Complex sentence: The 17th century was an oppressive era experienced by the indigenous Jews of Israel/Palestine, to buy off the Muslim attackers, Jews had to borrow money from rich Muslims at compound interest, under threats of further attacks if they failed to repay.
Split into simpler sentences: The 17th century was an oppressive era experienced by the indigenous Jews of Israel/Palestine. To buy off the Muslim attackers, Jews had to borrow money from rich Muslims at compound interest, under threats of further attacks if they failed to repay.