Classical Antiquity saw colonization of the peninsula by Greeks and Carthaginians; their cultures mixed with those already present to create an original Iberian culture.
Ferdinand and Isabella’s unification of Spain marked its adoption of Spanish as its national language, along with establishing its first real democracy through various reform measures during their rule.
The Cid
Rodrigo, affectionately referred to by his men as The Cid, was an outstanding Christian knight renowned for his exploits as a Christian knight and legendary figure. Stories about them continued long after his death and made famous through literature such as Carmen Roderici (The Song of the Cid). Today it remains one of Spain’s great literary monuments.
This book provides a historical narrative for older children (roughly 12 and up). It’s clear, well written, and does a fantastic job of keeping readers engaged throughout their reading experience.
The Visigoths
Though it has become fashionable to view Visigoths as Europe’s inaugural nation, this claim isn’t wholly accurate. They created their own distinct Spanish identity that replaced Roman influence while also conserving some elements of Western Civilization with their law code.
Gothic noble “senators” and church officials elected the kings, while also sitting on governing councils to discuss religious matters. This created the basis of a constitutional state with religious unity being one of its strongest forces.
Visigoths were an ancient Germanic people originating in Sweden who migrated across to Poland-Ukraine, Southern France, and Northern Spain over time. Their language was one of Europe’s oldest.
The Moors
In 711, African Moors came to Spain (al-Andalus). Their arrival was a shock to Europe; their powerful cities such as Seville, Cordova and Granada soon became centres of great learning – home to some eminent scholars as well.
Moorish influence extended far beyond Spain – their libraries were open to scholars of all faiths, while their contributions in mathematics, philosophy and education left lasting legacies. Furthermore, they introduced paper with Arabic numerals, paved streets with mosaic tiles, and installed irrigation systems – among many other innovations.
But their reign wasn’t always peaceful: clashes occurred between Christian Spaniards and Muslim Moors that led to much bloodshed.
The Renaissance
Spain began catching up to Europe during the 17th century thanks to textile manufacturing’s revival in Catalonia and Cadiz’s trading monopoly being broken. Economic development flourished, along with improvements to military, royal household, and urban centers.
But the real breakthrough came when Christian powers, led by Catholic monarchs, ousted Muslim control from southern and central parts of Spain. Once the last Muslim bastion fell at Granada in 1492, Spain’s monarchs turned their attention towards expanding beyond Iberian peninsula – funding expeditions that spread Spanish across Africa, Oceania, and Asia.
The Inquisition
Joseph Perez has written extensively on various aspects of Spanish history such as Reconquista, monarchy, humanism, and Jewish expulsion; here he turns his focus to the Inquisition. He describes its powers and procedures, such as its use of torture to obtain confessions.
He further describes the Inquisition’s role in prosecuting crimes against morality, often in conflict with civil tribunals. These included trials for bigamy – an offense often perpetrated during times when only extreme circumstances allowed for divorces to be granted.
Perez’s book provides an in-depth examination of Tomas de Torquemada and his Inquisition; however, other topics remain underrepresented such as Jewish intellectuals or Protestantism’s impact.
The Empire
Spain once reigned supreme, leaving an indelible mark on world history as we know it today. From times of splendor to an empire’s collapse which saw its territories lose independence, these major events played a role in shaping modernity into what it is today.
From its early exploration days through to the end of its American colonies, this collection covers every aspect of Spanish history from exploration through loss of their colonies in America. Particular emphasis is given to Catalonia and Andalusia with materials written in Galician, Basque and Arabic used as source materials by historians studying how the empire functioned by analyzing institutions and explaining relationships between them.