Spanish Key Terms

Question 0

Reconquista

Answer 0

Reconquest. Christians reconquering the peninsula

Question 1

Convivencia

Answer 1

Differing religious groups living together peacefully (toleration) .

Question 2

Conversos

Answer 2

Jews who have converted to Christianity (new Christians)

Question 3

Cortes

Answer 3

Assembly of town representatives, a form of parliament but not in a modern sense as it could not make laws.

Question 4

Sentencia de Guadalupe

Answer 4

An agreement made by Ferdinand that allowed peasants to leave their land, sell it or grant it away without the consent of the lord.

Question 5

Mendozas and Velascos

Answer 5

Noble families

Question 6

Fueros

Answer 6

Laws and rights in Aragon. The monarch took an oath to keep these laws intact.

Question 7

Justicia

Answer 7

A legal official or person whose main responsibility was to make sure that the fueros or privileges were protected. (Aragon)

Question 8

Mesta

Answer 8

A consortium of all wool traders in the region.

Question 9

Pragmatica

Answer 9

Decree (royal decision)

Question 10

Corregidores

Answer 10

Royal officials. They were people appointed by the crown to work in towns.

Question 11

Consejo Real

Answer 11

The Royal Council

Question 12

Letrados

Answer 12

Lawyers. (Graduates in law who had spent at least 10 years in practise)

Question 13

Audiencias

Answer 13

Professional courts of appeal

Question 14

Hermandad

Answer 14

Often called the Santa Hermandad (brotherhood). They acted as a rural police force to make sure that there was no criminal activity (brigandage). All various Hermandad would meet together in a Santa Hermandad.

Question 15

Juros

Answer 15

Loans

Question 16

Moriscos (Castile) and Mudéjars (Aragon)

Answer 16

Practitioner of Islamic faith

Question 17

Cruzada

Answer 17

Tax introduced by the church to fund the conquest of Granada

Question 18

Alcaldes

Answer 18

Unpaid officials that staffed the tribunals ran by the Hermandad. They were similar to magistrates.

Question 19

Familiares

Answer 19

Lay people (not priests) who worked for the Inquisition.

Question 20

Autos-da-fé

Answer 20

Meaning “act of faith” and was the burning of a heretic after sentence was given by the Inquisition.

Question 21

Hermandad de las marismas

Answer 21

They protected shipping and trade

Question 22

Cartas Accordas

Answer 22

Instructions from the Suprema

Question 23

Instrucciones Antiguas

Answer 23

The rules of the Inquisition

Question 24

Apartamiento

Answer 24

A policy were Jews lived separately from other communities in some towns

Question 25

Alcabala

Answer 25

Sales tax

Question 26

Encabezamiento

Answer 26

A lump sum of the alcabala which cities paid to the crown.

Question 27

Mercedes

Answer 27

Royal grants (often collected by nobles although they were not entitled to them).

Question 28

Inter Caetera

Answer 28

Papal bull (1493) which have Spain the rights to territory in South America.

Question 29

Consultado

Answer 29

A trading organisation which carries out and regulated the wool trade.

Question 30

Servicios

Answer 30

Small amount, often provided by the Cortes.

Question 31

Caballeros

Answer 31

Gentlemen, equivalent to an English knight. Ferdinand and Isabella had a policy to use them in local government.