Why were Jewish people persecuted before the 17th century? What effects did that persecution have on Jewish people?

Answer 1

In the middle ages anti-semitism was prevalent in Europe though it was not part of catholic dogma, many Christians including members of the clergy, held in he Jewish people collectively responsible for killing Jesus.

During the high middle ages in Europe there was full scale persecution of Jews in many places, with massacres, blood libels, expulsion and forced conversions. The cause of the prejudice to Jews in Europe was religious. The Jewish persecution reached its peak during the crusade. In the second crusade french Jews were subject to various massacre.

In the mid 14th century the Black Death epidemic devastated Europe, tumors spread that Jews were causing the the disease by poisoning the wells. Hundreds of Jews were killed in the Black Death persecution.