There have been Jews in Portugal since the Middle Ages, but the community suffered a major blow in 1497, when Jews were ordered to either to convert to Christianity or leave the country.
The establishment of the Portuguese Inquisition in 1536 meant a permanent danger of persecution, and an effective destruction of Portuguese Jewish culture, and a surge in Christian influence. Today, we can learn about Portugal’s religious history by exploring the different communities’ contributions to arts, philosophy, commerce and sciences.
