The Spanish Inquisition The Inquisition was a Church court for trying heresy. It occurred in many countries, but the Spanish Inquisition is one of the most notorious for its length and brutality. The Spanish Inquisition

The Reconquista 1469: Ferdinand & Isabella married, uniting most of ____________. 1492: Their armies drove the ___________ from Granada & united all of Spain. Wanted a common ________________ to increase unity. Before 1492, much of Spain had been ruled by Muslim Moors. Ferdinand and Isabella’s marriage united the kingdoms of Aragon and Castile; they then set out to conquer the remaining parts of the Iberian peninsula that belonged to the Moors (the Reconquista). Both Ferdinand and Isabella were Catholics. They were also the ones who sponsored Columbus’ journey to the New World.

The Inquisition March 1492: Forced all Jews & _____________ who refused to convert to Christianity to leave Spain. Introduced the Inquisition to help strengthen Catholicism & eradicate other ____________. converso: Spanish person who _____________ to Catholicism to avoid persecution/expulsion Picture: Saint Dominic presiding over an auto de fé (public penance for heresy). What crime does the Inquisition prosecute? Any Spaniard who was suspected of heresy was brought before the Inquisition. Many were tried for heresy under the Spanish Inquisition: conversos suspected of practising their old religions in secret, Protestants, homosexuals, those suspected of witchcraft, etc.

Torture Torture was used to get ______________, not to punish heretics. Most common methods: water torture, strappado and rack because Inquisitors couldn’t draw ____________. While Inquisition officials were forbidden from drawing blood or causing permanent physical damage, certain methods of torture were still permitted. Confessions were supposed to be given freely, so all Inquisition documents had to make it clear that torture had stopped before the person confessed.

Torture Water Torture A cloth is placed in the mouth of the victim. Water is then forced down his or her throat, which simulates feelings of drowning.

Torture The Strappado The victim is suspended by the wrists, which are tied behind the back. Using a series of lifts and drops, the person’s arms were dislocated. Weights were sometimes added to the feet to increase the pain and could also dislocate the legs.

Torture The Rack The victim’s arms and legs are tied to a device that can be cranked as they are being questioned. As the device is turned, the victim’s body is stretched until the joints are dislocated. This was one of the most common torture methods. Often confessions could be achieved simply by showing someone another person being tortured on the rack.

Auto de Fé Auto de fé: ___________ penance for heresy, often a death sentence Burning at the stake was the _________ method of execution. About ___________ people were executed during the Spanish Inquisition between 1480 and 1808. Once someone confessed, their sentence was publicly announced & conducted in an auto de fé. If the person repented, they were strangled before they were burned, otherwise they were burned alive. Victims included Protestants, conversos, homosexuals, supposed witches, etc.