"By some kind of Jewish practice": a case study of doctor Roderigo Lopez and the Early Modern New Christian experience

Abstract

The Early Modern period saw dramatic changes in European society. The New Christian phenomenon, which began in 1492 with the expulsion of Jews from Spain, coincided with the beginning of this period and has long been identified as a catalyst in the modernization of Western culture. Occupying a unique place within European society, New Christians straddled pre-existing boundaries between religious and social groups; they were ideally placed to take advantage of the social, political, and economic shifts then taking place. The lives of some New Christians like Roderigo Lopez support the notion that, in certain cases, potential economic and political gain often outweighed the taboo of utilizing the services of Jews and those of Jewish descent. The intersection of core "Jewish" values, combined with the unique societal position of New Christians, allowed Lopez and those like him to succeed, where pre-existing notions said they "should not."