A Stake in the Ground: Jews and Property Investment in the Medieval Crown of Aragon

Download or read book A Stake in the Ground: Jews and Property Investment in the Medieval Crown of Aragon written by Michael Schraer and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2019-02-26 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In A Stake in the Ground, Michael Schraer explores the economic functions of real estate amongst the Jews of the medieval crown of Aragon. He challenges the view of medieval Jews as primarily money-lenders and merchants, finding compelling evidence for extensive property trading and investment. Jews are found as landlords to Christian tenants, transferring land in dowries, wills and gifts. Property holdings were often extremely valuable. For some, property was a major part of their asset portfolios. Whilst many property transactions were linked to the credit boom, land also acted as a liquid and tradeable investment asset in its own right. This is a key contribution to the economic history of medieval Iberia and of medieval Jews. See inside the book.