Muslims And New Christians In Spain example essay topic

Ferdinand and Isabella used the Inquisition to eliminate opposition in Spain. Their thoughts were that by eliminating the Jews, Muslims, and New Christians in Spain they would gain unity, wealth, and power. They wanted to make a Christian and only a Christian Spain. Since Ferdinand and Isabella were married they strived to make Spain a whole. With Ferdinand ruling Aragon and Isabella ruling Castile they united Spain as one.

Soon Ferdinand and Isabella had the regions of Granada and Portugal as part of Spain. But Ferdinand and Isabella wanted to increase their authority over their kingdom through religion as well. Ferdinand new that the church controlled large amounts of land and also served significant roles in the political system, he took these very important things into major consideration. Isabella on the other hand, .".. had a genuine concern for religious reform and believed in their responsibility for the spiritual life of their subjects and people".

(Ovid 3). Ferdinand and Isabella didn't think of using the Inquisition to purify Spain until a priest named Tomas de Torquemada brought it to their attention. Torquemada was Isabella's confessor or spiritual leader. Torquemada convinced Ferdinand and Isabella that once the Inquisition was in place they could eliminate all non-Catholic believers. He bribed them with the thought that they", ... could use it to solidify the supremacy of Catholicism in Spanish life... the inquisition would promise them consolidation on their political control over the country and would increase the wealth of the crown through confiscation". (The Inquisition 50-51) Ferdinand and Isabella were now convinced that by putting the Inquisition to action they could gain wealth, power, and full unity of Spain.

The Inquisition was so closely associated with the government that it became a department of state. (The Inquisition 43) The Jewish population in Spain was a very large one that caused lots of envy. Jews held very important roles in the all parts of Government in Spain. There were also many Jews who were part of very wealthy and important Christian families. When the Inquisition was put out, all Jews and Muslims or basically anyone who wasn't part of the Catholic religion had to either convert to the Catholic religion or leave Spain. By doing this Ferdinand and Isabella gained all the land and any business as well that all non-Christians used to obtain.

Soon most of the population had become New Christians. New Christians were people who were Catholic by baptism. By then the anger arose towards them as well and any New Christian who was suspected of practicing their old religion by any means was questioned and usually found guilty, which meant that they were either exiled or their land and belongings were taken away. The Inquisition did indeed bring Ferdinand and Isabella wealth to their precious Spain but its economy had gone down and so did its advancements. With the Inquisition in place foreign presence was eliminated which meant no interaction to any t new advancements or wealth in the outside world. Ferdinand and Isabella thought that the Inquisition would help purify Spain and make it all Christian, they thought that by doing this is would unite Spain more and make their reign more powerful.

Though many problems occurred during their reign you could say that they did fulfill their desires, they gained wealth from all the land and money that they confiscated from all the people who fled Spain. They also gained power and unity for their belief in making a pure Spain. In the end they did in a way unite Spain as whole... at least in their minds.

Bibliography

Bacharach, Deborah. The Inquisition. California: Lucent Books Inc., 1995.
Netanyahu, B. The Origins of the Inquisition in Fifteenth Century Spain. New York: Random House, 1995.
Ovid, Jacob. The Alhambra Decree (Followed by Isaac Abrabanel's Answer). Online. web Decree Abrabanels Answer. htm Feb. 2002.