Religious Minorities in Christian, Jewish and Muslim Law (5th - 15th centuries)

By John Tolan

Book Description

This scholarly exploration delves into the complex legal frameworks that governed religious minorities across medieval Christian, Jewish, and Muslim societies from the 5th to 15th centuries. Through meticulous comparative analysis, John Tolan examines how different faith communities structured their relationships with religious outsiders within their borders.

The work investigates fundamental questions about coexistence and legal treatment. How did Christian societies define the rights and restrictions of Jewish and Muslim residents? What legal protections or limitations did Islamic law impose on dhimmis, the "people of the book" living under Muslim rule? The authors trace the intricate ways legal systems both protected and constrained minority communities, revealing patterns of inclusion and exclusion that shaped interfaith relations for centuries.

Drawing from the expertise of historians, linguists, and legal scholars, this comparative study illuminates the courtroom experiences of religious minorities. It examines specific legal procedures reserved for minority plaintiffs, defendants, and witnesses, while exploring how law functioned as both a tool of segregation and a framework for coexistence.

For readers seeking to understand the historical foundations of interfaith relations, this work offers valuable insights into how legal structures influenced religious tolerance and conflict. The innovative comparative methodology provides fresh perspectives on age-old questions about religious diversity, community boundaries, and the role of law in managing pluralistic societies.

This comprehensive analysis spans 454 pages of rigorous scholarship, making complex legal and religious history accessible to contemporary readers.