The Spanish Inquisition

The Spanish Inquisition was a religious tribunal established in 1478 by the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, to ensure the orthodoxy of converted Jews and Muslims in Spain. It aimed to identify heretics—those whose beliefs diverged from Catholic doctrine. Torture and trials were used to extract confessions, and executions occurred for those deemed unrepentant. The Inquisition sought to unify Spain under Catholicism and eliminate religious dissent. It gradually declined in the 18th century and was officially abolished in the 19th century, leaving a controversial legacy regarding religious intolerance and persecution.