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Among Believers

Episode 2 of 5

Documentary series. Simon Schama examines the story of the medieval Jews and their struggle to preserve their identity under the rule of Christianity and Islam.

Simon Schama's epic series continues with the story of medieval Jews struggling to preserve their identity - and sometimes their lives - under the rule of Christianity and Islam.

Whether labelled 'Christ-killers' by the Christians or 'dhimmi' (non-Muslim citizens of an Islamic community) by the Muslims, diaspora Jews built new lives and invented new ways of being Jewish in exile in the face of discrimination, blood-libels and persecution interspersed with periods of tolerance, protection and peaceful co-existence.

Drawing on some of the extraordinary documents they left behind, this episode offers a vivid portrait of Jewish bankers, merchants, doctors, poets and artists flourishing in Lincoln, Cordoba, Venice and Cairo and tells the tragic story of their mass expulsion from Spain in 1492.

1 hour

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Simon Schama
Executive Producer Nicolas Kent
Director Tim Kirby
Series Producer Tim Kirby

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