| Description: | This is a general introduction to the rich and varied world of the Jews in relationship to the history of Tuscany from the first Jewish settlements till today. We shall examine the early history of the Jews of Italy from their arrival as imperial slaves during the ancient Roman Empire. Next we shall discover the fascinating and dynamic relationships of the Jews as bankers, artisans, authors and physicians. We shall see how the Jews, while separated from the mainstream culture of Christian Tuscany, gave a remarkable contribution to the ideas of Renaissance civilization. Finally the course will examine the modern experience, from Napoleon and the Italian Risorgimento, through the catastrophe of the Nazi Holocaust, to the Jewish contribution to contemporary Italy. |