The Jews in Umbria

This work is mainly based on documentation preserved in the archives of Umbria. It illustrates the political and socio-economic history of the Jewish community from the second half of the 13th century, when Jewish settlement in the region became permanent and continuous, to the expulsion of the Jews in 1569 decreed by Pope Pius V. Umbria was an important geographical and political entity in central Italy during the late Middle Ages and was always linked to the Papal State. The documents provide information that enables the reader to appreciate the Jews' economic role in the region and their relationships with the political powers (the communes and the popes) and the Mendicant orders. They also enlighten the reader on aspects of the Jews' daily life, and on their relationship with Christian society.