This seems to have been published in 2005 and I'm not sure why it suddenly appeared on Google now.Perspectives
The Seventh-Century Christian Obsession with the Jews:
A Historical Parallel for the Present?
Rivkah Duker Fishman
In the seventh century, the Arabs embarked on the conquest of the world in the name of Islam. The Caliphate replaced the Persian Empire and Christian Spain and conquered much of the Byzantine Empire. The latter, however, seemed to ignore the threat of the new invaders and their religion. Instead, the Byzantine political and intellectual elite focused increasingly on the Jews in tracts and legal measures. The situation has certain parallels with the present.
As a general principal I'm skeptical of broad-brush parallels between ancient history and the present. There are just too many differences to have any feeling of control over the variables. But I'm always relieved when at least America doesn't get cast as ancient Rome.
