THE PRESENCE OF JEWS
IN THE IBERIAN PENINSULA
Jews in Ancient Times and the Roman Era
The presence of Semitic peoples in the Iberian Peninsula dates back to the 8th century BCE. It is possible that the first Jews arrived in the region along with the Phoenicians and settled in the trading colonies founded by them.
It is likely that later, during the Punic Wars in the 3rd century BCE and the subsequent conquest of Lusitania (contemporary Portugal and the western part of Spain) by the Roman Empire, more Jews established themselves in the Iberian Peninsula.
However, the event that truly triggered the large concentration of Jews in Europe, including Portugal, was the Judean revolts in 70 CE and 133 CE. Suppression of those by the Romans culminated in the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, and the devastation of the land of Israel. As a result, many Jews were taken as slaves and were dispersed throughout Europe and Asia Minor, giving rise to the phenomenon now known as the “Jewish diaspora.”
Medieval Age
In the 8th century, a significant Muslim invasion started in the Iberian Peninsula. The expansion of the Umayyad Caliphate led to the conquest of the region and to the formation of the independent Emirate of Al-Andalus. This rule lasted for eight centuries until the end of the Reconquista (the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula) in 1492.聽
The Umayyad caliphate ushered in a golden age for Islamic culture. Monumental achievements and intellectual advances characterize this period. A policy of Islamization extended from the 8th to the 18th century. However, this cultural flourishing was not limited only to the Muslim world, but had a significant impact on Jewish communities.聽
The rise of the Arab caliphate allowed Jews to reconnect with the East. It provided them the access to ancestral traditions and sacred texts like the Talmud. The establishment of study centers, and a policy of relative religious tolerance, created an opportune environment聽 for Jewish intellectuals. In this context, great Jewish thinkers such as Maimonides, Judah Halevi, and Solomon ibn Gabirol appeared.聽
Maimonides’ “Guide for the Perplexed” and Judah Halevi’s “The Kuzari” are fundamental Jewish works, in which their authors integrated Greek and Arab philosophy into Jewish thought.聽
Simultaneously, Sephardic Jewish culture developed, with its own liturgical traditions and language, Ladino. These intellectual and cultural advances significantly shaped later rabbinic Judaism.They continue to influence Jewish practices and thoughts to this day.
Portugal emerged as a nation state in the 12th century. At that time, Jews engaged in various economic activities and successfully integrated into Portuguese society. A notable example of this is the appointment of Yahia Ben Yahia as the first Chief Rabbi of Portugal, and also the treasurer of King Afonso Henriques. The freedom of worship for Jews was recognized and maintained. Nevertheless, Jews lived in their own neighborhoods, where they preserved their traditional daily life and established institutions to support their Jewish identity.聽
During the Age of Exploration, Portugal achieved remarkable prosperity and international prestige. In this period of accomplishments and conquests, prominent Jewish figures significantly contributed to the kingdom’s progress. Notable among those were Pedro Nunes, a mathematician and Chief Cosmographer; Isaac Abravanel, a statesman, philosopher, and financier; and Abraham Zacuto, an astronomer, whose knowledge was crucial for maritime expeditions, including the one that discovered the sea route to India.
The Expulsion
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The Converts
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