Podcast: Chat with Matthew Carr. Blood and Faith: The Purging of Muslim Spain, 1492-1614

In this episode, ILS delves into Blood and Faith by Matthew Carr — a powerful and deeply researched account of one of Europe’s darkest and least-discussed chapters. The book traces the fate of Spanish Muslims between 1492 and 1640, revealing how an entire civilization was systematically purged from the Iberian Peninsula. Carr vividly recounts how, in 1609, the remaining Muslim population of Spain was ordered to leave within three days or face execution. Families who had lived on the same land for generations were forced to abandon their homes in a mass exodus that would see nearly 300,000 people expelled — one of the largest acts of ethnic cleansing in European history. Through meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Blood and Faith exposes the crimes committed by the Christian world against the Muslims of Spain, and how their culture, identity, and very presence were erased from the nation’s memory. Join us as we explore this haunting yet essential story — a testament to endurance, loss, and the complexities of faith and belonging in early modern Europe.