Spanish Inquisition, 1478-1614: An Anthology of Sources

Book Overview

This collection of previously untranslated court documents, testimonials, and letters portrays the Spanish Inquisition in vivid detail, offering fresh perspectives on such topics as the Inquisition's... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0872207943
• ISBN13: 9780872207943
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: Hackett Publishing Company
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 21.6" x 14.0" x 14.0"

Customer Reviews

25 Actual Documents From the Spanish Inquisition from the Perspectives of the Inquisitors and Those

The "Spanish Inquisition", or even better translated, the "Spanish Investigation" was really a diverse phenomenon that extended from 1478 to 1834. Though many have stereotyped this era as an era of superstition, ignorance, and blind zeal; it is becoming more accepted among fellow historians of the Spanish Inquisition, that this historical phenomenon was actually diverse and more reasonable than many are willing to give credit. The editor of this anthology admits this in the introduction. Many do not seem to be aware as to the whole background of the Spanish Inquisition as to why it started all of a sudden. The Moors, Muslims from Northern Africa, had dominated and ruled much of Spain since the 8th century, except for some Northern Territories. It should be noted that Madrid was at one point called "Maghrib". Those northern territories would eventually rise up for the reconquest of Spain that began in the early 13th century. Once most of Spain was reconquered from the Moors it became the time of the Spanish Inquisition. It would seem that purification of the country was at hand since it was feared by many that the Moors might rise again in alliance with Jews to overthrow the new Spanish Catholic Crown. National security was a very important issue between the transition period after the defeat of the Muslim Moors and the formal rise of the Spanish Catholics. There were reasons for demanding that Jews and Muslims have to covert or be expelled from Spain. This book brings about some of these reasons within the text, footnotes, and introduction. This book does an excellent job of resurrecting 25 key documents that show the diversity of the Spanish Inquisition from actual trials and cases of people who were suspected of converting (the "coversos") and then returning to their old ways. The targets and penalties changed over time from Jews to Muslims to Protestants to Witches and all in between. A common notion at the time was that if one was willing to lie or hide about one's beliefs in God in order to stay in Spain, then what else would that person be willing to lie and hide from the Spanish authorities? These questions were very important for National Security and maintaining a uniform National Identity as well to prevent preventable rebellions from occurring again. In this book you will find detailed documents and rebuttals of specific cases (some of which include details of the process of tortures), the importance of witnesses, procedures for trials, the positive purposes of the Inquisition, procedures and standards for how the accused should be treated and cared for, perpetual imprisonment, demand for complete competence of the Inquisitors, the purposes of the Inquisitors as restorers of people and not as abusers of people, and also resistance by some Spanish citizens of the inquisitors with so much more!! The background and summary that is done for most of the 25 Documents found here, REALLY help set up the needed information to lay down

An investigation into life under the Spanish Inquisition

A controversial period in Roman Catholicism, this relfects sources from the time on life in a turmoil when even the church itself transited in ideology. Innocents were executed ... and the intentions vary. The only thing I will say is that the Church believed it was engaging in a form of purification but it was probably unChristian in its implementation. Christ converted followers through love while this time in history was the Christian version of the jealous Pharisees. The late Pope John Paul 2 worked on interfaith dialogue .... which was a healing intention given this 200 years plus time of fear and fire and brimstone. I will say this .... some of the "witches" were innocent healers ... but others were engaged in sorcery and mischief which were endangering people. This distinction should have been clearer with the church.

Every Roman Catholic should be proud!

The Roman Catholic Church at its best, they executed without exception, and enjoyed every minute. If you want to know about the church that claims to be the true religion and followers of Christ read this book. I'm pretty sure you will understand. However, not everything is bad about the inquisition; they do have some good points too! These techniques could be implemented on the fanatics that are committing acts of terrorism all over the world. Maybe we should return to the inquisition days!