Beyond 1619 – Part 2: The Black Jews and Moors of Spain. The Forgotten Exiles Before the Slave Trade

What happened to the Moors and Black Jews who left Spain and Portugal? Which routes led towards West Africa—and why does São Tomé feature in this investigation?

Beyond 1619 – Part 2 follows Dr Joseph Opare’s exploration of exile and forced displacement before the transatlantic slave trade reached its later scale. Watch how the historical accounts connect within his argument.

Why look beyond 1619?

For many readers in the United States, 1619 is a familiar starting point. The US National Park Service identifies August of that year with the arrival of enslaved Africans at Point Comfort in Virginia. That makes it an important date in the history of English colonial America. It does not make it the beginning of African history or of every African presence outside the continent. Read the National Park Service account.

Who were the Moors in Spain?

The Metropolitan Museum of Art describes the force that entered Iberia in 711 as Arabs and Berbers from North Africa, united by Islam. Muslim-ruled territories on the peninsula became known as al-Andalus. The museum’s history of al-Andalus provides background to the region explored in the episode.

This history places North Africa within Europe’s past. The movement of people and ideas across the Mediterranean provides the setting for Warrior House’s exploration of Moors, Black Jews and the communities discussed in the video.

Exile from Spain and Portugal

The central argument of this episode is that Moors and Black Jews experienced exile from Spain and Portugal, and that many Black Jews were forcibly deported to West Africa, especially São Tomé. Warrior House presents this account through the historical books discussed in the video.

Religion played a part in these expulsions. In March 1492, Ferdinand and Isabella issued an order expelling Jews from Spain unless they converted to Christianity. Associated Press records the decree in its historical timeline.

For diaspora readers, the episode raises a question that deserves closer investigation: what happened to these displaced communities before the transatlantic slave trade reached its later scale? Follow the journey from Iberia towards West Africa and consider what this earlier displacement could reveal about the histories families carry today.

Portugal and the children of São Tomé

One part of this history concerns children: Jewish children were taken from their families in Portugal and sent to São Tomé under King João II. Research preserved by Universidade Lusófona examines the suffering caused by these events in 1493. Read the research record.

The story links religious persecution, family separation and Portuguese colonial expansion. In the episode, São Tomé is central to the account of forced displacement and the search for connections between Iberia and West Africa.

History and Biblical interpretation

The episode explores these forced journeys alongside Bible accounts of exile—being made to leave your homeland. This African Hebrew Biblical perspective shapes how Warrior House connects the historical accounts discussed in the video with questions of heritage and belonging.

The series invites readers to explore a longer history of identity and displacement. Watch the episode above and follow the historical journey with Dr Opare. Continue with Beyond 1619 – Part 1 for the introduction to the series.