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Alternative title

Heresies in the Home: Morisca Women and the Spanish Inquisition

Date of Award

Spring 2023

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Department or Program Affiliation

History

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

History

First Advisor

Lynn, Kimberly

Second Advisor

Hardesty, Jared

Third Advisor

Price, Hunter

Abstract

The sixteenth century in Spain was a century of redefinition of religion and religious orthodoxy which terminated in the expulsion of the morisco community of Spain in 1609. Moriscos, former Muslims who were converted to Christianity and their descendants, faced severe persecution from the Spanish Inquisition and the records that their heresy trials leave behind are revealing. This thesis focuses on women who were tried by the Inquisition for morisco related heresies, with a goal of understanding the ways that morisca women adapted and survived in a climate where both Muslim religion and Islamic Iberian culture were outlawed. Particular attention is paid to individual trials of moriscas and what these trials can tell us about the lives and religious practices of these women. Previous scholarly work on the topic of moriscos has largely focused on the group as a whole, with less regard to gender. This thesis argues that moriscas faced unique and specific challenges as women and adapted to them in distinct ways. By understanding the ways in which moriscas navigated a rapidly changing Spanish Empire, we can develop a deeper understanding of the religious climate of sixteenth century Spain and bring to light a group that has received relatively little scholarship within the field of religious history.

Type

Text

Keywords

Spanish Inquisition, Religious History, Moriscos

Publisher

Western Washington University

OCLC Number

1381021609

Subject – LCSH

Inquisition--Spain; Moriscos--History; Muslim women--Spain--History; Spain--Religion--16th century

Geographic Coverage

Spain

Format

application/pdf

Genre/Form

masters theses

Language

English

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.

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