The Spanish Inquisition began under King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I of Spain in 1478. It was meant as a continuance of the Medieval Inquisition, and it lasted in various forms until 1834. The purpose of the Inquisition was to determine the authenticity of Jews and Muslims who had converted to Christianity—in other words, it was to ensure that they really did become Christians, and not just to avoid expulsion from Spain. It quickly became a weapon for monarchs to use against political enemies, much like the Salem Witch trials in the 1690s and the McCarthy trials of the 1950s. It is important to note that while Pope Sixtus IV approved the process, he did so with many misgivings. However, he needed the Spanish military power at the time to protect Rome from the Turks.
Some of the consequences of the Spanish Inquisition included:
For more information on the Spanish Inquisition, have students visit https://www.donquijote.org/spanish-culture/history/spanish-inquisition/ and https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/spanish-inquisition.htm
