Jews the right to build new synagogues. In 531, Justinian denied Jews the right to witness against orthodox Christians as well. By the early sixth century, Jews were already living with limited rights in all aspects of their lives (3-5).
             Despite Emperor Julian's efforts to return Jews to a more prominent position in society, Jewish decline continued in Europe (Marcus 9). In Spain, Catholic kings issued laws to cripple the lives of the Jews. In essence, religious persecution was used as a political tool. Because the Spanish state was so closely tied to the Catholic church, the Pope had a significant influence on how Jews were taxed and treated. Reccared, the first king to actively pursue an anti-Jewish policy, was later succeeded by kings who went so far as to force Jews to be baptized or to be expelled from the country (22). These kings desired a standard Catholicism of all citizens through what they had called the Visigothic Code. Though this state was overthrown in 711, later laws reflected the ideas of these Catholic kings of the Visigothic Code (38).
             During the Medieval Age, ideas from the Visigothic Code translated over into the Seven-Part Code, strict laws were set against Jews so they could not build synagogues that would in any way downplay the Christian faith (Marcus 40). Synagogues painted or built taller than Catholic churches would be turned over to the church in control in that region. Similar to the old code, Jews could not convert Christians to Judaism or they would be put to death (42).
             ...