„Juden und andere Kaufleute“. The Raffelstetten Customs Regulations as a Source for Jewish Life in the German-Speaking Area of the Early Middle Ages

Abstract

This paper examines the Raffelstetten customs regulations (ca. 902–906) as one of the earliest sources for Jewish life in central Europe after the decline of the Western Roman Empire. It traces the known evidence for Jewish life in the German-speaking area prior to the Raffelstetten customs regulations. Furthermore, it analyses the source and assesses the role of Jews in long-distance trade, connecting it with a wider web of historical sources. Lastly, it poses new questions regarding the research of early Jewish sources in the German-speaking area.