Language:
Italian
Year of publication:
2010
Titel der Quelle:
Materia Giudaica
Angaben zur Quelle:
15-16 (2010-2011) 501-512
Keywords:
Inquisition
;
Jews
;
Jews
Abstract:
In the mid-15th century, the Jewish population of the town of Nicosia, in Sicily, numbered 880. The Jews constituted a thriving community of merchants, artisans, doctors, and financiers; they lived, for the most part, in harmony with the Christian population. Nevertheless, since Sicily belonged to the Crown of Aragón, the Edict of Expulsion of the Jews in 1492 was applied to the island. Most of the Jews converted to Christianity in order to preserve their socioeconomic status. Although their assimilation was very successful (they were outstanding in commerce and science, and rose to influential positions in the state), they suffered from incitements by Mendicant Orders and acts of the Inquisition. During the 16th century, some trials were conducted against the Conversos on charges of heresy or of observing Jewish rituals in secret.
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