Marmol was born in Granada shortly after its 1492 conquest by the Spanish and grew up in a cosmopolitan society that was greatly affected by the policies introduced by Spain following the conclusion of the Reconquista. This upbringing was reflected in his later writings.
This book describes the 1499-1501 Rebellion of the Alpujarras, a Muslim uprising in Granada following the kingdom's conquest by the Spanish in 1492. Following the defeat of the rebels the Spanish authorities began a process of forced conversion of Muslims and Jews to Christianity throughout the country. Those that did not convert were forced into exile.