A stake in the ground : Jews and property investment in the medieval crown of Aragon / by Michael Schraer.

Substantial revision and expanded version of author's thesis (doctoral)--University of Cambridge, 2016, titled Real estate and the Jews of the crown of Aragon, 1150-1400.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 251-269) and index.

Property rights -- Jews in the market for land -- Lords of the land?: Jews as rentiers and cultivators -- Dowries, wills and gifts: property and the tranifer of wealth -- The link between credit and land -- The economic case for property: asset choices, risk and return -- Credit and property in the wealth of the Jews.

"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"--