POLEMICHE ANTIGIUDAICHE NELL'ITALIA DEL QUATTROCENTO: UN TENTATIVO DI INTERPRETAZIONE GLOBALE

This article sets forth a comprehensive investigation of the controversialist anti-Jewish literature circulating in 15th-century Italy by considering ten topical works over a period of sixty years. A combined structural and historical analysis reveals the emergence of new conceptual schemes beyond c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Quaderni storici 1987-04, Vol.22 (64 (1)), p.19-37
Main Author: Fioravanti, Gianfranco
Format: Article
Language:eng ; ita
Subjects:
MISCELLANEA
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Summary:This article sets forth a comprehensive investigation of the controversialist anti-Jewish literature circulating in 15th-century Italy by considering ten topical works over a period of sixty years. A combined structural and historical analysis reveals the emergence of new conceptual schemes beyond certain aspects of continuity with 12th and 13th-century models. It is argued that part of the anti-Jewish production tends to overlap, in structure as well in the conditions that originate it, with the wider phenomenon of public dispute (theological, philosophical, juridical) so typical of the Italian Quattrocento. Parallelly, a second strand of controversialist writings (increasingly prominent by the end of the century) displays entirely «praticai» concerns. Directed to Christians rather than Jews, these writings, together with scelera Judaeorum propaganda, help the debate on the legitimacy of usurious conduct and, more generally, on relationships between Christian societies and Jewish minorities by advocating a firmer closure of the former against the latter.
ISSN:0301-6307