Barcelona: The Cosmo City Midterm Review

Vocabulary practice cards for the Barcelona midterm, covering geography, demography, and the historical periods from Roman Barcino to the Union with Spain.

Paisos Catalans

The term used to define Catalonia linguistically, referring to all territories where the Catalan language is spoken.

Generalitat

The executive branch of the government of Catalonia, which is one of the $17$ Autonomous Communities of Spain.

Montjuic

The 'Jewish mountain' located to the south of Barcelona city, serving as a major geographic marker.

Ciutat Vella

Also known as Casc Antic, this is the Old City of Barcelona, which is divided into the Gothic, Born, and Raval neighborhoods.

Laietani

The name given by the Greeks to the primitive Iberian tribes residing in the area of Montjuic.

Barcino

The Roman colony founded in $12\,BC$, two centuries after Tarraco, which serves as the historical starting point of Barcelona.

Cardo Maximo and Decumenus

The two main thoroughfares of the Roman city of Barcino that intersected at the Forum.

Visigoths

Barbarian tribes from Northern Europe who invaded Roman territories between $450$ and $711$, eventually merging with Romans and converting to Christianity.

Wilfred the Hairy

The Frankish warrior credited with creating the Medieval Kingdom of Catalonia, moving the capital to Barcelona, and starting the House of Barcelona.

Romanesque

The Medieval architectural style of the Carolingian period, characterized as fortress-like, stony, and having few windows and limited height.

Jaume I (the Conqueror)

The $13\text{th}$ century king who expanded the Catalan empire and established democratic institutions like the Catalan Corts and the Council of the $100$.

Catalan Corts

A representative body of the three social estates characterized by a shared sovereignty oath given by its members.

The Guilds

Professional and training organizations fundamental to the economic prosperity of Barcelona as a city of crafts during the Golden Age.

The Call

The area of the city where the Jewish population, who accounted for $10\text{-}15\%$ of Barcelona, were required to live.

Santa María del Mar

A Basilica in the Born area built in the $14\text{th}$ century, considered the most perfect example of Catalan Gothic architecture.

Black Plague

The pandemic in $1347$ that exterminated more than half of the population in Catalonia and Barcelona, marking the beginning of the city's decline.

Ferdinand II

The grandson of the first Castilian king of Aragon who married Isabella of Castile in $1469$, leading to the birth of Spain.

Inquisition

A court of law established by the Catholic Monarchs to try those accused of practicing their former religions (Judaism or Islam) in secret after the expulsions of $1492$.