Das Europaische Zeitalter der Juden (review)
Dean Phillip Bell
Reviewed by: Das Europäische Zeitalter der Juden Dean Phillip Bell Juden, by Friedrich Battenberg. Volume 1: Von den Anfängen bis 1650; 2: 1650 1945. 2nd ed. Darmstadt: Primus Verlag, 2000. Vol. 324 pages and 1 map; 388 map. DM 68.00 (p). These two volumes represent the second edition of Battenberg’s important survey history Jews in Europe published a decade ago. With great breadth, useful historical context, detailed indexes, impeccable organization clarity, this overview is an invaluable teaching tool. The are more than mere synthesis; combining as they do wide range work on subject with own impressive scholarship number areas, such legal position medieval early modern Germany, will be interest to established scholars variety fields well. Battenberg begins noting recent Jews, par ticularly Germany. Two motives, he maintains, for Holocaust relationship general problem minorities. contends that world unfolded three phases: Oriental period (including Hellenistic Babylonian periods) ending tenth century decline academies rise Spanish Jewry; European Jewry stretching from through middle twentieth century; finally, American national, including Israeli, Judaism. Chapter 2 reviews beginnings Jewry, focusing settlements Spain Italy before Visigothic growing independence academies); 3 addresses Frankish during Merovingian Carolingian periods Rhenish communities crusades. 4 details develop ment expulsion Jewish England France high later Middle Ages, while 5 focuses urban Holy Roman Empire until fourteenth century—here frequently supplies greater detail other sections. 6 examines late Judaism western Europe, sections Sepharad look at attempts centralization were both internal external communities, 7 between Reformation Counter Reformation, which burgeoning eastern [End Page 151]Europe first treated detail. I rounded out chapter half seventeenth century. This includes good deal context extensive information demographics, reveals some research strengths. II devoted contextual related developments, religious custom observance, communal structure—as evident particular selected—, social structures, increasing polarization society impoverished Jews. traces ruptures eighteenth centuries, Chmielnicki massacres, Lurianic kabbalah—based almost exclusively Scholem taking little account literature—, resettlement England, intellectual challenges reflected da Costa Spinoza Amsterdam. Chapters trace long century, Haskala, Chasidism, Emancipation. remainder follows traditional lines interpretation, examining crisis conservative reaction nineteenth (Chapter 5), assimilation course Emancipation 6), struggles within Judaism, reform neo-orthodox movements 7), origins antisemitism 8), development Zionism 9). 10 First World War Interwar period, 11 Nazis II, finally briefly, 12 effects...
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