The repression and exile by the Inquisition was not merely a political issue; it was also tremendously damaging to the economy. This quote is one of the most memorable in the book.

We are reminded here that eliminating others will ultimately strangle us. We may think that we have defeated the bad guys by letting our emotions get the better of us, but in reality, we have not solved any of the problems.

This is the same today. They make someone look bad, attack and eliminate them as they are responsible. Time goes by without discussing what really needs to be looked at and without taking any action...

The result is a terrible loss and a country in decline... The Spanish Inquisition is no stranger to this. This is exactly the problem we are facing now.

異端審問というと宗教的な不寛容が原因で起こったとイメージされがちですが、このスペイン異端審問においては政治的なものがその主な理由でした。

国内に充満する暴力の空気にいかに対処するのかというのがいつの世も為政者の悩みの種です。

攻撃性が高まった社会において、その攻撃性を反らすことができなければ統治は不可能になる。だからスケープゴートが必要になる。悪者探しを盛んに宣伝し、彼らに責任を負わすことで為政者に不満が向かないようにする。これはいつの時代でも行われてきたことです。このことは以前スターリンの記事でもお話ししました。私達も気を付けなければなりません。

It was in 1605 that "Don Quixote" was published by Cervantes.

１４９２年にグラナダが陥落し、カトリック勢力がスペイン全土を統一してからおよそ１００年少し。この間に異端審問は全盛を極め、ユダヤ人やイスラム教徒は迫害を受けました。

In response to this persecution, Cervández satirizes it with surprising skill and irony in his work. This is a level of irony that would not be noticed by the average reader. Without knowledge of the history of the time and further explanations, you would probably pass it by.

I myself rediscovered how great "Don Quixote" is after reading this book.

It was such a surprise to me that the biggest highlight of the book was the connection between this "Don Quixote" and the history of Spain, which is written at the end of the book.

When the Inquisition was first introduced, it was surprising that the townspeople rejected it. They sensed that the officials sent from the state, the Inquisition, would destroy the culture and society of the town.

この記事内にありますように、「コンベルソ」という改宗キリスト教徒と「モリスコ」という改宗イスラム教徒がこの街に居て、彼らはキリスト教徒とともに生活し、互いに様々な文化が入り混じった社会を形成していました。

This is the important background to the Spanish Inquisition that we will be looking at. The book tells the story of people who lived together, but were torn apart by fear, hatred, jealousy, and mutual distrust.