Jews, Crucifixions, 9/11 and Muslims

The treatment of Jews in Medieval Europe was a reaction to the crucifixion of Jesus and the treatment of Christians in the first centuries of the Common Era. After the crucifixion, Romans and Jews in power persecuted Christians in both Rome and Jerusalem. Rome adopted Christianity as its official state religion in the 4th century and the persecuting was shifted to the Jews in Europe. Many of the stereotypes of the Jewish people were formed during this time and caused a feeling of anxiety in the common man that the Jews were demonic creatures or would take power back. Much of this anxiety stemmed from racism but also from their own previous persecution at the hands of the Jewish people and the fear that they would be persecuted again. Medieval Europe’s portrayal of Jews was an attempt to get the general public to expel Jews that led to mass killings of Jews communities in Europe. Medieval literature like Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain caused the English to believe that their race was pure while Chaucer’s The Prioress’ Tale and many other stories caused the people to believe that the Jews would seek to kill their own pure race. These stories caused the expulsion of Jews from various medieval countries and in even worse cases the killings of Jews.

There are many parallels between the treatment of Jews in Medieval Europe and the treatment of Muslims in Post 9/11 America. The attacks on September 11th were the reaction of the extremist Islamic group Al-Qaeda to their view of the United States support of Israel. The United States portrayal and treatment of the Muslim people changed following this attack. The attacks caused an increase in anxiety and a change in the treatment of Muslims in everyday life. Increased security measures were added following the attacks that included random searches. However, these searches were subjective and lead to racial profiling. In media outlets like the television show CSI, the terrorist villain was usually a Muslim stereotype with traits like wearing a taqiyah or a turban.

The treatment of Muslims following 9/11 caused similar feelings to the persecution of Jews in Medieval Europe. Some Muslims even chose to leave America similar to the Jews expulsion from Europe. The anxiety that resulted from the crucifixion of Jesus and the 9/11 attacks caused the treatment of the races to change dramatically. While the persecution is not as extreme today as it was in Medieval Europe it still has many parallels in what caused it and the effects.