The Inquisition was a group of institutions within the judicial system of the Catholic Church whose aim was to combat heresy. It started in 12th-century France to combat the widespread Albigensian heresy and later spread throughout Europe.

The Spanish Inquisition, established in 1478 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, was one of the most notorious. It targeted forced converts from Islam and Judaism who were suspected of continuing to practice their religions in secret.

The methods of the Inquisition were often brutal, involving torture and execution. The infamous Spanish Inquisition is said to have resulted in the deaths of thousands.

Despite its harsh methods, the Inquisition was driven by a desire for purity within the Church. It was a product of its time, reflecting the religious and political tensions of the era.

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