ORIGINS OF THE JEWISH PRESENCE IN THE IBERIAN PENINSULA
The Jewish presence in the Iberian Peninsula dates back to very remote times, although we can only confirm it with certainty from Roman times (1st century AD). However, there is some evidence that has led various authors throughout history to push the arrival of the first Hebrew communities back even ... ➪
THE JEWS IN ROMAN AND VISIGOTHIC HISPANIA
Today, most historians point out that the first Jewish communities settled in the Peninsula during the 1st and 2nd centuries, specifically after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70, during the reign of Vespasian, and after the subsequent repression of the Bar Kochba rebellion in 134, with Hadrian as emperor. Within ... ➪
HEBREW COMMUNITIES IN AL ANDALUS
The situation of the Jews in the Andalusian period went through different stages from the arrival of the Muslims in 711 until the end of this period. In the early days of the Caliphate, both Jews and Christians were considered "Dhimmis" or "people of the book" and enjoyed a certain ... ➪
JEWISH PRESENCE IN THE CHRISTIAN KINGDOMS
Following the arrival of the Muslims in 711, small pockets of Christian resistance were formed in the north of the peninsula, both in the Cantabrian area and in the Pyrenees. They would be the seed of the kingdoms that over the centuries would expand southwards into the territory of Al ... ➪
THE HISPANIC JEWISH QUARTERS, ORGANIZATION AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE
In the 13th century, the Christian kingdoms advanced decisively towards the south, leaving the Reconquista practically finished with the exception of the Nasrid kingdom of Granada, which would remain in Muslim hands for two more centuries, until 1492. The Crown of Aragon incorporated Valencia and the Balearic Islands, while Castile ... ➪
14TH CENTURY: THE END OF PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE
The peaceful coexistence of Christian and Jewish communities, which existed in practically all major cities and population centres, was the dominant trend until the 13th century. However, in the following century this status quo began to crumble and there was growing conflict and rejection of Jews by Christians. Episodes of ... ➪
THE ANTI-JEWISH MASSACRES OF 1391
The growing anti-Jewish atmosphere that developed during the 14th century reached its climax in 1391, when a wave of violence that began in Andalusia swept through most of the peninsular territories, leaving numerous Jewish quarters destroyed and hundreds of human lives lost. The initial spark that unleashed this wave of ... ➪
15TH CENTURY: TOWARDS THE EXPULSION OF 1492
The general evolution of the situation of the Jews in the Hispanic kingdoms during the 14th and 15th centuries was clearly heading towards their expulsion, which would finally take place in 1492. Especially since the accession to the throne of the Catholic Monarchs, there was a process of strengthening of ... ➪
THE SEPHARDIM
The term Sephardic refers both to the Jews who historically inhabited the Iberian Peninsula (Sepharad), and to the descendants of the Jews expelled from Spain in 1492 and from Portugal in 1497. On March 31 of that year, an edict of expulsion was issued against all Jews who refused to ... ➪
