End of Days

by Erna Paris

Approximately 200 years of Spanish history (1300-1500) are the focus of this book. Paris sketches the medieval history of the Iberian peninsula, stressing the tolerance of most of the Islamic dynasties, the relative amity between the three major religions of the area, and the flourishing culture that this relatively peaceful era nourished. The 14th century brought division within the Catholic Church itself; a plague that killed 25-30% of the population of Europe; and, in Valencia in 1391, a pogrom that gave its Jewish residents the choice of conversion or death. The "end of days" refers to the second coming of Christ, which would happen only if all the Jews were converted. Over half of the Jewish residents of Spain converted in the 14th and 15th centuries. These "conversos" were the primary target of the early Inquisition. Paris describes the early period of the Inquisition, the motives and actions of the inquisitors, and the fate of those accused. The actual expulsion of the Jews (not the conversos) in 1492 and the Moors (who were also given the opportunity to convert) in 1502 mark the climax of the events of this book.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Spain

338 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Erna Paris was a Canadian non-fiction author born in Toronto.

Reviews

[Richard]

From the Golden Age of the 900's when Muslims, Jews, and Catholics not only co-existed, but created a society that was a wonder of humanity; to the Inquisition when humans were simply at their worst. This is a wonderful, detailed, and anecdotal history that should keep you turning the pages - it did me.