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Clare's Historical Spanish Page - Series Two

Part 1: The Provinces of Spain, Galicia and Asturias

As shown in previous articles, many different peoples arriving from many different areas have influenced Spain’s history and the Reconquest solidified those differences. As a result, Spain as a country remains fragmented until the marriage of the Catholic Monarchas, Ferdinand and Isabella in 1469 began the process of unification. Because each province has its own customs and traditions, many of them speak a provincial language in addition to speaking Castilian Spanish. Before progressing forward through Spain’s history, I feel it is important to learn more of the individual areas to reemphasize that Spain is not uniform.

Galicia is located in the upper northwest corner of Spain, above Portugal. The people of this region have fairer complexions and lighter eyes than the rest of Spain. During the Crusades, many English, Irish, and Scots passed through this area. Some stayed here. The Galician bagpipe, the music, and the dances of the region reflect this. Here the area is very green and humid with rolling hills prone to fog. The people of this area tend to by a bit superstitious and melancholy. Today, the people speak both a language unique to the area, Gallego. Gallego was influenced in part by Portuguese. Portugal and Galicia have enjoyed a relationship throughout their history. Agriculture is the most important occupation of this area. The main city of Galicia is Santiago de Compostela. Within the city is an important cathedral that was the end destination of many pilgrimages throughout the area. The cathedral is dedicated to Santiago, Saint James. Saint James was famous for resisting the Arabic Invasion.

El Camino de Santiago is a link with detailed information about the popular pilgrimage. It even contains a virtual tour of the Cathedral. There is also a drawing of the cathedral, as it was believed to look in the Middle Ages.

Part 2: The Provinces of Spain, Basque and Navarre

Both Basque and Navarre are located in Northern Spain and share a border with France. The Basque inhabitants are fiercely loyal to their province. The people are very conservative. Their language, Basque or Vasco, is the oldest in the Peninsula and bears no relationship to Spanish or any Romance language. It is possible that it is Iberian or Celtic origin, the original inhabitants of Spain. While the influence of the Roman Empire in the Basque province is quite marked, no one, not even the Romans were able to control the Basque people. Throughout their entire history the Basque people have formed nationalistic groups who fought for independence whatever the cost.

The Navarre province was once one of the most powerful kingdoms of the area during the Middle Ages. Its most famous city is Pamplona where the festival of San Fermín is held. The main feature of the festival is the running of the bulls through the streets of the city. To showcase individual bravery and physical prowess, the citizens run with the bulls. Remember that the bull was an important figure from the founding of Spain’s history. The Celtic-Ibereans, the Phoenicians, the Greeks, and the Romans all valued the bull in different manners.

Part 3: The Provinces of Spain, Cataluña and Aragon

Located in the northeastern corner of Spain, Cataluña is the most European region of the peninsula. Aragon is between Navarre and Cataluña. During the Medieval era, Aragón was tied to Cataluña and it was ruled by the Counts of Barcelona. Cataluña’s history is characterized by a strong sense of independence so characteristic of all the Spanish people. During the Middle Ages, it was completely independent of Castille, a strong dominating kingdom located in the center of Spain. The kingdom of Cataluña followed a civil code stating the rights of the king and his responsibilities to his subjects. Cataluñan influence could be found in the Mediterranean, the South of France, Provencal, and parts of Italy. The language spoken here is Catalán.

Cataluña, sometimes spelled Catalonia, comes from the word Gatalonia meaning Country of the Goths. Hamilcar Barca, the father of Hannibal, founded Barcelona, an important city of the area. Hamilcar conquered this area of Spain by entering the Strait of Gibraltar.

Part 4: The Provinces of Spain, Valencia and Murcia

Going southward along the Mediterranean coast from Cataluña, Valencia is the next encountered province The people of this area speak Valenciano, a dialect of Catalán. Valencia is the most fertile area and is known as the “Garden Spot of Spain.” This province is known for olives, oranges, and other fruits. This area of Spain was intensely romanized. When the Arabs invaded Valencia, their influence grew to outshine the Roman influence. Valencia emerged as a province in 1238 when King James I conquered it. Interestingly, he did not add it to his holdings of Aragón or Cataluña, rather he made it an autonomous kingdom as a member of the group of provinces that he ruled.

Murcia is located just below Valencia along the Mediterranean coast. Murcia’s coasts were home to the Phoenicians. One of its cities, Cartagena, was the center of both Roman and Carthaginian power in Spain. As a result it was subject to invasions by the Vandals, the Byzantines and the Visigoths. The Arabs invaded it in the beginning of the 8th century and it remained in Arabic possession until James I reconquered it in 1266.

History of Arabs in Valencia and Murcia: Wonderfully informative site.

Part 5: The Provinces of Spain, Andalucia

Andalucia, located on the southern border of the peninsula, is the province that fulfills most Spanish stereotypes. This area is famous for bull fighting, gypsies, and flamenco dancing. The influence of the Arabs is strongest here and can be seen in many of her cities, including Cordoba and Granada. Cordoba, an ornate Moorish city, was the first urban center in the Mediterranean. Granada is the home of the Alhambra, a sumptuous Arabian palace built in the 13th and 14th centuries, and the Generalife, another beautiful Moorish palace. Granada was the center of Moorish Spain for almost 800 years and it was the last city to fall to the Reconquest. It is said that the last Arabian King wept upon losing Granada and his treasured Alhambra palace and said, “Weep, my son, like a woman for what you would not fight for like a man.” Also located in the province of Granada is the city of Cádiz, the oldest city in Spain and once a powerful Phoenician trading center known as Gades.

For more information, see the following websites:
Alhambra and Generalife:

The Alhambra and the Generalife:

Andalucia.com, Cordoba:

Cadiz, the Mythical City:

Cordoba, The Great Mosque:

Granada, the Alhambra Palace:

TuSpain, the Alhambra:

History of Arabs in Andalucia: Wonderfully informative site.

Part 6: The Provinces of Spain, Extremadura

Extremadura, home of many Spanish Conquistadors, lies in the center of the Iberian Peninsula. It is one of the most beautiful areas of Spain. The capital of Extremadura, Merida, is Roman. During the Roman era, Merida was one of the most important Roman cities. Extremadura was captured early in the Arabian Invasion. This area remained Moorish until 1230 when Alfonso IX reconquered the area. After it was reclaimed from the Arabs, Extremadura became a focus of many territorial struggles. Various towns, families, and military orders wanted control of the province for themselves. Because of Extremadura shares a border with Portugal, Portugal joined the struggle for territory in the 14th century. Portugal maintained its efforts to seize parts of the area for two centuries.

For more information, see the following websites:
Regions of Spain – Extremadura: http://www.red2000.com/spain/region/r-extre.html

Sí Spain - A Brief History of Extremadura: http://www.DocuWeb.ca/SiSpain/english/politics/autonomo/extramad/merhis.html

Part 7: The Province of Castile and Leon

Bibliography

Anderson, David. Mexican Americans: The Roots of Identity. Torrance: Frank Schaffer Puclications, Inc., 1995.

Mazour, Peoples, and Rabb. People and Nations: A World History. Orlando: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers, 1983.

Sacks Da Silva, Zenia. Márgenes: Historia Intima del Pueblo Hispano. New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1967.

Sí, Spain

Smith, Rhea Marsh. Spain: A Modern History. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press, 1965.

Ugarte, Miguel and McNerny, Kathleen. España y su civilización: 4a edición. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1992.

(Copyright 1999-2000, Katherine Estep Stephenson)