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I'm currently working on a Dragon Age: Origins fic which amongst other things addresses the position of the Denerim elven Alienage under Anora. Since the alienages are fairly obviously based in part on Jewish ghettos I've been looking into them and it's just as happy funtimes as I was expecting.
From the page on the Frankfurt ghetto:
Rinse, repeat.
Also: on the second page of result for "medieval jewish ghetto" I came across Elven alienage = Jewish ghetto? from the Dragon Age forum. I've only read part of the discussion (my self defense mechanism doesn't let me read too much of internet fora, especially since the game's writer is involved. Too much chance of finding out he's a prat) but there's one guy who is insisting that the comparison is antisemetic, which, no. (Of course cue people saying "PC taken too far" when it's just PC done wrong)
Other informative links I have found so far (for what going to be a relatively minor part of a shortish fic I may never get around to finishing, yet part of me feels I should go get out some books or something. It is part of my family's history after all)
From the page on the Frankfurt ghetto:
The Frankfurt Jews were promised, by the Emperor and his descendants, the right to administer their own homes, cemeteries, synagogues and all the easements. In view of the growing number of pogroms — Jews were held responsible for the Black Plague in 1348 — the Emperor included a statement in the promise that turned out to be fatal. The Emperor stated that Frankfurt would not be held responsible if the Jews were killed as a result of sickness or riots. It also stated that the belongings of the deceased would revert to the city.
Two weeks after the Emperor left the city, on July 24, 1349 all the Jews of Frankfurt were beaten to death or burnt as their houses were set aflame.
Rinse, repeat.
Also: on the second page of result for "medieval jewish ghetto" I came across Elven alienage = Jewish ghetto? from the Dragon Age forum. I've only read part of the discussion (my self defense mechanism doesn't let me read too much of internet fora, especially since the game's writer is involved. Too much chance of finding out he's a prat) but there's one guy who is insisting that the comparison is antisemetic, which, no. (Of course cue people saying "PC taken too far" when it's just PC done wrong)
Other informative links I have found so far (for what going to be a relatively minor part of a shortish fic I may never get around to finishing, yet part of me feels I should go get out some books or something. It is part of my family's history after all)
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I read it so you don't have to!
"The medieval Jewish ghettos were the original inspiration behind the alienages, yes. It grew to encompass other things, of course, but all of Thedas started as a fictionalized version of European history, so that is indeed where it began."
And then later, he asked that people take the real-world discussions of race to the off-topic forum.
The medieval ghettos were my first thought, but there's also hints of the Native American (original inhabitants of the continent enslaved and forced off their lands and into small, confined areas by the newcomers) and African-American (lost much of their original culture and worshipping the oppressor's deity) experiences.
What I'm wondering about is what the City Elven culture would look like, because I think that after 600-odd years they would have developed something with elements of scraps remembered from the Dales, and the human culture around them. The obvious one is the vhenedahl, but there would probably be others, right?
I'm particularly curious about religion. I don't think we ever see any elven priests of the Maker in game. How deep does their belief really run? Someone on LJ suggested that the elves may venerate Andraste over the Maker, which is an interesting idea, especially if it's a City Elf Warden who finds the Urn.
I suspect that for my Tabris girl's fic, I'm going to move in the direction of a possible future schism, with the Ferelden Chantry pulling away from the central hierarchy in Orlais--not least because the King's mistress has a strong hand in setting government policy. (I hardened Alistair, but I totally went with the dialogue option "You should look out for yourself more, as long as you do what I tell you."
Re: I read it so you don't have to!
I think the alienages are mostly based on jewish ghettos, but elvish history and culture overall is definitely a combination of several things. And it was only while thinking about replying to your comment that it occurred to me to think about the parallels with Indigenous Australians (not that the writers would have been thinking of them particularly, but they're the indigenous people I'm most familiar with) Hmm.
And yes, I found myself curious about what the city elf culture is like, we don't get a very close look. Perhaps they would have some syncretist beliefs? And I agree, the Vhenadahl can't be all there is, even if there's no other traditions left over from the Dales they might have created new ones.
I doubt elves would be allowed to be priests, the Chantry seems pretty prejudiced, more than the Circle for example. I don't know that that would stop them being religious. An Andraste vs the Maker emphasis sounds plausible, not just amongst the elves either. Hmm. (The Tevinter Chantry goes the other way, not seeing Andraste as divine at all)
Heh. I can't see my atheist commoner dwarf having much interest in or influence over the Chantry :) But that sounds interestingly dramatic!
I've not finished my Tabris playthrough but having read up on it liked the idea of trying to persuade Anora to institute an Alienage Bann anyway (sure, it didn't happen in the epilogue, but if Awakenings can ignore the epilogue so can I) And yeah, I can see those sorts of problems coming up.
(EDIT: Oops, wrong account. Well, hopefully you can figure out who I am :))
Because I've totally been thinking about this...