WI: No Spanish inquisition

What if there was no spanish inquisition? but still after the fall Granada, how would this spanish history? or the spanish empire?
would this lead to, in the 19th or 20th century a balkanisation of Iberia?
 
Not sure of the actual impact on history, but you may see a couple of cultural things. First, there will be (assuming the rest goes relatively per OTL) less stigma against Catholics, as this is due in large part to the actions of the inquisition. And also you may see less rigorous legal procedures, at least in Catholic countries. The Inquisition, for all their atrocities (supposed and real) were diligent record-keepers, and had some of the best documentation of any legal system in Europe during their heyday.
 
What if there was no spanish inquisition? but still after the fall Granada, how would this spanish history? or the spanish empire?
would this lead to, in the 19th or 20th century a balkanisation of Iberia?

I think the the suppression of the Jews, the Muslims and possible Dissenter will happen without a centralized institution, which will mean it will be much crueler amd much more corrupt. Maybe the witch-hunt-hystery will spread to Spain to.
 
What if there was no spanish inquisition? but still after the fall Granada, how would this spanish history? or the spanish empire?
would this lead to, in the 19th or 20th century a balkanisation of Iberia?

Well, first of all... what has this to do with anything? I don't get this last line. How exactly will the presence or absence of an inquisition result in political balkanization?

Not sure of the actual impact on history, but you may see a couple of cultural things. First, there will be (assuming the rest goes relatively per OTL) less stigma against Catholics, as this is due in large part to the actions of the inquisition.

Doubtful. I'd rather say that the inquisition was over-hyped as a propaganda tool because there was a stigma against Catholics in the first place, originated for unrelated political reasons.

And also you may see less rigorous legal procedures, at least in Catholic countries. The Inquisition, for all their atrocities (supposed and real) were diligent record-keepers, and had some of the best documentation of any legal system in Europe during their heyday

Again, no. Read some on the "usual" civilian legal procedures in the 16th-18th centuries anywhere in Europe. They weren't pretty to say the least. If anything the inquisitors could be"tamer"by comparison because they always had to answer to a defined higher hierarchy who could dictate policy and kept a registry on what they did.

Britain had one of the most (if not the most) rigorous legal system in 18th century Europe and it never had an inquisition.
 
Well, first of all... what has this to do with anything? I don't get this last line. How exactly will the presence or absence of an inquisition result in political balkanization?
.

If a sizeable muslim and/or Jewish population causes tension with Catholics it could lead to a partition one or several areas. or even if tensions rise while spain is still a major power we could see a number of them could be deported to the less profitable colonies.
 

Morty Vicar

Banned
What if there was no spanish inquisition?

Then quite possibly no Spanish Empire, arguably no European slave trade.

but still after the fall Granada, how would this spanish history? or the spanish empire?
would this lead to, in the 19th or 20th century a balkanisation of Iberia?

Its possible that the Spanish Nationalists take on a role of ethnic cleansing as per Nazi Germany.

Well, first of all... what has this to do with anything? I don't get this last line. How exactly will the presence or absence of an inquisition result in political balkanization?

Because of the huge numbers of jews, muslim arabs and moors and protestants that would still be living in Spain, although by this time I'd imagine the populous was mixed enough to prevent any balkanisation as such. interesting question!
 

Flubber

Banned
Then quite possibly no Spanish Empire, arguably no European slave trade.

No. There's still going to be a slave trade. Once the sugar craze begins, the need for a constantly replenished source of labor will demand it.
 
One thing to consider is that for all its bad reputation, the Inquisition was actually one of the fairer courts in Renaissance Europe. Not saying it was a great court, but ALL European courts back then would offend our modern sensibilities. The Inquisition, especially the Spanish Inquistion's, bad reputation stems from Protestants using a few bad incidences and blowing them out of proportion for propaganda purposes. That was done quite a lot back then. Just look at 'Bloody Mary' whose death told was less then half of her father Henry VIII.
 

Morty Vicar

Banned
One thing to consider is that for all its bad reputation, the Inquisition was actually one of the fairer courts in Renaissance Europe. Not saying it was a great court, but ALL European courts back then would offend our modern sensibilities. The Inquisition, especially the Spanish Inquistion's, bad reputation stems from Protestants using a few bad incidences and blowing them out of proportion for propaganda purposes. That was done quite a lot back then. Just look at 'Bloody Mary' whose death told was less then half of her father Henry VIII.

Very true, instead of just throwing people out of the country most powers of the time would simply have slauhtered them so there was no chance of them returning. However the point here I think is the difference it made to the demographics of Spain, and its foundation as essentially a european catholic nation, when it could have equally have remained an Islamic nation with strong connections to North Africa.
 

Morty Vicar

Banned
Do you mean the Trans-Atlantic or Barbery slave-trade?

The transatlantic slave trade, my reasoning being that it was Papal authority which essentially gave 'permission' for Christians to trade in non Christian slaves. However in retrospect the greater influence of Arabs and Berbers would probably increase slavery, not lessen it as it was widespread practise within those cultures.
 
The transatlantic slave trade, my reasoning being that it was Papal authority which essentially gave 'permission' for Christians to trade in non Christian slaves. However in retrospect the greater influence of Arabs and Berbers would probably increase slavery, not lessen it as it was widespread practise within those cultures.

Christians never really needed papal authority to throw their weight around and make money. Especially the kind of Christians called 'Protestants,' but pretty much true for the Catholics too.
 

Morty Vicar

Banned
And what does that have to do with the Inquisition?

They were roughly chronological, the Inquisition allowed for a Catholic state to emerge, which (along with Portugal) began the transatlantic slave trade.

Christians never really needed papal authority to throw their weight around and make money. Especially the kind of Christians called 'Protestants,' but pretty much true for the Catholics too.

It wasn't some sort of dig at Catholics. Protestants, Jews and Muslims engaged in slavery too. Besides the Inquisition had more to do with the Monarchy of Spain seeking to solidify its power by expelling potential rebellious factions.
 
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