Paper 1, Prescribed Subject 2: Conquest and its Impact The reign of Isabella and Ferdinand (Conquest of Granada, Inquisition)

Alhambra Decree: Issued by Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile in March 1492, it mandated the expulsion of all practicing Jews from Spain within four months unless they converted to Christianity, reflecting the use of religious uniformity for state consolidation post-Reconquista and aiming to eliminate Jewish influence among conversos.

Anti-Semitism: Hostility or discrimination against Jews driven by religious fanaticism, economic envy, and distrust towards conversos, justifying both the 1492 expulsion and the Inquisition focused on rooting out heresy.

Auto-da-fé: A public ceremony during which sentences by the Spanish Inquisition were executed, ranging from penance to burning for heresy or apostasy, emphasizing the fusion of royal and ecclesiastical authority in early modern Spain.

Conversos: Jews who converted to Christianity, often facing suspicion and discrimination from Old Christians, with mistrust contributing to the establishment of the Inquisition in 1478.

Cryptojews: Individuals who outwardly practiced Christianity while secretly maintaining Jewish rituals, symbolizing the failure of forced conversions to ensure genuine religious conformity.

Ferdinand II of Aragon: Known as Ferdinand the Catholic (1452–1516), he ruled jointly with Isabella, consolidating power and enforcing Catholic orthodoxy through the Spanish Inquisition and signing the Alhambra Decree.

Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros: A prominent church reformer and Grand Inquisitor, he enforced religious uniformity and repression of heterodox practices.

Hernando de Talavera: A moderate voice initially advocating for gentle conversion methods compared to Cisneros's harsher policies.

Limpieza de sangre: A doctrine that distinguished between Old Christians and New Christians, used to exclude individuals of “impure” lineage from certain societal roles, signaling the racialization of religious differences.

Spanish Inquisition: A state-controlled tribunal targeting conversos and cryptojews, led by Tomás de Torquemada, who symbolized the intersection of religious zeal and political power, later extending to moriscos (Muslim converts) and Protestants.

Isabella I of Castile: Known as Isabella the Catholic (1451–1504), she centralized authority and viewed the Inquisition as essential for political stability, co-signing the Alhambra Decree.

Jewish Diaspora: The dispersion of Jews following the 1492 expulsion, with Sephardic Jews preserving their cultural and religious identity across the Mediterranean. Sephardic refers to Jews from the Iberian Peninsula, illustrating themes of trauma and resilience.

Tomás de Torquemada: The first Grand Inquisitor who expanded the Inquisition, promoting the expulsion of Jews while centralizing its operations.