The Culture Of Spain

Medieval Spain started with the arrival of the Visigoths in the late 5th century to the end of the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella in the 16th century. However, its roots can be traced back to the medieval countries and kingdoms including Galicia, Leon, Castile, Aragon, Navarre, Catalonia, Valencia, Murcia, and Granada. These countries all contributed to what has been known as the Spanish language as well as the country itself.

When analyzing the culture of a country, many different pieces of that country must be taken into consideration. What often comes to mind are the foods, music, festivals, dances, and clothing of that country. In Spain, these four aspects of their culture are vital to the country and truly define the spirit and nature of all things Spain.

The rise of a powerful government and the enforcement of religious orthodoxy were factors that help established the Spanish Empire.

From sandy beaches to rocky mountain ranges, astounding big cities to mosques and gothic cathedrals, vibrant festivals to the theatrical historic bullfights, Spain has about everything. Spain has been the center of culture in Europe for thousands of years. Spain is an astonishing place with rich heritage and lively festivals and art. Spain is not just about the flamenco dancing, bullfights, and the religious festivals, it has so many things to offer. Even Lenny Kravitz the American singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer said, “It’s like a dream to come to Spain and stay a for a couple of years and get somebody to teach me Spanish music.” Today I am going to inform you about the well-known features of La Siesta in the Spanish culture, the creative and energetic Flamenco dance, and the historic subculture of Basque.

The actions of Spain were to get as much gold and silver as they can get. To do this, they pillaged entire civilizations and forced millions to work in poor environments so they could benefit from it. Before finding America, many European countries relied on West Africa to get its gold and silver, once Columbus came back with gold, nearly all of Europe wanted to have a part of if. Spain was the most successful in the short-run, though. They employed many people to work at Cerro Rico, a mountain in Bolivia filled with silver. This made the city near it, Potosí, boom with people. About 160,000 people were living in it by 1650. On a night in 1520, Spaniards died for their greed of gold trying to run away from the Aztecs, many died, however, since

Spain is located on the Iberian Peninsula, It shares it’s western Border with Portugal. On its north coast lies the Atlantic Ocean, the outskirts of Spain are vast and mountainous. It’s position near the Gibraltar Strait, gives it control of territories in northern Morocco including the enclaves of Ceuta and de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, Spain led European global exploration and colonial expansion across the world. Trade flourished across the Atlantic and pacific oceans, allowing Spain to claim vast territories in North and South America, amongst other smaller territories. The Spanish Empire quickly became the foremost global power, reaching its peak in the 18th century, and became known as the empire on which the sun never sets. Historian Stanley G. Payne states that “by combining complex marriage alliances with an expansionist agenda, the Spanish Habsburgs were able to create the “most unique imperial structure in world history, consisting of both a discontiguous European continental empire and the first true world empire, with possessions

Mahatma Gandhi once stated that “A nations culture resides in the hearts and souls of its people” This holds evident in the European country of Spain. Spain is a country of long time tradition in which people work hard to continue on with a culture they created long ago. Spain is a very colorfully cultured country with many famous and important traditions one of which is, the art of flamenco dancing.

When you think of Spain you usually associate it with Catholicism, grand churches and architecture along with Ferdinand & Isabella. Rarely do most people know of the Jewish and Muslim influences. However, the history of Spain encompasses all three religions, interacting with one another for centuries, more so than most other geographical locations. I myself was able to experience this first hand during my time in southern Spain, witnessing forgotten Jewish communities and Islamic buildings repurposed for Christianity. It is an insight that is essential. In fact, understanding the intricate relationship these three had during this period could help today’s society realize how vital it is that we embrace each other’s differences and learn from

Mahatma Gandhi once stated that “A nations culture resides in the hearts and souls of its people” This holds evident in the European country of Spain. Spain is a country of long time tradition in which people work hard to continue on with a culture they created long ago. Spain is a very colorfully cultured country with many famous and important traditions one of which is, the art of flamenco dancing.

Shortly following the Civil War, the United States Navy became weak. Many of the naval ships were outdated, made of wood, and had minimal weaponry to support again heavy fire. The USS Maine was one of the newest battleships. Fully equipped with the most advanced and powerful weaponry the navy had to offer. The Maine had the ability to cruise around the world without having to refueling. With this great addition to the navy, the United states began to get more involved in overseas expansion. The united states was far behind when compared to other countries in conquering new land.

The history surrounding the origin of Spanish in Spain and the Americas is notable and terrifying because of the impact that it had on the indigenous people. Spanish has and will continue to grow as one of the primary languages around the world as it can be witnessed the by the sizable Hispanic and Latino communities within the United States of America. Throughout the

Spain has no official religion. The constitution of 1978 disestablished the Roman Catholic Church as the official state religion, but still recognizing the role, it plays in Spanish society. More than 90% of the population is at least nominally Catholic.

The food and eating habits of Spain are unlike any other country in the world. Spain has the longest working week in Europe, which calls for very long working days. The Spaniards call for eating well throughout the day. The eating hours in Spain are loosely defined and restaurants

During the 15th century, many considered Spain insignificant. However, within a century it became a world-dominant power in Europe. Although Spain only took a brief time to rise, it was also short-lived. The rise of Spain was due to its flourishing culture, stable political system and successful voyages to the New World. On the other hand, its decline was due to religious control, resistance from other countries and inflation.