Many people in different parts of the world were skeptical of the Jews because of their lack of understanding and unwillingness to understand superstitions and fear. Jews were considered wicked and evil they where scapegoats for disasters and punishment followed. People feared the Jews because they where different then the majority of others. This Jewish persecution stemmed from differences in religious beliefs and their standard of living based on their religious codes. Jews couldn't own land, it was legal to mistreat Jews, they where not allowed in to certain professions, and were forced to take disrespectful jobs.
Jews where forced into take disrespectful jobs like trading and money lending. This made Jews look money hungry and even more evil to the Christians. Jews could not hold public office, be in the army, own land, engage in any craft or profession, or marry a Christian. Laws like these made Jews second class citizens. Jews couldn't testify in court against a Christian, but it was all right for a Christian to do to a Jew. Christians could own Jewish slaves but Jewish people weren't allowed to own a Christian slave. Agriculture was the leading profession back in those days and since Jews couldn't own Christian slaves it pretty much put them out of business. Because of this Jews where forced into those disrespectful jobs I listed before. There were also taxes specifically for the Jews. Soon Jewish religious activities or banned or stopped.
Some of their religious holidays were outlawed and Passover had to be postponed until after Easter. Jews caught trying to convert Christians were put to death. Jews became social outcasts forced to live in ghettos. Now they had to turn to traded because they where banned from other jobs. They expanded trade routes across Europe to Asia and North Africa. Since Jews made most of their money in urban areas they became urban instead of rural residents.