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The Origins of the Inquisition in Fifteenth-Century Spain
The Spanish Inquisition remains a fearful symbol of state terror. Its principal target was the conversos , descendants of Spanish Jews who had been forced to convert to Christianity some three generations earlier. Since thousands of them confessed to charges of practicing Judaism in secret, historians have long understood the Inquisition as an attempt to suppress the Jews of Spain. In this magisterial reexamination of the origins of the Inquisition, Netanyahu argues for a different that the conversos were in fact almost all genuine Christians who were persecuted for political ends. The Inquisition's attacks not only on the conversos' religious beliefs but also on their "impure blood" gave birth to an anti-Semitism based on race that would have terrible consequences for centuries to come.
This book has become essential reading and an indispensable reference book for both the interested layman and the scholar of history and religion.
This book has become essential reading and an indispensable reference book for both the interested layman and the scholar of history and religion.
1408 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1995
15 people are currently reading
318 people want to read
About the author
Benzion Netanyahu
14 books6 followersBenzion Netanyahu(Benzion Mileikowsky), (born March 25, 1910, Warsaw, Russian Empire [now in Poland]—died April 30, 2012, Jerusalem), Polish-born Israeli historian and Zionist activist who was the father of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a longtime advocate (and one-time secretary) of Vladimir Jabotinsky, whose uncompromising Zionist Revisionist movement was pivotal in the fight for the state of Israel. The elder Netanyahu rejected a “two-state solution” as well as the possibility of political compromise between Jews and Arabs, and he publicly criticized his son’s apparent willingness to make concessions to foster peace with the Palestinians. Netanyahu was the son of a Zionist rabbi who moved his family to British-mandated Palestine in 1920 and changed their name from Mileikowsky. He studied history at Hebrew University of Jerusalem (M.A., 1933) and at Dropsie College of Hebrew and Cognate Learning, Philadelphia (Ph.D., 1947). He spent his academic career teaching in Israel and the U.S., notably at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., from which he retired. He also served as the editor of the Encyclopedia Hebraica and other Jewish scholarly publications and wrote extensively, though his critics denounced him as an ideologue and his books as polemics. His best-known work was the massive The Origins of the Inquisition in Fifteenth Century Spain (1995), in which he argued that the persecution of the Jews during the Inquisition was based entirely on racial hatred and not on the belief (mistaken, in Netanyahu’s view) that they were not genuine Christian converts.
http://www.britannica.com/biography/B...
http://www.britannica.com/biography/B...
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 1, 2025
Prof. Benzion Netanyahu's monumental journey through one of history's darkest corridors shatters conventional wisdom about the Spanish Inquisition with scholarly precision, revealing it not as a religious institution aimed at preserving Catholic orthodoxy, but as a racially motivated political apparatus designed to destroy conversos (Jews who had converted to Christianity). "The mass of the conversos had become true Christians, and most of them had done so from belief, not merely for convenience," Netanyahu writes, challenging centuries of historiography that assumed these converts secretly practiced Judaism.
Through meticulous analysis of over 1,000 primary sources spanning Hebrew, Latin, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, French, and Arabic texts, Netanyahu constructs an alternative interpretation where the Inquisition emerges as a cynical power grab using antisemitism as its vehicle. At over 1,300 pages, this is likely the physically heaviest academic tome I've ever held—a weight befitting the gravity of its subject.
The book brims with searing episodes that illuminate the machinery of persecution: Ferdinand of Aragon's cold calculation to establish the Inquisition despite papal hesitation; the macabre auto-da-fé of Córdoba where six women of Jewish lineage were burned alive based on a neighbor's testimony they avoided pork; Torquemada's ingenious "period of grace" that turned family members against each other; Rabbi Solomon Halevi's transformation into Bishop Pablo de Santa María and subsequent betrayal of his former community; Queen Isabella's tears upon signing expulsion orders while simultaneously profiting from Jewish assets; the horrifying testimony of María González, tortured until she confessed to imaginary Judaic rituals; Antonio de Nebrija's brave but futile protest against Inquisitorial book burning; the heartbreaking suicide of the poet Judah Abravanel rather than convert; the Valencia tribunal's meticulous documentation of property seizures that supported the Crown's military ambitions; Alfonso de Spina's inflammatory "Fortress of Faith" that popularized blood libel accusations; the "trials" of deceased conversos whose bones were exhumed and burned; the "sanbenito" shame garments forcing conversos to display their "crimes" publicly for generations; the Disputation of Tortosa that humiliated Jewish scholars before forcing conversions; and perhaps most chillingly, Inquisitor Lucero's fabrication of evidence to implicate over 107 people in Granada, later proven entirely false but only after their execution.
Netanyahu's opus (the fruit of decades of research by this father of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) represents intellectual detective work at its finest, demonstrating how racial antisemitism predated religious persecution, inverting our understanding of European history. True to its title, the book focuses specifically on the origins of the Inquisition rather than its centuries-long operation—a crucial distinction that allows Netanyahu to isolate and examine the social, political, and ideological forces that birthed this instrument of terror. His analysis of Inquisitorial archives reveals the "holy office" as Spain's first modern bureaucracy—efficient, methodical, and deadly in its systematic persecution.
Five stars for this essential work that serves as both warning and revelation: when fanaticism weds state power, no amount of conformity can protect the targeted group. As Netanyahu grimly concludes: "The Inquisition appeared at a moment when the Jewish community had already been destroyed by conversions...thus it was not designed to protect Catholicism from Judaism, but to protect 'Old Christians' from competition with the 'New.'" The power of this text comes not only from its historical excavation but in how it forces us to confront the persistent human tendency to institutionalize prejudice, specifically against Jews, under the guise of purity.
Through meticulous analysis of over 1,000 primary sources spanning Hebrew, Latin, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, French, and Arabic texts, Netanyahu constructs an alternative interpretation where the Inquisition emerges as a cynical power grab using antisemitism as its vehicle. At over 1,300 pages, this is likely the physically heaviest academic tome I've ever held—a weight befitting the gravity of its subject.
The book brims with searing episodes that illuminate the machinery of persecution: Ferdinand of Aragon's cold calculation to establish the Inquisition despite papal hesitation; the macabre auto-da-fé of Córdoba where six women of Jewish lineage were burned alive based on a neighbor's testimony they avoided pork; Torquemada's ingenious "period of grace" that turned family members against each other; Rabbi Solomon Halevi's transformation into Bishop Pablo de Santa María and subsequent betrayal of his former community; Queen Isabella's tears upon signing expulsion orders while simultaneously profiting from Jewish assets; the horrifying testimony of María González, tortured until she confessed to imaginary Judaic rituals; Antonio de Nebrija's brave but futile protest against Inquisitorial book burning; the heartbreaking suicide of the poet Judah Abravanel rather than convert; the Valencia tribunal's meticulous documentation of property seizures that supported the Crown's military ambitions; Alfonso de Spina's inflammatory "Fortress of Faith" that popularized blood libel accusations; the "trials" of deceased conversos whose bones were exhumed and burned; the "sanbenito" shame garments forcing conversos to display their "crimes" publicly for generations; the Disputation of Tortosa that humiliated Jewish scholars before forcing conversions; and perhaps most chillingly, Inquisitor Lucero's fabrication of evidence to implicate over 107 people in Granada, later proven entirely false but only after their execution.
Netanyahu's opus (the fruit of decades of research by this father of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) represents intellectual detective work at its finest, demonstrating how racial antisemitism predated religious persecution, inverting our understanding of European history. True to its title, the book focuses specifically on the origins of the Inquisition rather than its centuries-long operation—a crucial distinction that allows Netanyahu to isolate and examine the social, political, and ideological forces that birthed this instrument of terror. His analysis of Inquisitorial archives reveals the "holy office" as Spain's first modern bureaucracy—efficient, methodical, and deadly in its systematic persecution.
Five stars for this essential work that serves as both warning and revelation: when fanaticism weds state power, no amount of conformity can protect the targeted group. As Netanyahu grimly concludes: "The Inquisition appeared at a moment when the Jewish community had already been destroyed by conversions...thus it was not designed to protect Catholicism from Judaism, but to protect 'Old Christians' from competition with the 'New.'" The power of this text comes not only from its historical excavation but in how it forces us to confront the persistent human tendency to institutionalize prejudice, specifically against Jews, under the guise of purity.
February 3, 2008
Yes, the author is the father of the former Prime Minister of Israel. This book is a massive (1384 pages), authoratitive study of one of the worst episodes associated with Christianity, the Spanish Inquisition (the other low points, among some other serious contenders like the White Protestant support for the system of slavery and injustice imposed on African Americans would surely include the Gallileo Controversy and the murderous course of some of the Crusades as they marched through Europe and into the Middle East).
Netanyahu, in fact, demonstrates that the Catholic Church actively opposed the Spanish Inquisition, which was was invented and developed as an instrument for the power politics of the Spanish Crown, who feared the power and coveted the wealth of the Conversos, the formerly Jewish Spaniards who had converted to Catholicism. The Conversos were almost all loyal Catholics, which the Church recognised, and Netanyahu compares the reign of terror unleashed by the Spanish State against this vulnerable minority directly to the policies of Nazi Germany. He makes the point that, in the case of the Spanish Inquisition, the Catholic Church was able to gradually slow down and halt the Spanish State's machinery, in contrast to the power of the Nazi State, who overwhelmed all opposition during the 12 years of its supposed Thousand Year Reich.
But the reason I include this fine book is because of its association with the other son of its author, the brother of the Prime Minister: “This book is dedicated with unrelieved grief to the memory of my beloved son JONATHAN who fell while leading the rescue force at Entebbe on July 4, 1976”. Impressive family by any standard.
Netanyahu, in fact, demonstrates that the Catholic Church actively opposed the Spanish Inquisition, which was was invented and developed as an instrument for the power politics of the Spanish Crown, who feared the power and coveted the wealth of the Conversos, the formerly Jewish Spaniards who had converted to Catholicism. The Conversos were almost all loyal Catholics, which the Church recognised, and Netanyahu compares the reign of terror unleashed by the Spanish State against this vulnerable minority directly to the policies of Nazi Germany. He makes the point that, in the case of the Spanish Inquisition, the Catholic Church was able to gradually slow down and halt the Spanish State's machinery, in contrast to the power of the Nazi State, who overwhelmed all opposition during the 12 years of its supposed Thousand Year Reich.
But the reason I include this fine book is because of its association with the other son of its author, the brother of the Prime Minister: “This book is dedicated with unrelieved grief to the memory of my beloved son JONATHAN who fell while leading the rescue force at Entebbe on July 4, 1976”. Impressive family by any standard.
November 13, 2013
"Yet however distempered the society, and however aware on may be of the grave and unusually complex nature of its malady, it is still astonishing to note the feebleness and credulity to which man's thinking can be reduced by prejudice and hostility." (pp 827)
***
"The heart of man is the most deceitful of all things,
And deep is its perversion.
Who can fathom it?" (Yirmiyahu, 17:9) (pp 1085)
***
"The heart of man is the most deceitful of all things,
And deep is its perversion.
Who can fathom it?" (Yirmiyahu, 17:9) (pp 1085)
August 1, 2019
Exquisite. Essential. I want to reread it.
Currently reading
February 6, 2016His main thesis is that antisemitism began when Greek Christians attempted to separate the Hebrew bible from the Jews, so as to have the Hebrew Bible legitimize Christianity. "Christian theology did not create or initiate the hatred of the Jews that saturates its teachings --it was, on the contrary created and shaped by it." This is a really fine point as he still points out that Christians dedicate a lot of time and energy to untangling the Hebrew bible from its relationship to modern day jews.
First departure of Christianity from Judaism starts with the gospel of John. It replaced one God with the idea of the trinity. The other gospels argue that Jesus came to save the Jews, John argues that Jesus had a problem with all Jews and that they sought to kill him.
In the 400s Christians enacted a number of anti-Semitic laws barred from owning Christian and pagan slaves, barred from offices and the army, denied the right to practice law or serve in public office, etc.
First departure of Christianity from Judaism starts with the gospel of John. It replaced one God with the idea of the trinity. The other gospels argue that Jesus came to save the Jews, John argues that Jesus had a problem with all Jews and that they sought to kill him.
In the 400s Christians enacted a number of anti-Semitic laws barred from owning Christian and pagan slaves, barred from offices and the army, denied the right to practice law or serve in public office, etc.
November 12, 2014
Definitive, immense and profound work on the causes and motives of the Spanish Inquisition.
Want to read
May 25, 2011Still digging.
God knows how I'll ever get through these 1400 pages. Innocently researching Benyamin Netanyahu for a post I was writing, I discovered his father Benzion was a scholar of no mean repute and author of this book. The reviews were overwhelmingly favourable and on the spur of the moment ordered a copy.
Today it arrived and at the moment sits atop a slippery pile of DVDs behind me, its wonderful rough-cut pages tempting me to skip the two books I'm already into. Ana of course could plough through this in sixteen hours at her legendary 88 pph (but maybe she can only achieve that speed on her holiday reads? - Hmmm...?).
By the way, anyone know of a site like this one dedicated to films rather than books? By like this one I mean whole DVD collections that can be viewed and commented on like we can do here. Come to think of it, it wouldn't take much to convert Goodreads to Goodviews or something, would it? Has it already been done, I wonder?
God knows how I'll ever get through these 1400 pages. Innocently researching Benyamin Netanyahu for a post I was writing, I discovered his father Benzion was a scholar of no mean repute and author of this book. The reviews were overwhelmingly favourable and on the spur of the moment ordered a copy.
Today it arrived and at the moment sits atop a slippery pile of DVDs behind me, its wonderful rough-cut pages tempting me to skip the two books I'm already into. Ana of course could plough through this in sixteen hours at her legendary 88 pph (but maybe she can only achieve that speed on her holiday reads? - Hmmm...?).
By the way, anyone know of a site like this one dedicated to films rather than books? By like this one I mean whole DVD collections that can be viewed and commented on like we can do here. Come to think of it, it wouldn't take much to convert Goodreads to Goodviews or something, would it? Has it already been done, I wonder?
June 1, 2024
Essential reading on several levels, some of which are obvious. Exceedingly scholarly. Anyone who uses the word "polemic" in relation to this hasn't read much of it. However, its only for literate people, who are skeptical of much. That's what academia used to be about.
I'm re-reading it, as should be done with most great books, after an interval of some years after the last reading. E.g., Shakespeare - Lear speaks volumes to parents! .....Milton (especially) - Satan is more brilliant than ever! ....Homer (Illiad): War is always hellish, even when inevitable, and even with sympathetic characters!
I'm re-reading it, as should be done with most great books, after an interval of some years after the last reading. E.g., Shakespeare - Lear speaks volumes to parents! .....Milton (especially) - Satan is more brilliant than ever! ....Homer (Illiad): War is always hellish, even when inevitable, and even with sympathetic characters!
August 28, 2018
This book was way too abstract in it's "origins of the inquisition" - it never even talked about the inquisition. It started in ancient Egypt. I honestly couldn't follow it at all, and I'm ABD in history...
May 15, 2016
A fabulous and well researched epic. A must read!
August 5, 2019
Very interesting. Gives the reader a lot to think about for a topic with many hypotheses. Could probably be edited down a bit...
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews