Christian and Jewish Lenders: Religious Identity and the Extension of Credit

The debt transactions recorded in the notarial registers of Santa Coloma de Queralt demonstrate that lending was a multi-religious activity at the turn of the fourteenth century. Economic, social, and religious attitudes shaped the manner in which notaries, creditors, and debtors documented their activity. At first glance, this appears to conform to medieval and modern stereotypes concerning moneylending and debt. However, the reality of financing in this rural Catalan town included the participation of both Christians and Jews as lenders, although the written record reflected prevailing cultural attitudes towards usury. Christians avoided the appearance of charging interest, while Jews more normally stated their loans in money-terms. Both Jews and Christians provided credit through direct loans and credit-sales. Despite the stereotypes, Christians were, in reality, the primary lenders of Santa Coloma. Jews played a secondary, although significant, role as creditors, an activity necessary for the better operation of this rural market place.