The Forgotten History of the Moriscos: Forced Conversions and Secret Practices
Morisco is a term used to describe the descendants of the Muslims who were forced to convert to Christianity in Spain and Portugal during the 16th and 17th centuries. The word "Morisco" comes from the Spanish word for "Moor," which was used to refer to the Muslim inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula.
The Moriscos were the result of the forced conversions of Muslims, known as "Moors," who had lived in Spain and Portugal for centuries. During the Reconquista, a period of Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors, many Muslims were forced to convert to Christianity or face expulsion or death. Those who converted were known as "New Christians" or "Conversos."
Despite their conversion, the Moriscos continued to practice their Islamic faith in secret, leading to tensions with the Catholic Church and the Spanish Inquisition. Many Moriscos were persecuted and forced to flee Spain and Portugal, leading to a significant diaspora of Morisco communities in North Africa, the Middle East, and other parts of Europe.
Today, the term "Morisco" is used to describe the descendants of these converted Muslims, who continue to maintain their Islamic heritage and traditions despite centuries of forced assimilation.