The mass forced conversion left almost no documentary trace

Evidence

Prior to 1492–98, Jews had been a distinguishable section of the Iberian population. In both Spain and Portugal, they were legally forced to reside in segregated areas, compelled to display prominent symbols on their clothing and subject to sumptuary legislation (banning them from riding horses or bearing swords). Although some wealthy Jews could purchase exemptions from the Crown, these restrictions marked out the Jews. Apart from the shortage of trained doctors in many areas, there was no reason why a Christian seeking to avoid treatment by a Jewish medical practitioner could not do so. After their baptism in 1492–98 (or even before in the late fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries), however, the judeoconversos became part of Catholic society and were no longer subject to segregationist legislation. Many patients, therefore, could no longer be certain of whether or not the medical practitioner tending to their needs was an ‘Old’ or a ‘New’ Christian. Given the widely held perception of the majority of the judeoconversos as secretly judaising heretics, this new state of affairs created a situation in which the wildest antisemitic fantasies could be unleashed. — James Renton, Ben Gidley (eds.), Antisemitism and Islamophobia in Europe, 383 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: The Holocaust drew little scholarly interest until recently — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 487; Forced conversion made Jews undetectable, unleashing antisemitic fantasy — James Renton, Ben Gidley (eds.), Antisemitism and Islamophobia in…, 383

Broader Connections

• Forced conversion made Jews undetectable, unleashing antisemitic fantasy #complicates (0.75) — James Renton, Ben Gidley (eds.), Antisemitism and Islamophobia in Europe, 383