New Christians and Wool (Part 2)Jews settled in Beira Interior region (north-east Portugal) as early as the 12th century and formed one of the region's most formative communities. Their skills in trade, crafts, and especially wool-working would weave them into the very fabric of the region. Over time, their expertise helped transform towns such as Covilha and others into a major textile center. Even after the forced conversions of the late 15th century, New Christian families remained central to the thriving wool industry.During the Inquisition, the impact on Covilhã’s New Christian community was huge. Over 400 Inquisition trials were attributed to New Christians of Covilhã, and the professions listed in the Inquisition documents were overwhelmingly related to the wool industry. Persecution of New Christians directly impacted Covilhã’s business networks (family-based capital, suppliers, and clients) and eradicated experienced master weavers, dyers, and merchants from the town’s productive system. The phenomenon was so widespread that the Inquisition trials and autos-da-fé branded the Covilhã textile sector as particularly “suspect” because so many of its actors were Conversos. Despite the “Blood Purity“ laws that were prevalent during the time of the Inquisition, Covilhã’s Conversos continued to thrive. The New Christian families of Covilhã continued to dominate the wool production industry well into the early modern age.