This module will examine the impact of the Spanish Inquisition on people's lives during the early modern period, when Spain developed into the largest Empire of its time and experienced a dramatic political and economic decline. Focusing on inquisitorial records, the module will explore issues related to authority, belief, gender, and the construction of ethnic and religious identity. It will also look at the inquisitorial methods of trial, torture and punishment, and at ordinary people's attitudes towards truth, accusation and confession.