What exactly happened during the Spanish Inquisition?

Question

how widespread was it ?
what caused it?
who was effected?

WAS THIS MAINLY A POGRAM KIND OF AGAINST THE JEWS AND MUSLIMS OR WAS THIS A WITCH HUNT FOR PAGANS??

DID IT JUST HAPPEN IN SPAIN OR EVERYWHERE IN WESTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPE?

ALSO WAS IT MAINLY AGAINST WOMEN WITCHES?

WHY??

Answer 1

The Spanish Inquisition was motivated in part by the multi-religious nature of Spanish society following the reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors (Muslims). Much of the Iberian Peninsula was dominated by Moors following their invasion of the peninsula in 711 until they were expelled by means of a long campaign of reconquest. However, the reconquest did not result in the full expulsion of Muslims from Spain, but instead yielded a multi-religious society made up of Catholics, Jews and Muslims. Granada to the south, in particular remained under Moorish control until 1492, and large cities, especially Seville, Valladolid, and Barcelona, had large Jewish populations centred in Juderías.

The reconquest produced a relatively peaceful co-existence - although not without periodic conflicts - among Christians, Jews, and Muslims in the peninsula's kingdoms. There was a long tradition of Jewish service to the crown of Aragon. Ferdinand's father John II named the Jewish Abiathar Crescas to be Court Astronomer. Jews occupied many important posts, religious and political. Castile itself had an unofficial rabbi.

Nevertheless, in some parts of Spain towards the end of the 14th century, there was a wave of anti-Judaism, encouraged by the preaching of Ferrant Martinez, Archdeacon of Ecija. The pogroms of June 1391 were especially bloody: in Seville, hundreds of Jews were killed, and the synagogue was completely destroyed. The number of victims was equally high in other cities, such as Cordoba, Valencia and Barcelona.[1]

One of the consequences of these disturbances was the massive conversion of Jews. Before this date, conversions were rare, more motivated by social than religious reasons. But from the 15th century, a new social group appeared: conversos, also called New Christians, who were distrusted by Jews and Christians alike for their religious beliefs. By converting, Jews could not only escape eventual persecution, but also obtain entry into many offices and posts that were being prohibited to Jews through new, more severe regulations but converting was a hard long process involving many crucial steps and could not be done just overnight. Many conversos attained important positions in 15th century Spain. Among many others, physicians Andrés Laguna and Francisco Lopez Villalobos (Ferdinand's Court Physician), writers Juan del Enzina, Juan de Mena, Diego de Valera and Alonso de Palencia, and bankers Luis de Santangel and Gabriel Sanchez (who financed the voyage of Christopher Colombus) were all conversos. Conversos - not without opposition - managed to attain high positions in the ecclesiastical hierarchy, at times becoming severe detractors of Judaism.[2] Some even received titles of nobility, and as a result, during the following century some works attempted to demonstrate that virtually all of the nobles of Spain were descended from Jews

Answer 2

Barcelona sited between the ocean and the hills, has discovered a formidable balance: a foot in the standard points and another in the avant-garde and a devote the set of any tourist and here you will find out more hotelbye . Barcelona has got the status to be probably the most cosmopolitan, contemporary and avant-garde town in Spain. Among the areas you need to see in Barcelona is the initial Mágica Fountain Font because how the name herself claim: is truly secret to see the beautiful show of water, light and music.

Answer 3

The rape of imprisoned persons, men and women alike, even well into the modern day, was and remains a common 'practice', this in spite of the laws in place that in current times that heavily penalize the rape or sexual abuse of detained or imprisoned persons. Historically, the sexual abuse of women in particular was quite commonplace and it was often accepted as being part of normal prison routine. In a real sense such was accepted as a mere unfortunate consequence of imprisonment, and a punishment deserved by those so imprisoned. But as far as 'The Church' was concerned, and the Holy Inquisition in particular, there is no historical evidence to suggest that 'rape' was ever prescribed as a 'torture' or a punishment. Rape as a common form of abuse however was very commonplace, as there is also no evidence to suggest that the rape of inmates was ever forbidden or punishable. Rape then existed as a very common practice and a form of 'fringe benefit' for those men whom managed a prison's inmates, Sex for them then was free, frequent, and could be had in any form desired... much to the severe discomfort of the hapless victims with no means of escape or recourse for levying complaints of sexual abuse. Rape then, though perhaps a 'torture' for the victim, was not normally labelled as being such. In the mind of the rapist, performing rape then... was merely sexual intercourse after all- normally a pleasant thing to experience.

Answer 4

For some reason Spain was worried that Christians would become Jews,so Spain said that any one who did would be put to death,many people were tortured but no one case was found to prove that it had happened

Answer 5

I am under the impression it was more of a witch hunt than a POGROM (from the Russian word - to wreak havoc, to demolish violently) against Muslims and Jews.

Answer 6

The king of Spain invited the holy inquisition into Spain.The aim of the inquisition was to root out all forms of heresy, believe it or not,due to being men of god,they were not allowed to spill blood,they had paid torturers for this.If a "heretic" confessed his/her sins and named other sinners they were forgiven and given a penance,though scarred and crippled they were cleansed of sin, it just makes you wonder how many poor individuals and brilliant scholars suffered because their beliefs did not agree with a dogmatic church,

Answer 7

Everywhere the Catholic church was they killed women - as witches. Millions of women all over Europe mainly. It was the curches way to increase their control over people starting to lose interest in religion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inquisition

Answer 8

LOTS and LOTS of people were tortured and killed because of a religious belief that was different than those in power at the time pretty close to the way saddam ran his country.

Answer 9

the catholics in spain rewrote the bible to better suit their needs, deleteing several "chapters" that gave varying and sometimes contrary stories to support what the catholics were and are trying to do in the world, which is of course to convert everyone on earth, and ultimately rule the world.

Answer 10

the church is Spain was killing anyone who was not catholic, mostly old rich people , the church wanted their money and property, that was the only "official" purge, but the killing was more wide spread over most of Europe