In 1492, the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, issued the Alhambra Decree, which mandated the expulsion of all practising Jews from their kingdoms. This pivotal event forced thousands of families to make an agonising choice: abandon their ancestral homes and possessions, convert to Christianity, or face severe persecution and the constant threat of the Spanish Inquisition. The decree marked the culmination of centuries of increasing social and religious tension, effectively bringing an end to the long-standing presence of Jewish communities in the Iberian Peninsula.

The consequences of this mass exodus were profound, fundamentally transforming the nature of Sephardic Jewish life. As families were uprooted, they carried their unique traditions, languages, and cultural heritage into exile, leading to a widespread diaspora. This movement of people reshaped the demographics and religious landscape of the regions where they sought refuge, as communities sought to rebuild their lives in new and often challenging environments.

The displaced populations dispersed across a vast geographical area, establishing vibrant new centres of Jewish life. Their influence spread throughout the following regions:

• North Africa
• The Ottoman Empire
• Various parts of Europe
• The wider Mediterranean basin

By integrating into these diverse societies, the Sephardic diaspora ensured the survival of their distinct customs and religious practices despite the trauma of their expulsion. The legacy of this period remains a defining chapter in Jewish history, symbolising both the resilience of the community in the face of systemic persecution and the lasting impact of their migration on the cultural and intellectual development of the Mediterranean world.