A pragmatic analysis of the memorialist and arbitrarian writings of the 16th, 16th and 17th centuries regarding the Gypsy ethnic group reveals the line of thought that was held about them in the Spanish Golden Age. In these resources, Gypsies were forbidden to wander alone, not to have a trade and even not to have a lord and master, and were automatically sent to the galleys if they were between 20 and 50 years of age, where they would serve for no less than six long years, just for wandering the streets alone. Women, on the other hand, were to be flogged for the same offences.
The legislation in this regard can be defined as inoperative and exclusive, as its fundamental premise was to culturally assimilate the Roma, and if this was not achieved, to bring about their longed-for expulsion. The group, socially integrated into delinquency and marginality, viewed any defence of their culture with a xenophobic counterpoint that even went to legendary extremes in which they were given customs linked more to animals than to people. The Roma community, on the other hand, held on to their culture and customs, many of which have survived to the present day.

Collection: Texts

Chronology: XVI

Scope: Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, University

Link: http://www.tiemposmodernos.org/tm3/index.php/tm/article/view/275

Resource type: Historical source

Source: Garrido, E. (2011). "Estudio aproximativo de la legislación relativa a la etnia gitana en los siglos XV, XVI y XVII; dificultades, controversias, aplicación y escritos de los memorialistas y arbitristas", en Tiempos modernos, nº 23, p. 19.

Language: Spanish

Date: 1539

Owner: Roberto José Alcalde López (Modernalia)

Copyright: ©Tiempos Modernos ©Enrique Garrido Díez de Baldeón

Abstract: Text retrieved in the Novísima Recopilación de las leyes de España (1805) from the text that in 1539 indicated the legislation relating to the gypsy ethnic group

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