The Golden Age of Aragonese Jewry: Community and Society in the Crown of Aragon, 1213-1327 (The Littman Library of Jewish Civilization) - Softcover

`The thematic coverage is so broad that no survey can do it justice . . . Assis offers scholars a starting point (and much more) from which they can take up specific areas of interest . . . the fact that he clarifies the terminological confusion that frequently characterizes Hebrew sources is of great importance . . . a wealth of information and commentary that will serve researchers for many years.'- Marc D. Meirson, Zion `A most welcome book, solidly based on vast documentation. It crowns several decades of work by the author in these sources . . . it offers the reader a richly textured understanding of the real context of Jewish life in Iberia during this period.' - David J. Wasserstein, Mediterranean Historical Review `A much needed distillation of the fruits of scholarship on the Jews in the Crown of Aragon . . . conveys a sense of the variety and creativity of the Jewish experience in the Middle Ages, and of Jewish history as viewed from the inside. When all is said and done, this is an essential book for anyone interested in Jewish life in medieval Spain, or in medieval Europe.' - Elka Klein, Medieval Review `It is solidly based on both Jewish and non-Jewish sources . . . The picture that emerges from this monumental work (for the two books must be regarded as one for this purpose and together they constitute a worthy and much more complete successor to the pioneering efforts of Jean Regne) does indeed contain many of the elements of a `Golden Age' . . . they contribute significantly to our understanding of some vibrant Jewish communities which have often been neglected . . . the achievement of these books is to be lauded . . . excellent and valuable work.' - John Edwards, Journal of Jewish Studies `Significant contribution to medieval Jewish history . . . absorbing and enlightening reading . . . One finishes the book with a satisfying impression of Jewish life in medieval Catalonia and Aragon. In addition to the superb text, bibliography and index, the book's appendices are of great value: maps, a glossary of relevant Hebrew Castilian, Catalan, Aragonese, and Arabic terms, a genealogical chart of sovereigns, and an explanation of the currency with monetary equivalents.' - Leila Arvin, Jewish Book World `General readers, as well as specialists, cannot fail to learn from the wide sweep of [the book's] erudition.' - David Nirenberg, AJS Review

'A much needed distillation of the fruits of scholarship on the Jews in the Crown of Aragon . . . conveys a sense of the variety and creativity of the Jewish experience in the Middle Ages, and of Jewish history as viewed from the inside . . . an essential book for anyone interested in Jewish life in medieval Spain, or in medieval Europe.' Elka Klein, Medieval Review 'A most welcome book, solidly based on vast documentation. It crowns several decades of work by the author in these sources . . . it offers the reader a richly textured understanding of the real context of Jewish life in Iberia during this period.' David J. Wasserstein, Mediterranean Historical Review 'Solidly based on both Jewish and non-Jewish sources . . . The picture that emerges from this monumental work does indeed contain many of the elements of a "Golden Age" . . . [contributes] significantly to our understanding of some vibrant Jewish communities which have often been neglected . . . is to be lauded . . . excellent and valuable.' John Edwards, Journal of Jewish Studies 'Significant contribution to medieval Jewish history . . . absorbing and enlightening reading . . . One finishes the book with a satisfying impression of Jewish life in medieval Catalonia and Aragon.' Leila Arvin, Jewish Book World The medieval Crown of Aragon reached the peak of its power and influence in the thirteenth century, and Jews took an active part in this expansion. In this detailed and meticulously researched study Yom Tov Assis deals with many important aspects of this period, which was truly a 'Golden Age' in the history of Aragonese and Catalan Jews, both in terms of their relationship with the Crown and of their own cultural achievements.