Strangers Within: The Rise and Fall of the New Christian Trading Elite

Francisco Bethencourt's Strangers Within provides a comprehensive history of New Christians,the descendants of Jews forced to convert to Catholicism in late medieval Spain and Portugal,estimating their population to be around 260,000 by 1500. They established Sephardic communities in various regions and had a significant impact on religion,legal and political thought,science,philosophy,and literature. The book explores their rise,economic prowess,and cultural innovation,but their decline and disappearance as a recognizable ethnicity by the mid-eighteenth century due to persecution and structural changes in international trade.

Format: Hardback
Length: 624 pages
Publication date: 26 March 2024
Publisher: Princeton University Press

In his groundbreaking work, Strangers Within, Francisco Bethencourt offers a comprehensive exploration of the New Christian elite, comprising prominent traders, merchants, bankers, and men of letters, who emerged between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries in Spain and Portugal as a result of forced conversions to Catholicism. According to Bethencourt's estimates, by 1500, there were approximately 260,000 New Christians in Iberia, representing more than half of the urban population. While a significant portion remained in their homeland, many also ventured across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, coastal Asia, and the New World, establishing Sephardic communities in various regions.

Bethencourt's primary focus lies in examining the influential role played by this elite group of bankers, financiers, and merchants during the fifteenth to eighteenth centuries. He delves into their profound impact on various fields, including religion, legal and political thought, science, philosophy, and literature. Through meticulous research conducted in eighteen archives and library manuscript departments across six different countries, Bethencourt demonstrates how the unique position of the New Christians, situated between two worlds, contributed to their remarkable rise, economic prosperity, and cultural innovation.

One of the key aspects of Strangers Within is Bethencourt's analysis of the New Christians' struggle against discrimination. They were the first to present a coherent legal case against the systematic persecution they faced, leading to a series of inquisitorial prosecutions. These legal actions, coupled with structural changes in international trade, ultimately contributed to the decline and disappearance of the New Christian ethnicity by the mid-eighteenth century.

The book weaves together an epic narrative that encompasses persecution, resistance, and the resilience of the New Christian community. It sheds light on the complex social, economic, and cultural dynamics that shaped their lives and contributions to society. Strangers Within provides a valuable insight into the history of forced conversions, religious tolerance, and the intersection of religion, culture, and society in early modern Europe.

In conclusion, Strangers Within is a groundbreaking work that offers a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the New Christian elite and their profound impact on early modern Europe. Through meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Bethencourt provides a valuable contribution to the field of history and sheds light on the complex and often overlooked history of forced conversions and their enduring legacy.

Weight: 1026g
Dimension: 168 x 245 x 42 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691209913