The World’s First Ghetto

The World’s First Ghetto, from PBS Learning Media

In this video from PBS’s The Story of the Jews, Simon Schama discusses the consequences of the Spanish Expulsion, including Jewish immigration to the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice. Both the video and background essay describe the origins of the word “ghetto,” the name of the walled district established in 1516 to house the Jewish population of Venice, Italy.

Meets 9-12 standards in multiple states and national standards for civics and government.

Access teacher support materials, background reading, discussion questions, flashcards, and student handouts on the webpage for ‘The World’s First Ghetto’ on PBS Learning Media.