An Introduction to Spain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPcfZLaMoAo&t=153s
 Key Facts
The Spanish name for Spain is Espaa
The population of Spain in 2012 was about 47 million
The currency used in Spain is the Euro
The largest city and capital of Spain is Madrid
The second largest city is Barcelona, which is in
Catalonia
 Where does Spanish come
from?
During the Middle Ages, Spanish developed in the
Castile region of Spain which is why it is sometimes
called castellano.
Spanish was greatly influenced by different dialects
from the Iberian peninsula, as well as Latin and
Arabic.
Lucky for us, Spanish has much in common with
English because they are both LATIN-influenced
languages.
 Importance of Spanish

Language
The Spanish language is spoken in many areas of
the world due to the early influence of the Spanish
Empire
It is spoken in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia,
Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Equatorial Guinea, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay,
Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay & Venezuela
It is also spoken in parts of Andorra, Belize,
Gibraltar, Morocco, the Philippines and the USA
 Geography
Spain includes a number of islands including
Mallorca, Tenerife, Ibiza and Gran Canaria
Mount Teide is the highest mountain in Spain. It is an
active volcano
It is made up of 17 regions with different languages
and historical, political and cultural traditions inc.
the Basque country, Andalucia and Catalonia
Spain is the closest country to Africa, with a
separation of only 14 km (8.7 miles) at the closest
point
Map of Spain
SPAINThe Ancient Pit Stop
Pre-Roman Iberia
 Celtiberos
Iberian Peninsula name comes from these people
Galicia still has influences of Celtic culture
(bagpipes, language)
This also explains why Spain is good at basketball
The Romans are coming!
The Romans are coming!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw9eJcOeEPg
HISPANIA
 ROMAN LEFTOVERS

SEGOVIA MERIDA
FALL OF ROMAN EMPIRE

409 a.d.

https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=XbI-fDzUJXI
A different type of
Goth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhQO6giXAnY
Germanic Tribes
 Goths
Gothiscanza South Scandanavia
First Germanic people to become Christian
Came across Baltic Sea from Sweden
Fought with Romans in the Balkans
In 370, divided into two separate groups
 Visigoths
376-711
Sought protection of Romans when Huns invaded
Europe
Eventually renounced allegiance to Rome
Established kingdom in what is now France, Spain,
and Portugal
 Visigoths
Alaric I (First Ruler of
Visigoths 370-410)
Expanded Empire
Sacked Rome (410)
Killed there

Visigoths Move to Spain till

711
Destroyed by Moors
 Please, Sir, can I have some
Moors?
Arabs, Berbers, Syrians from North Africa invade the
peninsula in 711 A.D.
Easily defeat Visigoth Kingdoms, conquering nearly
all of peninsula.
Not called Moopssorry, George Costanza
Crdoba
Largest city in Western
Europe in 10th Century
Center of worlds
wealthiest and most
cultured country
Rule of Abderraman III
(929-961 AD)
La Mezquita (largest
mosque outside Muslim
countries)
 LA RECONQUISTA
Almost continual fight between Christian kingdoms
in north of peninsula and Muslims, who controlled
the south
Muslim Spain called Al-Andalus in Arabic
Santiago: Matamoros
Patron saint of Spain
 TOLEDO
Jews
CITY OF TOLERANCE
Christians
Muslims
Influence of all 3 still
evident today
Synagogues
Churches, cathedral
Arab style
architecture
(Mudejar)
 GRANADA

LA ALHAMBRA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phOoNN4HFDw
 1492
Moors had divided into many small kingdoms
Last Moorish king, in Granada, defeated in January
of 1492
As he looked back onto his beloved Alhambra
palace, he began to cry. His mother: Weep, my
son, like a woman, for what you would not fight for
like a man.
 REYES CATOLICOS
Fernando of Aragon
Isabel of Castilla
Married in 1469
Uniting Christian kingdoms against the Moors
Solidified their power through religion; military success
Ended Reconquista by defeating Moors in Granada in
1492
 THE SPANISH INQUISITION
1492: Last Moorish king defeated; all Muslims
remaining in Spain forced to leave or convert to
Christianity. (GRANADA)
1502: Given the success against the Muslims, it is
now decided that all Jews need to leave Spain or
convert to Christianity
But how do we know theyve converted? We
interrogate and torture them until they confessor
put them on trial and later execute (or burn) them!
GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE
 You might remember us from such
historical events as

https://www.youtub
e.com/watch?v=o9
W1G3Tn31A

THE VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS TO AMERICA IN 1492

GOLD DIGGERS
The Beginning of a Modern Era
The 16th century established the beginning of the
Modern Era. For the first time in human history water
routes linked the seacoasts of the world. This was to
have enormous consequences in human history. The
center of European trade shifted from the Mediterranean
to the Atlantic basin. Lisbon replaced Venice.
16th Century World
In the 16th century the world became an arena of
competition between aggressively expanding
empires and fiercely evangelical religions. New
empires were created across oceans and continents
by dynamic civilizations determined to influence
cultures very different from their own.
Europeans became embroiled in bitter religious
controversies that would lead to many wars. Christians
were less successful in their missionary efforts in Asia
and Africa than in the Americas, where the Spanish
successfully converted many conquered peoples.
African slaves were also introduced to Christianity on
the New World plantations. Then Catholic monks
traveled inland to convert native populations..
Muchos Gracias Amigos
Adios