Identidades judías en la Europa tardoantigua: Erwin Goodenough y sus ecos

The aim of this paper is twofold. Firstly, we present a historiographical analysis of the debates around the type of Judaism that existed in Europe in late antiquity. Secondly, we present some definitions on the approach that we consider appropriate with which to trace the history of late ancient European Jewish communities. The text is structured around the work of Erwin Goodenough, who early on called into question the traditional thesis that posited a rapid expansion of the rabbinic movement, both in Palestine and throughout the diaspora and, furthermore, asserted the persistence of an alternative Judaism – Hellenistic and mystical – right until the end of late antiquity. We also present other more recent interpretations in relation to the life of the Jews in late-ancient Europe.