The word “Inquisition” is commonly associated with either the Spanish Inquisition or the Roman Inquisition. However, both of these institutions evolved from the Medieval Inquisition, founded by Pope Gregory IX in the thirtieth century (Hamilton 9). ... Although many measures were taken to end heresy, the Medieval Inquisition ultimately failed and cost lives in the process. ... However, it was uncommon (The Medieval Inquisition). ...
In some circumstances, heretics had to be sought out, and that is the primary sense of inquisition, which means simply inquiry (Hamilton 35). The Inquisition was founded primarily to combat Catharism. Inevitably the Inquisition dealt other kinds of heresy,
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such as Waldensianism. In the fourteenth century, when Catharism collapsed, the Inquisition continued to exist (Hamilton 40). ... The Inquisition did not possess these powers of torture until 1252, granted by Pope Innocent IV twenty years after the Inquisition started. ... The penances imposed by the Inquisition were, in many cases no harsher than those enjoined in church confession (Hamilton 51). ... The Inquisition was the first court to award imprisonment on a large scale. ...
By the late fifteenth century the Inquisition had become dormant throughout most of Europe. ... In 1542 Pope Paul III created in Rome the Congregation of the Inquisition, which is better known as the Holy Office (Hamilton 98). This institution, which became known as the Roman Inquisition, was intended to combat Protestantism, but it is perhaps best known historically for its condemnation of Galileo (The Medieval Inquisition). ... Nevertheless, the Inquisition was, despite its high religious purpose, responsible for a great deal of inhumanity. Cruelty and intolerance are common to most societies in most ages, but the Medieval Inquisition is different in that many of the men who administered it were extremely spiritual.
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