The study shows how Elia Capsali, a Cretan rabbi (ca 1485-ca 1555), demonstrated a unique perspective on Crete under Venetian (1211-1645) and Ottoman domination (leading up to the conquest of Rhodes in 1522), as described in his main historical works the Chronicle of Venice (1519) and the Seder Elijahu Zuta (1523). By analyzing Capsali s historical context in Crete and the Cretan Jewish communities during the 16th century, the work depicts how Capsali s thoughts are rooted in his contemporary world.
In particular, this work deals with the way in which Capsali reflected his position at the...