During the Middle Ages, Europe underwent political, religious, and economic change. The Roman Catholic Church had developed much power at the time and was facing the threat of heresy throughout Europe. The result of this, and one of the major events that shaped Middle Age culture and society, was the Spanish Inquisition. The trials, torturing, and banishing of Jews, Muslims, and Protestants on charges of heresy by European Catholic monarchs during the Spanish Inquisition greatly affected the society of the middle ages ; therefore, understanding the Spanish Inquisition and its effect on society during the time is indispensable in analyzing and fully understanding the culture of the Middle Ages. Since the Spanish Inquisition had no major effect on Middle Age culture and society, it is not necessary to study and analyze it in order to fully understand the culture of the Middle Ages.
The Spanish Inquisition had several effects on the religious, political, and economic aspects of Middle Age society. “In Spain, from the fourteenth century on, economic and social transformations created political and economic upheaval. As a result non-Christians, Muslims, and Jews had new legal disabilities thrust upon them. Many Jews converted toward the end of the fourteenth century; they became known as conversos. In all, more than two hundred Jewish communities were destroyed, and 160,000 Jews either fled or converted” (American Eras, 1997). Because of the Inquisition, major political and economic upheaval occurred. This shows that the effects of the Inquisition were not only religious. The Jews, Muslims, and Protestants who were accused of heresy during this time had legal rights taken away from them; therefore, mainly Roman Catholics had the most rights. Additionally, the monarchs in power at the time were Roman Catholic; consequently, it was much easier to relinquish the rights of those who were tried and found guilty by the Roman Catholics.
Another aspect of Middle Age culture that the Spanish Inquisition affected was religion, specifically the Roman Catholic Church. “After the Roman Catholic Church consolidated its power across Europe in the 12th and 13th Century, it set up the Inquisition to ensure that heretics did not undermine that authority. It took the form of a network of ecclesiastical tribunals equipped with judges and investigators” (Murphy, 2004). During the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the Roman Catholic Church unified its power in Europe. To protect this power from those the Church accused of heresy (Jewish people, Muslims, and Protestants), an inquisition was instituted. The Inquisition itself was made up of judges and investigators, who each tried and found guilty those who were accused of heresy. This institution gave way to the domination of the Roman Catholic Church in Europe, while people of other religions were suffering.
Several popes during the Middle Ages played a major role in the execution of the Inquisition. “But for the Pope the most terrifying threat came from upstart Christian sects who challenged church doctrine and the absolute power of the Roman Pope. To preserve the purity of the faith and the unquestioned authority of the Pope, the Church began to crack down on all dissenting with a new weapon: the Inquisition. For over half a millennium a system of mass terror reigned. Thousands were subject to secret courts, torture and punishment” (Secret Files of the Inquisition). Through the Middle Ages, popes viewed heresy as one of the most potent threats against the Church. During the late twelfth century, Lucius III was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and first established the Inquisition after discovering threats of heresy in southern France. Because of the Church-wide fear that heresy was going to disestablish the Church’s power in Europe, the Inquisition was instituted. Secret Files of the Inquisition describes the severity of the Inquisition as a “mass terror.” This time was very dangerous for those who were not Catholic and did not agree with Roman Catholic teachings and views. The Church desperately wanted to preserve its power and presence in Europe; consequently, thousands were tried in courts, found guilty, and either banished, tortured, or executed. The major role of the Roman Catholic Church in the Inquisition shows the immense influence the Inquisition had on Middle Age culture.
The Spanish Inquisition was an enormously influential event in the Middle Ages. Because of the great amount of people that died, as well as the amount of years the Inquisition lasted, it is clear to see that the Inquisition had a lasting effect on the Middle Ages. The Roman Catholic Church, having so much power at the time in Europe, was able to institute the Inquisition as quickly as it did. This one event was able to drastically alter the religious, political and economic landscape of Europe during the Middle Ages. Because of its colossal influence on the Middle Ages, it is absolutely necessary to study the Spanish Inquisition to fully understand the culture and society of the Middle Ages.
Bibliography
Murphy, V. (2004, June 15). Vatican 'dispels inquisition myths'. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3809983.stm
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