Final answer:
The Jews expelled from Spain and Portugal in the 15th century were known as Sephardim. They were forced to either convert or leave due to the Alhambra Decree in Spain and similar actions in Portugal.The correct option is a).
Step-by-step explanation:
The Jews who were expelled from Spain and Portugal in the 15th century were known as Sephardim. This expulsion was part of a larger historical event often referred to as the Jewish Diaspora, which describes the scattering of Jewish people from their ancestral homeland in Israel/Palestine. In 1492, following the Alhambra Decree, the Spanish monarchy mandated that Jews either convert to Christianity or leave the kingdom, leading to a mass exodus. This decree was partly influenced by the Reconquista, the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula. Similarly, the Portuguese expelled their Jewish population in 1497. The Sephardic Jews have a rich heritage, originally integrated into Iberian societies, particularly during Muslim rule when their legal and economic status improved and cultural exchanges were common.