La Prision General de Los Gitanos

In the midst of the 18th century, a series of enlightened policies led to the General Prison of the Gypsies, a campaign of systematic repression that sought the elimination of their culture and way of life. This work narrates in detail the causes, development and consequences of this operation, showing how, under the façade of rational progress, mechanisms of exclusion and social control were hidden that affected thousands of innocent people. The research reveals the contradictions of a historical moment that pretended to be based on reason, but fell into intolerance towards what was different. Through unpublished documents and historical testimonies, the reader will be transported to a crucial moment in Spanish history, when an attempt was made to erase from the map the identity of a community that has been a fundamental part of the Andalusian cultural fabric. This book is a profound reflection on the struggle for survival of the gypsies in a hostile context, and how their resistance not only preserved their identity, but also laid the foundations for the birth of one of the most significant artistic manifestations of Andalusian culture: flamenco.