Medieval Jewish History
Alanna E. Cooper
Fall 2012
SESSION 3
Baghdad Center
TOPICS:
READINGS
NOTES
Benjamin of Tudela, one of the most famous travelers in Jewish history, departed from his home in Spain in 1160. He journeyed across Europe, into the Middle East and then to points further east. Along the way, Benjamin recorded what he learned through firsthand observations and through information that he gathered from others about the places he did not reach. His account circulated in the Jewish world in manuscript form until the seventeenth century, when a number of editions were printed. The book was reprinted in subsequent centuries, most recently in 2005.
Benjamin never tells the reader the purpose of his journeys or his motivation to write a travelogue. Twentieth-century editors, however, have offered a number of explanations. What is your conjecture?
In class we will focus on Benjamin’s description of Jewish Baghdad, and the ways in which this city served as a “Center” of the Jewish world. This discussion can be found
In contrast to the description of Jewish life in the Baghdad (center of the Muslim world), read what Jewish life was like in Rome and Constantinople, both important centers in the Christian world.
Also in contrast to Jewish life in Baghdad, read Benjamin's description of Jewish life in some of the smaller cities and towns that he visited in western Europe.
Finally, in thinking about "centers" of the Jewish world, it's important to consider the Holy Land (contemporary Israel). Have a look at Benjamin's description of Jewish life (or the absence of it) here:
- What does it mean to be a "Center" of the Jewish world?
- Are there "centers" of the Jewish world today? Where are they? What makes them "centers"?
- Geopolitics of the Muslim world: rise and fall of the Abbasid caliphate
- Structure of Jewish communal leadership (Gaon, Exilarch)
- The Jewish academies
- Relationship between Caliph and Exilarch
- Decline of the Baghdad Center
READINGS
- Excerpts on activities in the Baghdad academies, as quoted by Robert Brody in The Geonim of Babylonia (course pack, p.). We will read and discuss these together in class.
- Sources for the decline of the Babylonian center (coursepack, p. ). We will read and discuss these together in class.
- Excerpts from travelogue of Benjamin of Tudela. The travelogue can be accessed for free here. If you would like to purchase a hard-copy of the book, you can do so here. (Read the "Notes" below, for page numbers that we'll discuss in class)
NOTES
Benjamin of Tudela, one of the most famous travelers in Jewish history, departed from his home in Spain in 1160. He journeyed across Europe, into the Middle East and then to points further east. Along the way, Benjamin recorded what he learned through firsthand observations and through information that he gathered from others about the places he did not reach. His account circulated in the Jewish world in manuscript form until the seventeenth century, when a number of editions were printed. The book was reprinted in subsequent centuries, most recently in 2005.
Benjamin never tells the reader the purpose of his journeys or his motivation to write a travelogue. Twentieth-century editors, however, have offered a number of explanations. What is your conjecture?
In class we will focus on Benjamin’s description of Jewish Baghdad, and the ways in which this city served as a “Center” of the Jewish world. This discussion can be found
- In the Signer edition of the travelogue (2005) on pages: 95-102
- In the free electronic version, p.8-11 and p.20-24
In contrast to the description of Jewish life in the Baghdad (center of the Muslim world), read what Jewish life was like in Rome and Constantinople, both important centers in the Christian world.
- In the Signer edition of the travelogue (2005) on pages: 63-64 and 69-72
- In the free electronic version, from "Thence it is two days to Bagdad" until "in all manner of witchcraft" (p.55-64)
Also in contrast to Jewish life in Baghdad, read Benjamin's description of Jewish life in some of the smaller cities and towns that he visited in western Europe.
- In the Signer edition of the travelogue (2005) on pages: 59-top 63, and p.66.
- In the free electronic version, p.1-8, and p.13-14
Finally, in thinking about "centers" of the Jewish world, it's important to consider the Holy Land (contemporary Israel). Have a look at Benjamin's description of Jewish life (or the absence of it) here:
- In the Signer edition of the travelogue (2005) on pages: 78-90
- In the free electronic version, on pages 29-46