The Voice of the Poor in the Middle Ages

Highlighting the often-overlooked voices of the marginalized in medieval society, this book presents a collection of over ninety translated documents from the Geniza, revealing the experiences of captives, refugees, and the working poor. Historian Mark Cohen provides historical context for each letter, alms list, and donor list, shedding light on the lives of the impoverished and their interactions with charity in the Jewish community of medieval Egypt. This work serves as a vital resource for understanding the social dynamics of the time.