One of the points that the book conveys is the versatility of the Spanish Inquisition. When it was first created, the main objective of the inquisition at this point was the elimination of semitism, making its primary targets Jews and Muslims, but much more so Jews. As time went on, though, the need for the inquisition called for a change in victim; since the Jews and Muslims were less of a problems and it grew to persecute any person who strayed from Orthodox Catholicism, such as was targeted. The principal purpose of the Inquisition was enforcing conformity of religion throughout the Spanish kingdom, although the Inquisition was also used for other reasons, like politics. Although the purpose was religious in nature, the Inquisition
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Also, although both Semitic groups were persecuted, those that reverted back to the Jewish religion were punished more harshly than Moriscos. This harsh treatment of Jews specifically can be attributed to the fact that Christians frequently blamed Jews for the death of Jesus, along with the fact that the Moriscos often lived outside of Christian society, unlike the conversos. Over the years, though, fewer Jews and Muslims were arrested and those that were did not receive as harsh of punishments, like in the case of Lorenzo Beltrán, who spat his communion out in a prison Sunday mass and claimed that he did because he was a Jew. This mainly due to the fact that the Inquisition had succeeded in eliminating many of the followers of the other fate from society. After this change, the Inquisition had to find more people to persecute to justify its existence. Other groups that did not conform to Catholic ideas or sinners in the Catholic fate itself were then persecuted. Protestants, Illuminist, and Old Christians charged with crimes such as bigamy, disrespecting the church, sorcery, homosexuality and blasphemy were also targeted and punished. The main purpose of the Spanish Inquisition was to force unity, specifically of the Catholic religion, throughout Spain.
Although the Spanish Inquisition was an authority that enforced religion, it was orchestrated and run by the State.
During the 350 years that it had a hold on Spain, the Inquisition succeeded in its goal of forcing those living in Spanish territories to either move or obey Catholic
Also, although both Semitic groups were persecuted, those that reverted back to the Jewish religion were punished more harshly than Moriscos. This harsh treatment of Jews specifically can be attributed to the fact that Christians frequently blamed Jews for the death of Jesus, along with the fact that the Moriscos often lived outside of Christian society, unlike the conversos. Over the years, though, fewer Jews and Muslims were arrested and those that were did not receive as harsh of punishments, like in the case of Lorenzo Beltrán, who spat his communion out in a prison Sunday mass and claimed that he did because he was a Jew. This mainly due to the fact that the Inquisition had succeeded in eliminating many of the followers of the other fate from society. After this change, the Inquisition had to find more people to persecute to justify its existence. Other groups that did not conform to Catholic ideas or sinners in the Catholic fate itself were then persecuted. Protestants, Illuminist, and Old Christians charged with crimes such as bigamy, disrespecting the church, sorcery, homosexuality and blasphemy were also targeted and punished. The main purpose of the Spanish Inquisition was to force unity, specifically of the Catholic religion, throughout Spain.
Although the Spanish Inquisition was an authority that enforced religion, it was orchestrated and run by the State.
During the 350 years that it had a hold on Spain, the Inquisition succeeded in its goal of forcing those living in Spanish territories to either move or obey Catholic