Connect & Learn I Minority Life Under Pressure: The Crypto-Jews of Early Modern Spain

In 1492, the Alhambra Decree ordered the expulsion of Jews from Spain unless they converted to Christianity. Yet, some baptized Jews observed Jewish traditions in secret, under the constant scrutiny of the Inquisition.  

Historians have used inquisitorial records from this period to uncover patterns of kinship, affection, and everyday life. What did this hidden community look like? What was the structure of the Converso (New Christian) family? What were marriage practices and interactions between men and women like? 

In this session, Dr. Shai Zamir will examine how Converso families negotiated identity, intimacy, and religious practice under surveillance and coercion, while focusing on broader patterns of minority life under pressure.