Lessons in pluralism from a 17th-century African town

This Aeon Essays article explores the history of the 17th-century town of Cacheu in Guinea-Bissau, a hub of West African and European cultures, languages, and beliefs. The article focuses on Crispina Peres, a powerful female trader in Cacheu, and her arrest by the Inquisition for heresy. It highlights the pluralistic nature of Cacheu, where different faiths and cultures coexisted, and the role of women in running the town. The article draws lessons from this history of pluralism for our current era of division and conflict.