spanish inquisition
Today almost half the group left to explore other parts of Europe. I stayed behind for a much needed period of rest, and to conclude my European Culture report.
During class, after dinner, we learned about the Spanish Inquisition.
I found one man, Tomas de Torquemada, or, the Grand Inquisitor, very interesting, so I did a little research:
“The purpose of the Inquisition was to root out heresy, and for Torquemada this meant destroying the Marranos. The Inquisition published a set of guidelines so that Catholics could inform on their Marrano neighbors:
- If you see that your neighbors are wearing clean and fancy clothes
- on Saturdays, they are Jews.
- If they clean their houses on Fridays and light candles earlier than
- usual on that night, they are Jews.
- If they eat unleavened bread and begin their meal with celery and
- lettuce during Holy Week, they are Jews.
- If they say prayers facing a wall, bowing back and forth,
- they are Jews.”
- link
