Between Old and New Barbarians: The Jews of Southern Italy during the ‘Dark Ages’

The period from the fifth to the ninth century witnessed deep and complex changes that led to a substantial redefinition of the role of Jews in European society. This evolution had its roots in the Christianization of the Roman empire in the late fourth century, especially under Theodosius I (347-395), which led to the marginalization of Jews in the budding Christian society. Anti-Jewish attitudes soon found ways to manifest themselves even outside the strictly religious sphere, impacting the very status of the Jew in society: and this was initially done through the instrument of legislation. Our understanding of the subsequent period, however, is obfuscated by a daunting scarcity of sources. This essay tries to outline the above-mentioned historical changes as they occurred in peninsular Southern Italy, with a brief overview of the juridical context.