1. INTRODUCTION

1. Locate the cities of Madrid and Barcelona, ​​the Iberian Peninsula, the Strait of Gibraltar, the Guadalquivir River, the Pyrenees, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, Ceuta and Melilla, the Mediterranean Sea, Portugal, France and Morocco.

2. Read the following text about Spain and explain the sentences below.

Spain is an ancient civilization brimming with cultural expression and one of the most influential countries in the Hispanic world. Spain’s history is complex due to its location. It has shared kingdoms with several European countries, including Portugal and France, and parts of the country were colonized by Muslim kingdoms. Because of its position as a gateway to the Atlantic and its connection to the Mediterranean, Spain has been a land of seafarers even before Christopher Columbus’s expeditions to the Americas. Spanish is spoken in Spain, but so are Basque, Valencian, Catalan, and Galician, in addition to a wide range of dialects and accents. In general, its people are multicultural due to the mixing of Arabs, Jews, Africans, people of mixed ancestry, Native Americans, and Europeans. Spain is a country rich in art and beauty, boasting Roman, Jewish, Muslim, and Christian antiquities. It has distinguished itself in the art world with painters such as Salvador Dalí, Picasso, Velázquez, and Goya, and writers such as Miguel de Cervantes and Góngora. One of its biggest challenges is controlling immigration from African and Latin American countries, and the dispute over Catalonia’s independence movement. Spain is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, ranking second only to France, thanks to its historical appeal and excellence in tourism.

a. Spain is a country full of culture

b. Spain has some challenges

c. Spain is a multicultural country

2. MADRID: PLACES TO VISIT IN THE CAPITAL

Madrid, in the heart of Spain, is the capital and largest city in the country. Some places you can visit in the capital include the Prado Museum , a vast art museum containing some of the greatest works of Spanish art and exhibitions by various painters. Also nearby is the Reina Sofía Museum , which displays paintings, sculptures, and other international works.

The Buen Retiro Park , a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the lungs of Madrid and is a place to go to breathe clean air; enjoy nature; walk through the small parks and paths; see the rose collection, the Crystal Palace and the statue of the Fallen Angel; ride a bicycle; and much more.

Spain has a monarchy, and in Madrid you can visit its enormous Royal Palace . The palace has 3,000 rooms, making it the largest royal palace in Western Europe. It houses works of art by great Spanish painters, and you can visit the famous Campo del Moro and Sabatini Gardens, the Royal Armory with its collection of medieval weapons, and the Royal Kitchen.

The Plaza Mayor is a popular meeting place, surrounded by a wide selection of restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops. A short walk through its streets will lead you to the Puerta del Sol, with its clock tower that marks the seconds until the new year, where hundreds of people gather to welcome in the new year. The Puerta del Sol itself is full of restaurants and shops.

3. THE COUNTRY OF SPANISH IS A COUNTRY OF MANY LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

Spain, also known as the Kingdom of Spain because it is the only Hispanic country with a monarchy, is the birthplace of the Spanish language, but also the birthplace of many other languages ​​such as Basque, Galician, and Catalan, as well as numerous dialects. All these languages ​​and their dialects are Romance languages, with the exception of Basque, an isolated language whose origin is unknown. In certain parts of Spain, you can find cases of bilingualism due to the presence of these languages.

Spain is the fourth country with the most Spanish speakers and a country rich in traditions and culture from all the groups that have inhabited it. It is also the fourth largest country in Europe and one of the most mountainous. Originally, different groups inhabited the peninsula, as evidenced, for example, by the ancient cave paintings of Altamira. Other inhabitants included the Phoenicians, who brought with them their knowledge of navigation and the alphabet.

With the arrival of the Romans, the peninsula was named Hispania, although they took that name from the Phoenicians, who originally called it «i-spn-ya.» There are many theories about the meaning of the word, but no definitive answer. Some have interpreted it as «land of rabbits,» «land of the north,» or «land that forges metals.» In addition to the Romans, Spain was inhabited by Jews with the spread of Christianity and also by Muslims, given its proximity to the African continent. This explains why Spanish has incorporated Arabic words such as «pantalones» (trousers), «azúcar» (sugar), and «almohada» (pillow). Immigration from African and Latin American countries has also enriched Spain’s gastronomy, economy, and culture. Thanks to immigration, Spain is able to sustain itself economically, especially given the significant decline in birth rates in recent decades. Spain offers a great cultural and linguistic diversity thanks to the people who have enriched it throughout its history.

ACTIVITIES

1. Search the internet for a definition for:

• Dialect
• Monarchy

2. Search the internet for information about the cave paintings in Altamira and write a short report.

3. Research the Roman presence in the Iberian Peninsula and create a PowerPoint (PPT) presentation to present in class.

4. WHERE DOES SPANISH COME FROM?

Next, we’re going to learn about the origin of Spanish and the history of the letter «ñ». Use the links and follow the instructions to complete this section.

ACTIVITIES

Read the following article online (read the first two paragraphs) and answer the comprehension questions.

Article: EMILIAN GLOSSES

1. What do the glosses teach us about that time?

2. What are the Emilian glosses?

3. In what centuries approximately were these notes written?

4. According to the text, a synonym for gloss is:

5. Observe the glosses in the lower right part of the document.

6. Discuss. Do you take notes in your notebooks or books? What do you use them for? How do you think Spanish will evolve in the future? What do you think will happen to languages?

THE ORIGIN OF THE LETTER “Ñ”

Spanish has a very distinctive letter called «ñ,» which is the quintessential symbol of the language. Watch the following video to learn about the origins and history of this special letter and answer true or false to the sentences. Correct the false statements.

YouTube: What is the true origin of the letter ñ and what languages ​​use it?

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvI6s6ZBTiQ

1. It entered the Dictionary of the Royal Academy in the year 1000.

2. This sound appeared with the Romance languages.

3. It is a palatal nasal sound.

4. In the 19th century, copyists used it in their manuscripts.

5. The tilde was introduced as a solution to save parchment.

6. In the 14th century, Nebrija introduced it in his Grammar .

7. Other languages ​​also have the sound, but it is a mixture of letters.

8. This sound is not found in the Americas.

9. In Equatorial Guinea, the letter “ñ” is also used in the Bubi language.

5. THE THREE CULTURES OF SPAIN

During the Spanish Middle Ages, three important cultures converged: Muslim, Jewish, and Christian. Initially, the three cultures coexisted without major problems, but gradually the relationship between them deteriorated until they separated completely. This period of coexistence had significant repercussions in the economic, intellectual, and political spheres. The Christian tradition was already strong from the expansion of Christianity, and in Spain, religious sites such as the cathedral and tomb of Santiago de Compostela, and the pilgrimage to it, continued to influence Christian tradition. It was during this era that mystical literature flourished, spearheaded by Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross.

However, it was during the Middle Ages that the Holy Inquisition wielded its most severe hand against any belief contrary to Christianity, creating various problems and confrontations. On one hand, there was a rejection of the Muslim culture that had spread throughout the south. On the other hand, a negative sentiment arose toward the economic influence of Jews, who owned real estate and held high-ranking positions as doctors, ministers, notaries, and jewelers, among others. The Holy Inquisition was severe even in its trials of mystical writers who wrote about sensory encounters and spiritual experiences. The work of the Holy Inquisition was to serve the crown of the Catholic Monarchs with the purpose of unifying religion and political power in the kingdom. The Inquisition punished heresies, occult practices, and anything that opposed Catholicism.

The culmination of the tension between these three cultures and religions came with the Spanish exploration of the American continent. It was in 1492, the year of Christopher Columbus’s first arrival in the Caribbean, that the reconquest of Granada took place in Spain. Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella I entered the city and reclaimed it after a war against Muhammad II. That same year, Ferdinand and Isabella also decreed the expulsion of the Jews unless they converted to Christianity. As a consequence of these decisions, the religion and culture imposed on the countries of the American continent were predominantly Christian, not Jewish or Muslim, after the colonization process began.

6. MUSLIM TILES

Portuguese ceramic tiles, called azulejos for their blue color, were inspired by the Alhambra palace located in the Andalusian city of Granada. Andalusia is a region in southern Spain that was occupied by the Muslim inhabitants of the western Mediterranean from the 8th to the 13th centuries. After its capital, Córdoba, was captured by the Christians, the leader of the last Muslim dynasty on the Iberian Peninsula agreed to grant tribute and even territory to the Christians on the condition that they leave his home city of Granada alone. Construction of the Alhambra began in 1238 and was later completed in 1300, when the Muslim dynasty finally succumbed to its rule on the Iberian Peninsula.

Its decoration is distinctly different from the Christian basilicas of the time, which were adorned with gilded statues of saints, displays of crucifixions, and murals depicting scenes from the Bible. Muslims, however, were strictly forbidden from depicting Muhammad or Allah, or any living creature, as this was considered a form of idolatry. Without the expression of anthropomorphic representation, Muslims turned to representing the beauty of God in an abstract way.

The walls were adorned with intricate repeating patterns and mosaics that displayed various visual symmetries. The fascinating result is that the numerous colorful tiles that climb the palace walls contain rich mathematical properties, unique to the Alhambra, which in turn have been an inspiration for art. The tessellations (regularly arranged figures that leave no gaps and do not overlap) of the Dutch artist M.C. Escher were inspired by the symmetries of the Granada tiles.

The branch of mathematics that studies symmetry is known as group theory, and the set of all operations that leave the object unchanged constitutes a group. Operations in group theory are rearrangements that do not alter the object. With some natural assumptions, it turns out that the mathematical structures arising from these tessellations can be classified into exactly 17 categories that encapsulate all possible rearrangements. There is still controversy about exactly how many of these groups are present in the Alhambra, but the number ranges from 13 to 17, which remains a rich and unique achievement in architecture and a major contribution to mathematics, especially given that it occurred long before group theory was invented.

ACTIVITIES

1. Answer true (T) or false (F) to the comprehension sentences and correct the incorrect sentences.

a. The tiles are all blue.

b. Tiles originated in Portugal.

c. The Alhambra is a Muslim palace in the city of Granada.

d. The Alhambra is decorated like Christian basilicas and cathedrals.

e. With the tiles, Muslims created images of Allah.

f. Idolatry is permitted in the Muslim religion.

g. Group theory studies mathematical symmetries.

h. The Alhambra was inspired by group theory to design the tiles.

2. After learning about the representation of tiles in Granada and their interdisciplinary significance for art, religion, and architecture, answer the following questions. Then, interview your classmates.

a. What caught your attention about the Granada tessellations?

b. Do you think God can be represented in an abstract way?

c. Why do you think Muslims chose geometric shapes to refer to God?

d. Do you like tiles and mosaics in general?

e. Do you like mathematics? What kind of classes do you like?

f. Do you think it is important to learn interdisciplinary concepts and ideas? Explain.

3. Create a PowerPoint presentation for your class about Muslim or Jewish influence in Spain before the expulsion of 1492. You can choose one of the following topics. Use the space below to brainstorm, make notes, or add your bibliography.

a. The influence of Arabic on Spanish

b. Arab architecture in Al-Andalus

c. Politics during the Muslim reign

d. Jewish trade in Spain

e. Arab or Jewish medicine

f. The influence of Arabic music on flamenco

g. Arabic mathematics and astronomy (algebra, algorithm, etc.)

h. Arab gastronomy introduced to Spain

i. Jews in political and influential positions

j. Jewish/Arab philosophy

7. HOLY WEEK IN SEVILLE

Holy Week in Seville is filled with events and traditions throughout the city. Holy Week is celebrated throughout Spain, and each region has its own traditions and attire. Generally, the largest celebration is in Seville due to the sheer number of processions and festivities. Its influence is so great that it has been declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest. During this week, Christian faithful have the opportunity to commemorate the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. There is no exact date, but Holy Week is celebrated between March and April, depending on the lunar calendar. Approximately 60 brotherhoods (groups of the faithful, like fraternities, that worship God) process through the streets, accompanied by saetas (flamenco religious songs sung to the brotherhoods). Sometimes, during the procession, the crowds fall silent as a sign of respect.

The brotherhoods are made up of Nazarenes, who carry the heavy religious images on their backs as a form of pilgrimage and sacrifice. Others parade through the streets during the procession, handing out sweets to children, while still others are in charge of the incense. The Nazarenes wear robes of various colors, depending on the brotherhood. Generally, they wear a tunic and a capirote (a tall, cone-shaped hat). It’s important to clarify that the use of the capirote is not associated with the Ku Klux Klan, an American group that uses it symbolically to assert racism and racial superiority. In Seville, however, it has no such connotation. The capirote has its roots in the Inquisition and, more recently, has been linked to the Catholic observance of Holy Week.

YouTube: Holy Week 2020: “It’s Holy Week; it’s Seville”

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwXDlvJB2PM

8. FLAMENCO

Flamenco music and dance are a unique expression of Spain, especially prevalent in the region of Andalusia. For the Spanish Roma people, it’s a source of immense pride. If you visit Seville or any of the other Andalusian cities, flamenco, whether dance or music, is a must-see. Furthermore, the dance, like the music and song, is passed down from generation to generation and is learned in dance schools and flamenco clubs (peñas). Several artists have distinguished themselves in this art form with various awards and accolades. Among them are Antonio Gades, Enrique Morente, Eva La Yerbabuena, La Niña de la Puebla, and Joaquín Cortés. The singing is accompanied by characteristic flamenco instruments such as the guitar, castanets, handclaps, footwork, and the cajón.

9. THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR

Spain has experienced significant historical moments: Muslim rule for hundreds of years, the exploration of the American continent, the Inquisition, and so on. However, the most recent conflict in Spain was the Spanish Civil War in 1936. It was a two-year war that began with a failed coup against the Republican government.

During the war, there was a confrontation between several polarized ideologies of the time, including fascism and communism, the rebel side and the republican side (republican being the left-wing party), and a religious conflict. After two years, Francisco Franco, who had led the war, proclaimed himself president and established a dictatorship that ended in 1975 with his death.

The war was bloody and began at a critical moment in Europe. At that time, Italy was fascist, and Germany was under Nazism. It was a time of radical right-wing governments that oppressed the freedoms of many, and in the case of Germany, it triggered the Second World War. In fact, although Spain was fascist during the war, it did not participate because it had already been devastated by the Spanish Civil War.

During the war, schools, hospitals, and entire cities were destroyed. There was a confrontation with the Catholic Church, which chose to support the war rather than advocate for peace, leading to many churches being attacked by the left-wing faction. The fascist side, also called the rebel/nationalist side, tortured left-wing prisoners, used the military to attack with bombs and tanks, and caused thousands of deaths. Both sides were responsible for inexcusable crimes, and although fascism ultimately won, as in any war, the consequences were destruction; in a war, no one truly wins.

Much of Spain’s academic and creative talent went into exile abroad; some disappeared, and many other artists were murdered. The exiles faced great hardship trying to leave Spain, but many managed to reach countries such as France, Mexico, Argentina, and the Soviet Union, among others.

10. THE PAINTING GUERNICA BY PABLO PICASSO

Guernica , a painting Pablo Picasso created in 1937, was an open critique of the Spanish Civil War and its atrocities. Below, we will analyze the painting and learn more about its history.

11. GRAMMAR REVIEW: THE USES OF “POR” AND “PARA”

Read the uses of the prepositions “por” and “para” and complete the activities. You can consult the following link if you wish to learn more about their uses: https://human.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Languages/Spanish/Spanish_Grammar_Manual_(Yepes)/13/57_Por_para .

PREPOSITION “BY”

1. The path or course of a movement: They were walking down the middle of the street.
2. Approximation of the location of a place or time: They will finish the project by Christmas.
3. Agent addendum: The contract was signed by the tenants.
4. To express the reason for their actions: They fight for justice.
5. The way in which something is received or sent: I called them on the phone.
6. The amount for which something is bought or sold: They sell the paellas for 30 euros.
7. Duration of time: They were at the cinema for 2 hours.

PREPOSITION “FOR”

1. To express destination, purpose, aim, deadline: They are going to class / The homework is due on Monday.
2. Para + infinitive: To rest well, you have to take a nap.
3. To express an opinion: For me, living in the countryside is better than living in the city.

12. CONTENT REVIEW

Choose the correct option for the following questions or statements about what we learned about Spain.

1. Which of the following is not a regional language spoken in Spain besides Spanish?
(a) Basque
(b) Guarani
(c) Catalan
(d) Galician

2. What aspect has been a major challenge for Spain?
(a) Competition with other European countries
(b) Immigration control and the dispute over Catalan independence

3. Which place in Madrid is known as the “lungs of the city” and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
(a) Prado National Museum
(b) Royal Palace
(c) Buen Retiro Park
(d) Plaza Mayor

4. What feature makes the Royal Palace of Madrid remarkable among the royal palaces of Western Europe?
(a) It has an armory
(b) It is the oldest royal palace in Europe
(c) It has 3,000 rooms and large gardens

5. What major event is celebrated in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, attracting hundreds of people every year?
(a) Madrid Carnival
(b) Hispanic Day celebration
(c) Welcoming the New Year with the chimes

6. Which of the following statements about languages ​​in Spain are correct?
(a) Spanish is an official language
(b) The other languages ​​are of Germanic origin
(c) The origin of Basque is unknown

7. Which group inhabited the Iberian Peninsula and left cave paintings in the Altamira cave?
(a) Phoenicians
(b) Romans
(c) Muslims
(d) Prehistoric groups

8. What is one of the main purposes of the Emilian Glosses?
(a) To record expressions of medieval Latin
(b) To document the vulgar Romance that would evolve into Spanish

9. What mark began to be used in the 9th century to indicate the nasalization of the letter “ñ” in ancient texts?
(a) Virgulilla
(b) Trema
(c) Diaeresis
(d) Cedilla

10. What event marked a new era in medieval Spain?
(a) Christopher Columbus arrives in the Americas
(b) The signing of the Treaty of Tordesillas
(c) The expulsion of the Jews

11. What role did the Holy Inquisition play during the Spanish Middle Ages?
(a) It promoted peace among the three cultures
(b) It punished those who practiced occultism and heresies
(c) It fostered development

12. What was the main cultural restriction that influenced the decoration of the Alhambra?
(a) Prohibition of representations of Muhammad or Allah
(b) Prohibition of representations of Christian saints

13. What is the function of saetas during Holy Week processions?
(a) They are played by stringed instruments.
(b) They are flamenco songs sung in honor of the brotherhoods.
(c) They are fireworks.

14. What does the capirote worn by the Nazarenes in the Holy Week processions in Seville symbolize?
(a) Racism and racial superiority
(b) A symbol of the Spanish Inquisition
(c) Protection from the sun and rain

15. Singing, heel tapping, clapping, guitar, and cajón characterize this type of music:
(a) Salsa
(b) Tango
(c) Merengue
(d) Flamenco

16. What caused the start of the Spanish Civil War in 1936?
(a) A coup against the fascist government
(b) A coup against the republican government
(c) An earthquake

17. Who led the fascist side during the Spanish Civil War?
(a) Francisco Franco
(b) Obiang Nguema
(c) Augusto Pinochet
(d) Francisco Pizarro

18. What is the main theme represented in Pablo Picasso’s work Guernica
? (a) World War II
(b) The bombing of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War
(c) The Spanish Revolution

13. OTHER TOPICS FOR EXPANDING: ALTERNATIVE PROJECTS AND TASKS

To expand your knowledge, you can research these topics further and present or write a composition in class.

TOPICS: Gypsy influence, the Spanish monarchy, the islands and territories outside the peninsula, the dispute with Gibraltar, the Phoenicians, the Camino de Santiago, the Royal Spanish Academy, the Lady of Elche, the Toledo School of Translators, the Black Death in Spain, the Spanish Inquisition, Spanish football, the threat of drought, wine production, the Golden Age, the debate on cultural appropriation in Picasso

ICONIC PLACES: The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the University of Salamanca, the Alcázar of Segovia, the walls of Ávila, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, the Pyrenees, the Monastery of El Escorial, the Sagrada Familia

FILMS: Pan ‘s Labyrinth (2006) by Guillermo del Toro, Fermat’s Room (2007) by Luis Piedrahíta et al., Volver (2006) by Pedro Almodóvar, All About My Mother ( 1999 ) by Pedro Almodóvar, Un Chien Andalou ( 1929 ) by Luis Buñuel, Open Your Eyes (1997) by Alejandro Amenábar, Raise Ravens ( 1976 ) by Carlos Saura, The Bookshop ( 2017 ) by Isabel Coixet

FESTIVALS: The Fallas of Valencia, the Alicante festivities, the Pamplona bullfight, La Tomatina, bullfighting, the April Fair, Moors and Christians, San Sebastián Film Festival

FAMOUS PEOPLE: Isabella I of Castile, Charles III of Spain, Alfonso X the Wise, Isidore of Seville, Antonio de Nebrija, Clara Campoamor, Elena Arzak, Rafael Nadal, José Andrés, Goya, Salvador Dalí, Antoni Gaudí

WRITERS: Miguel de Cervantes, Teresa de Jesús, Rosalía de Castro, María Dueñas, Federico García Lorca, Miguel de Unamuno, Emilia Pardo Bazán, Miguel Hernández

MUSIC: Zarzuela, Jota, Pasodoble, Andalusian folk song

FOOD: Paella, Madrid stew, croquettes, pinchos and tapas, Iberian ham, Manchego cheese, the Mediterranean diet, olive oil, Galician-style octopus, gazpacho, Asturian bean stew, Catalan cream

Image Attributions

1. Spain © Ángela Pacheco González is licensed under a  CC BY (Attribution)  license
2. Prado Museum. Guests. Fragments on women, ideology and the visual arts in Spain 28  © MuseodelPrado is licensed under a  CC BY-SA (Attribution ShareAlike)  license
3. Royal Palace, Madrid, Spain, 2023-01-03, DD 22-24 HDR  © Diego Delso is licensed under a  CC BY-SA (Attribution ShareAlike)  license
4. Altamira-2.jpg  © Government of Cantabria is licensed under a  CC BY (Attribution)  license
5. Codiceemil.jpg  © Rafael Nieto is licensed under a  CC0 (Creative Commons Zero)  license
6. Logroño, Ñ 2  © LBM1948 is licensed under a  CC BY-SA (Attribution ShareAlike)  license
7. The Catholic Monarchs and the Infanta Juana.jpg  © Unknown author is licensed under a  CC0 (Creative Commons Zero)  license
8. Entrance  © Jocelyn777 Love Europe is licensed under a  CC BY-SA (ShareAlike Attribution)  license
9. Tower of the Ladies – El Partal – The Alhambra – Granada  © jamebla is licensed under a  CC BY-NC-ND (Attribution NonComercial SinDerivadas)  license
10. University of Pennsylvania LJS 439: Treatise on science, religion, and cosmology, 17  © kislakcenter is licensed under a  Public Domain  license
11. Alhambra-p3-wall.jpg  © Dmharvey is licensed under a  CC BY-SA (ShareAlike Attribution)  license
12. Holy Week Seville  © teresalomas is licensed under a  CC BY (Attribution)  license
13. Chant flamenco (Institut du monde arabe)  © dalbera is licensed under a  CC BY (Attribution)  license
14. Spanish War Children001  © Locospotter is licensed under a  CC BY-SA (ShareAlike Attribution)  license
15. Guernica  © ahisgett is licensed under a  CC BY-SA (Attribution ShareAlike)  license
16. Salamanca © Ángela Pacheco González is licensed under a  CC BY (Attribution)  license
17. Gaudi © Ángela Pacheco González is licensed under a  CC BY (Attribution)  license