History 254 - Doubt, Dissent & Heresy

'The Holy Office of the Inquisition of the Roman Catholic Church proved an effective instrument for controlling religious and political orthodoxy from the Middle Ages through the early modern era. Its range of activity spanned investigations into doctrinal purity, groups of dissenters, Jews and Muslims who converted to the Christian faith, scientific discoveries, witchcraft, cunning folk, the black arts, and popular dissent. This course examines this institution and the social political, mental, and imaginary world it monitored to safeguard 'faith and morals' in this life and access to salvation in the next.'