Born early twelfth century,
Tudela, Spain
Died after 1173,
Tudela, Spain

Benjamin of Tudela, a Jewish rabbi, was born in Tudela, a town on the Ebro River in northern Spain. He is best known for his journal Massa’ot, or The Itinerary of Benjamin of Tudela, which describes a 13-year journey from the Mediterranean to the frontiers of China. Benjamin’s account discusses both commercial opportunities and the conditions under which Jewish people lived in the twelfth century. Although containing some errors, the journal remains a valuable record.

Persecution of Jews in the Middle Ages

The Jewish people of western Europe were persecuted throughout the Middle Ages and were sometimes forced to leave their homes and countries. This was partially because of the prejudice of Christians, who labeled the Jews “the murderers of Christ,” and also because of jealousy. Many Jewish...