Question

Which of the following statements does NOT accurately describe religious persecution in the Reconquista?

O Jews and Muslims were forced to leave Spain if they would not convert.
O Heretics could be targeted by the Spanish Inquisition and killed.
O Jews were able to successfully avoid persecution by converting to Christianity.
O Jews were massacred during the 1300s.

Answer 1

The incorrect statement about the Reconquista is that Jews were able to successfully avoid persecution by converting to Christianity; many converted Jews and Muslims were still persecuted during the Spanish Inquisition.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that does not accurately describe religious persecution during the Reconquista is: "Jews were able to successfully avoid persecution by converting to Christianity." During the Reconquista, both Jews and Muslims who converted (often forcibly as 'conversos' or 'Moriscos') could still be suspected of heresy and targeted by the Spanish Inquisition.

Jews, in particular, did face massacres in the 1300s, and with the Alhambra Decree in 1492, Jews and Muslims were forced to either convert to Christianity or leave Spain. Although some Jews and Muslims did convert, they could be later investigated and potentially punished by the Inquisition, which was determined to inquire after the personal morals and beliefs of individuals.

Furthermore, Jews and Muslims had a precarious existence throughout the period, facing restrictions, forced conversions, and sometimes expulsion. It is also important to note that during Muslim rule, non-Muslims generally found Arab rule more preferable due to the relative tolerance and lower taxes compared to Byzantine rule.