Spain before the inquisition

[Pretty Flaco]

My history teacher said that it was essentially peaceful coexistence of catholics + muslims + jews, but was it tolerant? To what extent was it peaceful?

[PhoenixAsh]

It depends....

Basically the conquest started during the 8th century AD. THis resulted in the Al Andalus. Eventually expansion was halted and some battles were fought on the borders.

In which indeed Christians, Jews and Muslims lived in relative peace. The Christians and Jews were recquired to pay a tax. Eventually expansion was halted and some battles were fought on the borders but never decisive. Some incidents varying in size naturally still happened...but were uncommon.

In the 11th century Al Andalus fell apart in small states and the stalemate on the borders was breached and the period of what we now call the reconquista was started....which ended in the late 15th century with the recapture of Grenada after which religious tolerance basically ended with the expellation or forced conversion of the Jews.


Now...the tolerance in Spain was higher than most places in Europe. This does not mean there were no violent incidents (notice the word here...it was generally every few years or so) even large ones between the three religions. And even though they mixed freely they did have clear established boundraries....and it was maintained, surprisingly, through the largest part of the reconquista.

In the late 14th century this started to change. There were prolonged religious clashes. This violence happened mainly in Aragon and Castille and was directed at Jews. These were religious in justification...but the underlying reason was deep dissatisfaction of Christians with the economic and social position and perceived political power of the Jews. after the reconquest of Granada Jews were expelled or forcibly converted...justfied as it being for their own safety and the public welfare. (It says something many Jews fled to Muslim North-Africa.)

Not long after the Jews were expelled...the Muslims suffered the same faith in 1504...if I am not mistaken.

This had profound effects on Spanish economy and social/cultural and intelectual development....and set it back several years.