In 1290, King Edward expelled anyone of the Jewish faith from England. While some converted to Christianity to stay in England, most of the Jewish population moved out of the country. This means that by the time Shakespeare wrote this play in 1596, there were few to no Jews living in London. Due to lack of exposure, irrational fear of religious difference, and the general prevalence of racist ideology, anti-Semitism was rampant in early modern England. Many plays featured despicable Jewish characters to perpetuate this unfounded hatred.