Berkley Center

Many of the defining characteristics of contemporary Jewish civilization were formed during the long Middle Ages when Jews lived under Christian and Muslim rule. This course explored some of the central themes in the social and religious history of the Jewish people during this period, with special attention given to the complex relationship that Jews had with their host societies. Topics included the primary points of conflict and cooperation between the three monotheistic religions, the development of Jewish self-government and communal organization, and the major currents in Jewish intellectual culture. This course (THEO-240) was taught by Jonathan Ray, Department of Theology, as a Doyle Seminar (small upper-level classes that foster deepened student learning about diversity and difference through research and dialogue).