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Why Were Jews And Christians Separated In Shakespeare's Time?How Was This Separation Delineated In Society?

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Robert Williams Profile
Robert Williams answered

Shakespeare never saw a Jew!

In the year 1290, in the reign of king Edward 1, all the Jews were banished from England by Royal edict, and not allowed back in until during  the interregnum of Oliver Cromwell, (1646?)

Shakespeare was born in 1564, and died in 1616, therefore he never saw a Jew!

It is possible that Shylock, (The Merchant of Venice; the Jewish usurer), was taken from Marlowe's The Jew of Malta, Barrabas.

Stewart Pinkerton Profile
Same reason they always have been. Christians see Jews as grasping, money-crazed Christ-killers, Jews see Christians (and everyone else) as inferior because they are not 'God's Chosen People'.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
Christians thought they were superior to the jews
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
Jews were separated from Christians during Shakespeare's time because they had been expelled from England in 1290 by King Edward and were not allowed back in.

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