Using the records of the Spanish Inquisition, Patrick J. O’Banion reveals the life of the small Spanish town of Deza during a period that was complex and tumultuous—not just for Deza, but for Spain, Europe, and the entire world.
The introduction explains the medieval origins of Deza’s Christian, Muslim, and Jewish populations and the changing policies toward religious minorities under the Catholic Monarchs and the Habsburgs. The workings of the Spanish Inquisition and of Deza’s local religious and political institutions are clearly described. Helpful pedagogical materials enhance the primary sources: a timeline that interweaves local with national and international events; short biographies of major and minor protagonists; four modern images of Deza; maps; a glossary of Spanish and Arabic terms; discussion questions; and a bibliography. Each set of documents begins with a brief introduction followed by focus questions. Documents are also grouped by theme in an appendix for easy referencing.