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The Spanish Inquisition: A Historical Revision Paperback – July 11, 1999

by Henry Kamen (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 60 ratings
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The Spanish Inquisition : An Historical Revision
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"In this completely updated edition of Henry Kamen's classic survey of the Spanish Inquisition, the author incorporates the latest research in multiple languages to offer a new-and thought-provoking-view of this fascinating period. Kamen sets the notorious Christian tribunal into the broader context of Islamic and Jewish culture in the Mediterranean, reassesses its consequences for Jewish culture, measures its impact on Spain's intellectual life, and firmly rebuts a variety of myths and exaggerations that have distorted understandings of the Inquisition. He concludes with disturbing reflections on the impact of state security organizations in our own time"--
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  1. Print length
    392 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Yale University Press
  4. Publication date
    July 11, 1999
  5. Dimensions
    6.25 x 1 x 9.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0300078803
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0300078800
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Yale University Press; 1997th edition (July 11, 1999)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 392 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0300078803
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0300078800
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.25 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 60 ratings

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Henry Kamen

Henry Kamen

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
60 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

AJC
5.0 out of 5 stars A BALANCED STUDY OF THIS PART OF SPAIN'S HISTORY
Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2008
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The Spanish Inquisition by Henry Kamen is a balanced overview of this sad part of Spanish History. At 300 plus pages the author shows the motivation behind the Spanish Inquisition and that this inquisition was just that, "Spanish." By sourcing Inquisition, Spanish, and other documentation author Kamen traces the roots and history of the Spanish Inquisition. He shows how this was a tool of the unified Spanish Crown that resulted in its own fear of it past and inability, at times, to deal with contemporary Spain, which came to be at the end of the Muslim domination of Spain and rise of the Protestant Reformation in the rest of Europe. The author does not gloss over the suffering it caused to both Jewish and Muslim converts to Christianity, but shows that overall people were better treated by "The Holy Office" aka the Spanish Inquisition than the secular courts. Remember, heresy was a secular crime, punishable only by the secular authorities. And while those Jews and Muslims who did not convert might be considered heathens they could not be heretics. So, those who suffered at its hands were Catholics. The author also shows that, for its time, the Spanish Inquisition acted rationally. For example, when the great witchcraft scare was dominating Europe and its colonies (lets not forget the Salem Witch Trials) for its part the Spanish Inquisition so this phenomena as mental illness or an overactive imagination. In other words Witch hunting stopped dead in its tracks when it got to Spain. Henry Kamen does not gloss over the torture or burnings of the inquisition's victims, but does show that for all of Europe, Catholic and Protestant, this was not uncommon for most crimes. And, many of the victims of the Spanish Inquisition were burnt and punished in effigy. Kamen shows how the Spanish Crown used the Inquisition to deal with its fear of an Andulus (former Muslim rulers of Spain) Fifth column and the rise of Protestantism in Western Europe. Remember Spain controlled a good part of the present day Netherlands and Belgium as well as Parts of Germany. So some Lutheran ideas did make their way to Spain. But, Kamen also shows that much of Spain, mainly the rural areas, was never even touched by the Inquisition. And that the Inquisition never had whole hearted support from the crown, those in positions of power, and the common folk. It was not the Gestapo like machine painted by many of its critics. But, criticized it should be and author Kamen shows the sad effects of the Inquisition not only on its victims, but on Spain itself. The author concludes by showing that people's view of the Spanish Inquisition is not based on the historical data available but on the imaginations of those who have not reviewed or studied this data. Overall a great work of history is this book.
20 people found this helpful
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Tom More
5.0 out of 5 stars It was triggered by the lslamic (Turks) slaughter of the coastal town of Otranto
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2019
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The request for an inquisition was triggered (six weeks later) by the Turkish super power of the day, 16 kilometers away who had just slaughtered the town of Otranto. Ferdinand was sought for aid. 12,000 had been slaughtered, all clerics and an archbishop sawed in half. And this is why most of the deaths are around Granada , with the largest muslim population. All it would take was for a few false conversos to open the gates of a city to the Turks and game over. So they feared the false conversos and the Jewish population that was sympathetic to them. It was not a simple case of wanting to have religious unity and peace. Spain was the most civil place in Europe.
9 people found this helpful
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Glenn D. Robinson
4.0 out of 5 stars What I thought I knew before this book was not much. Excellent book.
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2017
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What we think we know of the Spanish Inquisition is just a partial truth of what really went on during the 400-500 years that this diabolical institution was around. Not just Jews, but Muslims AND Christians were victimized during this period. This book goes into depth about how the Inquisition touched the various parts of Spain and to a smaller degree Portugal and other parts (they had their own Inquisition and was not the focus of this book).

What we think we know of Spain also is just a partial truth of what the Iberian Peninsula was all about. Spain, contrary to what was taught in public school, was not one unified country, but was made up of separate kingdoms with their own form of governments (Aragon, Leon, Castille Catalonia and others). Some supported the Inquisition and others paid lip service.

Protestants were burned at the stake, especially Lutherans. Not just those living in Spain, but visiting sailors. Catholics were not excused from the Inquisition. If someone had interpretations contrary to the Archbishop of Toledo, for instance, they could be brought before the courts. Faith without works or the work of deeds? Be careful. Your thoughts could nail you.

Spain fell into a trap where the rich became the targets of the Inquisition as the accuser got a part and the courts got some. The King also received his share. Blackmailers sprung up and shook down the wealthy.

End result was that Jews left to Amsterdam, Lisbon, Istanbul, Italy and Morocco. Christians fled to Morocco, England and Amsterdam. Muslims fled to Morocco. Financiers went to Amsterdam or London.

By 1850, the Inquisition was over. An eye opening book that shows really there is always more to the story than what we think we know. I greatly enjoyed this book and learned a great deal of the life in Spain during this period.
4 people found this helpful
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How I See It
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Service
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2019
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This item was better than described. It arrived earlier than expected. Great item and service. The price was unbelievable. The only drawback is the shipping was in a plain manila envelope which arrived a bit torn. One that was padded would've been best in my opinion. But, all is well and I'm very happy with this. I would buy from this seller again.
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John
5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive book on the subject. Not for the casual ...
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2018
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Definitive book on the subject. Not for the casual reader- this book is heavy going but for the serious reader on the subject it is well worth it. Balanced and puts the Spanish Inquisition (chronically misunderstood by westerners) in contexts.
2 people found this helpful
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Josh
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2018
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By no means exciting but it is educational
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Top reviews from other countries

colm fay
5.0 out of 5 stars ... written about the Spanish inquisition - it is very useful to read a book written by a Jewish author ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 21, 2017
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With all the false history that has been written about the Spanish inquisition - it is very useful to read a book written by a Jewish author with no axe to grind other than write what is truthful based upon the sources he used and the time it took to evaluate these same sources.
2 people found this helpful
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Vincrid
4.0 out of 5 stars New perspectives on an old villain
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 14, 2014
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In my History A Level course of many years ago the 'Golden Age" of Spain did not enjoy a good press. From the perspective of the very angloc-centric view of history that was served to us, the Spanish along with 'Bloody Mary' threatened to plunge England back into medieval darkness and were of course the unrepentant villains of the Armada, from which we were rescued by 'Good Queen Bess'. Beyond Britain the arrival and efficient use of the printing press in the Protestant Northern Europe of this time, ensured that the 'Black Legend' was shared by all right thinking people. Within this received view it was hardly surprising that the dark deeds of the Spanish Inquisition only served to confirm all our worst fears, as was made iconically clear for a whole generation by the Monty Python team.

But History is surely interesting precisely because time moves on and we are eventually forced to take a longer view. Henry Kamen needs little introduction as one of the great scholars of Spanish history. The history of the Catholic Church in Spain is still painfully intertwined with recent history , so it is good that it is an outsider who approaches this difficult subject. This is revisionist history but is not an attempt at whitewash. It would be difficult to claim too positive a re-reading of the Inquisition, and he does not in my opinion try to seduce us with this. What Kamen does seek to do is to set his subject in the context of the excessive religiously inspired violence going on at this time throughout Europe in both Catholic and Protestant countries. Nowhere is this a pretty picture. The study does not just deal with punishment. It sets the Inquisition in the political picture of the time, the perceived risks of the Reformation, the impact it made on humanism and science in the Peninsular and its relation to ordinary people. It was of value to me to understand better the procedures of the Inquisition and to realise that death sentences were not the automatic outcome presented by popular prejudice.

Why then only four stars? This is no comment on the clarity of the research or its presentation but rather a warning that the average reader may find too much detail. For the specialist in this field I would however have no hesitation in recommending this excellent book.
3 people found this helpful
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David Roberts
3.0 out of 5 stars How can the Vatican justify treating heretics in such a brutal manner - Jesus would hardly have behaved like this or have approved of this solution - after ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 7, 2018
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Rather heavy going. Author seems to be an apologist for the Roman Catholic church: How can the Vatican justify treating heretics in such a brutal manner - Jesus would hardly have behaved like this or have approved of this solution - after all he replaced the high priests' servants' ear when Peter had cut it off. I think that Christs' message and examplemust have been lost within about five minutes of the Ascension.
3 people found this helpful
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D
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 23, 2019
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Has a lot of information about the Inquisition the mainstream doesn't reveal. Worth a read.
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Mr. John Harmsen
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 24, 2016
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Excellent book as it demolishes many of the points raised about this organisation.
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