Spanish Inquisition

Ferdinand and Isabella• United in marriage as a way to unify Spain

and expand their power and control. • Strong Christians and wanted to make

everyone in their country Christian. • Jews and Muslims were forced to convert to

Christianity and monitored by the Inquisition. – If they did not convert, if they were speaking out

against the church (heresy) or guilty of another crime then they would be taken before the Inquisition and tortured until they confessed. Then they were often killed.

• Design

Question 1

• If this happened today, who would you marry, who would make you “powerful”?

What was it?

• State controlled tribunal, ran by Tomas Torquemada, created to…– Investigate the sincerity of converts. – Enforced uniformity of religion. – Weaken opposition to the Monarchs.

• Laws were lax for many years allowing Jews and Muslims to practice their religions– 1568 Muslims rebelled = mass expulsions of Muslims

= strict enforcement of Inquisition.– 1560-1700 at least 50,000 trials

• Superstition, questioning church, sex, homosexuality, etc

Question 2

• Why would Ferdinand and Isabella want to make Spain an entirely Christian country?

Stages of the Inquisition

1. Accusations : Read the “Edict of Grace” after Sunday Mass.– If guilty you could step forward and

“possibly” receive forgiveness…had to turn in others.

– Did not tell those who were turned in what they were brought in for or who turned them in.

Question 3

• Was this effective why and why not?

2. Detention: Locked away while case is examined.

• Sequistration of property (took your stuff) in order to pay for the expenses.– Makes a LOT of money for the church.

• To protect the “secrecy” of the process– Were not informed of why you were there– You had to remain in isolation.

Question 4

• How is this similar and different from our court system today?

3. Trial: series of hearings to “defend” yourself.

• Used torture to gain confessions. – 1. Stretching by suspending people by arms and

adding weights to their feet. – 2. Placed a cloth in your mouth and then forced to

ingest water…simulates drowning. – 3. The Rack! Strapped to a board at 4 corners

and slowly spread apart breaking bones and tearing ligaments until limbs pulled off. (also used hot irons and pinchers during this process)

Question 5

• Is torture a successful method of questioning why or why not?

4. Sentencing: 5 outcomes.

1. Acquitted: not guilty…allowed to go free2. Suspended: not guilty or innocent. Could be

brought in and requestioned at any time without notice or explanation.

3. Penanced: “punishment” exiled or fined4. Reconciled: “forgiven” but had to pay the

price which meant jail or a whipping5. Relaxation: “freedom from sins” but were

killed by burning at the stake.

Question 6

• Was the Spanish Inquisition successful in making Spain a Christian country why or why not?

Summary Comparison

• Write a summary comparison. Which aspects of the inquisition are similar to aspects of our society today? Which are different? Be specific in your examples of each.