Learn About The Spanish Inquisition

Examine the tribunal established to enforce Catholic orthodoxy in Spain — its origins, methods, political motivations, and lasting impact on religious freedom and European history.

The Spanish Inquisition was established in 1478 by Ferdinand and Isabella and operated for 356 years until its final abolition in 1834, making it one of the longest-running judicial institutions in history. Modern historians estimate that approximately 3,000-5,000 people were executed over its entire history — far fewer than popular imagination suggests, though tens of thousands more were subjected to punishments ranging from public penance to imprisonment and property confiscation. The 1492 Alhambra Decree expelled an estimated 40,000-100,000 Jews from Spain who refused to convert, and the 1609 expulsion of the Moriscos (converted Muslims) removed roughly 300,000 people, devastating Spain's agricultural economy.

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