Daily Life During the Spanish Inquisition

The life of persecuted minorities as well as that of the wealthy and the ordinary people of Spain during the Spanish Inquisition comes alive in this illuminating account. For three and a half centuries the Inquisition permeated every aspect of daily life in early modern Spain. This history depicts in graphic terms the dangers faced by Jews and Muslims and their suffering at the hands of the Inquisitors as well as the struggle for survival of the lower classes and the ostentatious display of wealth of the high nobility. Set against the political religious social economic and cultural events of the time it presents a balanced account rich in detail of the daily activities of the Spanish people during this period.Each chapter offers a succinct perspective of life during early modern Spain covering the political and social setting the Church the Inquisition Jews and Conversos Muslims and Moriscos the court urban and rural life family life clothes and fashions food arts and entertainment military life education and health and medicine. All these aspects of life are discussed in the context of a society experiencing profound internal conflicts arising from matters of religion class gender and ethnic prejudice. Interwoven in the text is a discussion of relevant political and economic events that helped to shape the times as well as comments from both contemporary Spanish writers and foreign visitors who witnessed firsthand the conditions and attitudes of the people. More than 40 illustrations a timeline of important events a list of Spanish rulers during the centuries of the Inquisition a glossary and a bibliography add value to the narrative.