In the early medieval period, there was a strong division between Christianity in Europe and Islam in the Middle East. This division affected trade between the two religions, who were mostly reluctant to trade with each other. Seeking a way to acquire the luxuries they desired, many Christians turned to Jewish merchants who were in an advantageous position to take advantage of the division between Christians and Muslims (Turner 96). Throughout the Middle Ages, the Jewish people became important players in global trade, navigating numerous trade routes, while facing persecution and trying to keep religious laws and practices intact. Early medieval Europe relied on Jewish and Byzantine traders for its spices and other treats because of its contacts in China, India, and the Middle East (Turner 90). Many cities dominated by Jewish and Byzantine merchants were on the coast, such as Trebizond in Turkey and Barcelona in Spain, but some routes reached inland as far as Paris, Lyon and Orléans in central France. (...