Hery VIII
Queen Elizabeth I

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