The history of European Jewry is a vast and complex subject. In this book, Edward Gelles traces Jewish history in Europe and the Near East from early times to the modern day. Topics examined include: population movement; settlement and integration; advancement in aspects of European culture and learning; relations with European states and dynasties, Christians and Ottomans; religious persecution; and war and anti-semitism, including the Holocaust. Edward Gelles and his family, both immediate and in their wider circle, have huge and distinguished family connections that provide historical context.Combining biography, traditional genealogy and a contribution from the rapidly developing field of genetic genealogy, this book weaves emerging patterns into the grand tapestry of European history.