The Sephardic Frontier: The "Reconquista" and the Jewish Community in Medieval Iberia (Conjunctions of Religion and Power in the Medieval Past)

No subject looms larger over the historical landscape of medieval Spain than that of the reconquista, the rapid expansion of the power of the Christian kingdoms into the Muslim-populated lands of southern Iberia, which created a broad frontier zone that for two centuries remained a region of warfare and peril. Drawing on a large fund of unpublished material in royal, ecclesiastical, and municipal archives as well as rabbinic literature, Jonathan Ray reveals a fluid, often volatile society that transcended religious boundaries and attracted Jewish colonists from throughout the peninsula and beyond. The result was a wave of Jewish settlements marked by a high degree of openness, mobility, and interaction with both Christians and Muslims. 
Ray's view challenges the traditional historiography, which holds that Sephardic communities, already fully developed, were simply reestablished on the frontier. In the early years of settlement, Iberia's crusader kings actively supported Jewish economic and political activity, and Jewish interaction with their Christian neighbors was extensive. Only as the frontier was firmly incorporated into the political life of the peninsular states did these frontier Sephardic populations begin to forge the communal structures that resembled the older Jewish communities of the North and the interior. By the end of the thirteenth century, royal intervention had begun to restrict the amount of contact between Jewish and Christian communities, signaling the end of the open society that had marked the frontier for most of the century.

History

Ray, Jonathan

Europe

Cornell University Press

No subject looms larger over the historical landscape of medieval Spain than that of the reconquista, the rapid expansion of the power of the Christian kingdoms into the Muslim-populated lands of southern Iberia, which created a broad frontier zone that for two centuries remained a region of warfare and peril. Drawing on a large fund of unpublished material in royal, ecclesiastical, and municipal archives as well as rabbinic literature, Jonathan Ray reveals a fluid, often volatile society that transcended religious boundaries and attracted Jewish colonists from throughout the peninsula and beyond.The result was a wave of Jewish settlements marked by a high degree of openness, mobility, and interaction with both Christians and Muslims. Ray's view challenges the traditional historiography, which holds that Sephardic communities, already fully developed, were simply reestablished on the frontier. In the early years of settlement, Iberia's crusader kings actively supported Jewish economic and political activity, and Jewish interaction with their Christian neighbors was extensive.Only as the frontier was firmly incorporated into the political life of the peninsular states did these frontier Sephardic populations begin to forge the communal structures that resembled the older Jewish communities of the North and the interior. By the end of the thirteenth century, royal intervention had begun to restrict the amount of contact between Jewish and Christian communities, signaling the end of the open society that had marked the frontier for most of the century.

Jewish Life in Medieval Spain is a detailed exploration of the Jewish experience in medieval Spain from the dawn of Sephardic society in the ninth century to the expulsion of 1492. An important contribution of the book is the integration of the rise and fall of Jewish life in Muslim al-Andalus into the history of the Jews in medieval Christian Spain. It traces the collapse of Jewish life in Muslim Spain, the emigration of Andalusi Jewry to the lands of Christian Iberia, and the long and difficult confluence of these two distinct Jewish subcultures. Focusing on internal developments of Jewish society, it offers a narrative of Jewish history from the inside out, bringing to light the various divisions and rivalries within the Jewish community. This approach, in turn, allows for a deeper understanding of the complex relations between Spanish Jews and their Muslim and Christian neighbors. Jonathan Ray's original perspective on the Jewish experience is particularly instructive when considering the widescale anti-Jewish riots of 1391. The combination of violence and mass conversion of the Jews irrevocably shifted the dynamics of inter-religious relations as well as those within the Jewish community itself. Yet even in the wake of these tragic events, the Jews of Spain continued to flourish, fostering a culture that they would carry into exile and that would preserve the memory of Jewish Spain for centuries to come.

Jewish Life in Medieval Spain: A New History (Jewish Culture and Contexts)

University of Pennsylvania Press

Here is the perfect introduction to the world of wine.

Everything You Need to Know About Wine

Cookbooks, Food & Wine

Beverages & Wine

Burford Books

The Jew in Medieval Iberia is an exploration of the richness and diversity of Jewish society in Christian Iberia from 1100-1500, providing a fresh look at the ways in which medieval Jews conceived of themselves and their communities, as well as their relationship to the surrounding society. The essays collected in this volume transcend older stereotypes of Christian persecution and Jewish piety to reveal a complex and vibrant community of merchants and scholars, townsmen and women, cultural intermediaries and guardians of religious tradition. Taken together, they present a portrait that adds greater nuances to our understanding of both medieval Jewish and medieval Spanish history.

The Jew in Medieval Iberia: 1100-1500 (Jews in Space and Time)

Academic Studies Press

This new book by leading wine writer, Jonathan Ray, teaches you everything there is to know about bubbly by covering the 100 best types, and explaining the key facts and fun stories that make them so special. There are so many sparkling wines from all over the world that there's something out there to suit every budget, taste and occasion. Wines featured in this delightfully fun book include types of Champagne, prosecco, cava, crémant, the dazzling rare and precious sparkling ice wine, and everything in between. With characteristic humor and accessibility, Jonathan takes you through the stories and qualities behind the wines and producers, and even gives recipes for some extra-special Champagne cocktails. There is also information about the right kind of glass, the varying sweetness of Champagne, and both a glossary of terms and a wine map are included.

Drink More Fizz: 100 of the World's Greatest Champagnes and Sparkling Wines to Drink with Abandon

Quadrille

Calling all spirit enthusiasts, wannabe mixologists and fans of aperitifs and digestifs... That's the Spirit! is here to guide and entertain you through the world of spirits and liqueurs, including whiskies both familiar and surprising, dangerous tequila and mezcal, gin and its Dutch counterpart genever, under-rated grappa, love-it-or-hate-it Bailey's, legendary absinthe and enough rum to make you book a flight to Jamaica immediately. Behind this very well-stocked, virtual bar is author Jonathan Ray, who knows a thing or two about alcohol, being drinks editor of the Spectator. Through his personal selection of the 100 most deliciously fascinating spirits and liqueurs in the world, he tells us all about the makers behind the drinks, what makes certain brands so enduring and fascinating, which famous drinkers had one glass too many, and what makes specific tipples taste so irresistible. Among these 100 bottles are tips on your essential home cocktail kit, the world's best cocktail bars, which glassware is right for which drink, and the ultimate way to serve key spirits at home.

That's the Spirit!: 100 of the world's greatest spirits and liqueurs to drink with style

Red Wine : Discovering, Exploring, Enjoying

RYLAND, PETERS & SMALL

The huge choice of bottles that greets you in the liquor store may seem daunting at first, but with this invaluable little book by Jonathan Ray you will soon pick up the basic facts and be on your way to an in-depth knowledge of the world of wine. • All the important grape varieties―from Cabernet Sauvignon to Merlot, and from Nebbiolo to Zinfandel―are covered. • Red Wine also reveals the secrets of deciphering wine labels and the best ways to store, serve, and taste wine, together with tips on how to tackle a restaurant wine list.

Red Wine: Discovering, Exploring, Enjoying

There's never been a better time to explore the world of white wine. More wines are being produced in more far-flung locations, and they're of high quality and greater variety than ever before--and at more afordable prices. We've never had it so good. But if you don't know your Pinot Blanc from you Pinot Gris, you Sancerre from your Sauternes, the huge choice of bottles at the liquor store or supermarket can be daunting. With this invaluable little book you'll soon be able to decipher labels and select wines to suit your taste and needs. As White Wine expertly shows, the place to start is with the grapes themselves. Author Jonathan Ray considers all the important varieties, from the crisp Sauvignon Blanc to the spicy Gewurztraminer to the complex Chardonnay. You'll discover where specific grapes are grown and understand their unique characterisitcs, quirks, and qualities. White Wine also shows you the best ways to store, serve, and taste wine. You'll even learn how to tackle a restaurant wine list. Knowing what to expect from a bottle of wine adds immensely to its enjoyment. Whith "White Wine" in hand, you'll soon find yourself able to approach any bottle with total confidence.

White Wine: Discovering, Exploring, Enjoying

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Ray, Jonathan. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Ray, Jonathan

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Ray, Jonathan. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Sephardic Frontier: The "Reconquista" and the Jewish Community in Medieval Iberia (Conjunctions of Religion and Power in the Medieval Past)

The Sephardic Frontier: The "Reconquista" and the Jewish Community in Medieval Iberia (Conjunctions of Religion and Power in the Medieval Past)

Jewish Life in Medieval Spain: A New History (Jewish Culture and Contexts)

Everything You Need to Know About Wine

The Jew in Medieval Iberia: 1100-1500 (Jews in Space and Time)

Drink More Fizz: 100 of the World's Greatest Champagnes and Sparkling Wines to Drink with Abandon

That's the Spirit!: 100 of the world's greatest spirits and liqueurs to drink with style

Red Wine : Discovering, Exploring, Enjoying

Red Wine: Discovering, Exploring, Enjoying

White Wine: Discovering, Exploring, Enjoying