Spanish Inquisition
Definition
The Spanish Inquisition was a judicial institution established by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile in 1478 to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms, particularly by persecuting Jews and Muslims.
Analogy
Think of the Spanish Inquisition as a strict school principal who is determined to enforce one specific dress code (Catholicism) and punishes anyone who doesn't follow it (Jews, Muslims, heretics).
Related terms
Inquisition: A group of institutions within the Catholic Church whose aim was to combat heresy.
Heresy: Belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious doctrine.
Reconquista: The period in the history of the Iberian Peninsula, from the Islamic conquest in the 710s to the fall of Granada, the last Islamic state on the peninsula, in 1492. It's essentially when Christian Kingdoms retook control from Muslim rulers.
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