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One of the oldest instances of anti-Semitic claims was made in the first century AD by Apion who claimed Jews sacrificed Greeks in their temple in a ritual known as a blood libel. Christianity later brought this up again in England in 1144, after William of Norwich was found murdered. William was called a martyr and created a second wave of anti-semitism, this time in Europe. It was mostly popularized with the story of Little Saint Hugh of Lincoln, and was even present in the Canterbury Tales. This continued on for many centuries until modern times. This "[[blood libel]]" accusation has survived the centuries and is today seen in Muslim anti-Semitic propaganda.

One of the oldest instances of anti-Semitic claims was made in the first century AD by Apion who claimed Jews sacrificed Greeks in their temple in a ritual known as a blood libel. Christianity later brought this up again in England in 1144, after William of Norwich was found murdered. William was called a martyr and created a second wave of anti-semitism, this time in Europe. It was mostly popularized with the story of Little Saint Hugh of Lincoln, and was even present in the Canterbury Tales. This continued on for many centuries until modern times. This "[[blood libel]]" accusation has survived the centuries and is today seen in Muslim anti-Semitic propaganda.

In the Middle Ages, misplaced blame on Jews for the death of [[Jesus Christ]], despite the fact that Jesus Himself was obviously Jewish, and that He had been executed under [[Roman]] law, led to Christian antipathy against Jews in parts of [[Europe]]. This also led to rumors that Jews "desecrated the host" (tortured communion bread as per the [[Catholic]] doctrine of transubstination, and that they "poisoned the wells", leading to the black death.

In the Middle Ages, misplaced blame on Jews for the death of [[Jesus Christ]], despite the fact that Jesus Himself was obviously Jewish, and that He had been executed under [[Roman]] law, led to Christian antipathy against Jews in parts of [[Europe]]. This also led to rumors that Jews "desecrated the host" (tortured communion bread as per the [[Catholic]] doctrine of transubstination, and that they "poisoned the wells", leading to the [[Black Death]].

Anti-semitism was rife in Europe well into the twentieth century. Anti-Semitic references were common in the popular literature of both the 19th and early 20th centuries. It became more "scientific", and often connected with psuedo-scientific racial theories. Well known 19th-century anti-Semites include Houston Stewart Chamberlain, [[Karl Marx]], and [[Richard Wagner]]. In [[Russia]], [[pogroms]] (mass slaughter) were carried out against the Jews. When [[Adolf Hitler]] needed a scapegoat on which to blame the inflationary problems of [[Germany]], he built on a bedrock of anti-Semitism that was already there. The consequence was the [[Holocaust]], called by Hitler the [[final solution]] to the 'Jewish problem'.

Anti-semitism was rife in Europe well into the twentieth century. Anti-Semitic references were common in the popular literature of both the 19th and early 20th centuries. It became more "scientific", and often connected with psuedo-scientific racial theories. Well known 19th-century anti-Semites include Houston Stewart Chamberlain, [[Karl Marx]], and [[Richard Wagner]]. In [[Russia]], [[pogroms]] (mass slaughter) were carried out against the Jews. When [[Adolf Hitler]] needed a scapegoat on which to blame the inflationary problems of [[Germany]], he built on a bedrock of anti-Semitism that was already there. The consequence was the [[Holocaust]], called by Hitler the [[final solution]] to the 'Jewish problem'.