Spanish Test 1, Countries

Mexico

Mexicó, Cíudad de Mexicó, Mexicano/a

Guatemala

Guatemala, Cíudad de Guatemala, Guatemalteco/a

El Salvador

El Salvador, San Salvador, Salvadoreño

Costa Rica

Costa Rica, San Jóse, Costarricense

Honduras

Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Hondureños

Nicaragua

Nicaragua, Managua, Nicaragüense

Venezuela

Venezuela, Caracas, Venezolano/a

Costa Rica

Costa Rica, San José, Costarricense

Peru

Perú, Lima, Peruense

Panama

Panama, Ciudad de Panama, Panameño/a

Chile

Chilé, Santiago, Chileno/a

Colombia

Colombia, Bogotá, Colombiano/a

Ecuador

Ecuador, Quito, Ecuatoriano/a

Bolivia

Bolivia, La Paz, Boliviano/a

Paraguay

Parguay, Asuncíon, Paraguayo/a

Uruguay

Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguayo/a

Argentina

Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentino/a

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Ricaño/a

Dominican Republic

República Dominicana, San Domingo, Dominicano/a

Cuba

Cuba, Havana, Cubano/a

Spain

España, Madrid, Español

Phoenicians — Los fenicios

• Came from Asia / the eastern Mediterranean.

• They were known for trade.

• They traded things like gold and silver.

• They established settlements along the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula

Greeks — Los griegos

• Came from Greece.

• Established colonies along the Mediterranean coast.

• They influenced language, culture, art, and trade.

Carthaginians — Los cartagineses

• Came from North Africa.

• Controlled parts of the Iberian Peninsula.

• They had important settlements, including Ibiza.

• They competed with Rome for control of the Mediterranean.

Celts and Iberians — Los celtas e íberos

• Celts: came from areas of central/western Europe.

• Iberians: native peoples of much of the Iberian Peninsula.

• They influenced:

  • Food

  • Traditions

  • Technology

  • Language

  • Agriculture

• Celts + Iberians = Celtiberians (celtíberos).

2. The Romans — Los romanos

• Rome eventually conquered and controlled the Iberian Peninsula.

• They called the territory Hispania.

• Roman influence lasted for hundreds of years.

• The Romans brought their:

  • Government

  • Architecture

  • Education

  • Technology

  • Culture

  • Latin language

Latin → Romance languages

• Spanish

• Portuguese

• French

• Italian

• Catalan

• Galician (gallego)

• The everyday Latin spoken by regular people (poorer people) was called Vulgar Latin. Over time, it developed into different languages.

Iberian Peninsula languages

Today, Spain has several major languages:

• Spanish / Castellano = Spanish

• Catalan / Catalán

• Galician / Gallego

• Basque / Vasco

⚠ Basque is different. It is not a Romance language, and its origins are still not fully known.

Arabic influence

After the Romans, Muslim forces from North Africa came to the Iberian Peninsula.

This is why Spanish has many words with Arabic origins.

Muslim rule — Los moros

• Muslim forces from North Africa entered the Iberian Peninsula in 711.

• They controlled large parts of the peninsula for hundreds of years.

• Muslims are often called moros in Spanish history.

Christian kingdoms

• Christian kingdoms in northern Iberia gradually fought to take territory back.

• This long process is called the Reconquista.

• Different kingdoms existed, including:

  • Castilla

  • Aragón

  • Navarra

  • Portugal

  • Granada was the last major Muslim kingdom.

Ferdinand and Isabella

Rey Fernando + Reina Isabel

• Ferdinand of Aragón and Isabella of Castilla married.

• Their marriage united their kingdoms politically.

• They completed the Christian conquest of Granada in 1492.

• 1492 = a HUGE date to remember.

Spain

• Granada was conquered in 1492.

• Portugal did NOT become part of Spain.

• Castilla and Aragón became the foundation of the Spanish monarchy.

• Castellano eventually became known as Spanish.

Christopher Columbus — Cristóbal Colón

• Columbus wanted to reach Asia/India by sailing west.

• He asked Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand to support his voyage.

• He was looking for a route to Asia and its valuable goods/spices.

• In 1492, he crossed the Atlantic.

• He reached islands in the Caribbean, including what is now the Bahamas and later Hispaniola.

• He thought he had reached Asia.

• He did not realize he had reached a previously unknown-to-Europeans continent.

• His voyages helped begin Spain's major expansion in the Americas.

TIMELINE

Phoenicians → Greeks → Carthaginians → Celts/Iberians → Romans → Muslims/Moros → Christian kingdoms → Ferdinand & Isabella → 1492 → Columbus → Spanish expansion in America

🏰 Alcázar de Sevilla

• Location: Seville, Spain

• Known for: Beautiful palace with Islamic and Christian architecture

• Important because: Shows the influence of Muslim and Christian cultures in Spain

It was originally built by Muslim rulers and later expanded by Christian kings.

👑 Queen Isabel I

• From: Castile, Spain

• Known for: Ruling with Ferdinand of Aragón

• Important because: Supported Columbus and helped complete the Christian conquest of Granada in 1492

She and Ferdinand supported Columbus’s voyage in 1492.

💃 Flamenco

• Origin: Andalucía, southern Spain

• Known for: Singing, dancing, guitar, and strong rhythms

• Important because: One of Spain's most famous cultural traditions

It developed from Spanish, Romani, and Andalusian influences.

🎨 Pablo Picasso

• From: Málaga, Spain

• Known for: Painting and creating Cubism

• Important because: One of the most famous Spanish artists

He helped create Cubism, using geometric shapes in art.

🕌 La Alhambra

• Location: Granada, Spain

• Known for: Huge palace and fortress

• Important because: Built during Muslim rule and shows Islamic influence in Spain

Muslim rulers lived there with their royal court.

🍅 La Tomatina

• Location: Buñol, Spain

• Known for: Giant tomato-throwing festival

• Important because: Famous Spanish festival held every year

It started from young people throwing tomatoes at each other during a parade.

🕌 La Mezquita

• Location: Córdoba, Spain

• Known for: Famous mosque with rows of arches

• Important because: Shows the strong Muslim influence in Spain

It was turned from a mosque into a Christian cathedral.

📚 Miguel de Cervantes

• From: Spain

• Known for: Writing Don Quixote

• Important because: One of the most important Spanish-language writers

Don Quixote became one of the most important Spanish books.

🎄 El Tió de Nadal

• Origin: Catalonia, Spain

• Known for: A Christmas tradition involving a decorated wooden log

• Important because: A traditional Catalan Christmas celebration

Children hit the log with sticks to make it “give” them gifts.

⛪ Sagrada Familia

• Location: Barcelona, Spain

• Known for: Huge unfinished basilica designed by Antoni Gaudí

• Important because: One of Barcelona's most famous landmarks

Gaudí died before he could finish the building.

✝ St. Ignatius of Loyola

• From: Loyola, Basque Country, Spain

• Known for: Founder of the Jesuits (Society of Jesus)

• Important because: Major Catholic religious figure — and obviously especially relevant to Loyola High School

He wanted to be a soldier before becoming a religious leader.

👹 El Colacho

• Location: Castrillo de Murcia, Spain

• Known for: A man dressed as the devil jumping over babies

• Important because: Traditional Spanish festival connected to Catholic traditions

The devil jumping over babies is meant to protect them from evil.

🗼 Torre de Hércules

• Location: A Coruña, Galicia, Spain

• Known for: Ancient Roman lighthouse

• Important because: One of the oldest Roman lighthouses still in use

The Romans built it, and it still works as a lighthouse today.

🎨 Salvador Dalí

• From: Catalonia, Spain

• Known for: Surrealist art

• Important because: One of Spain's most famous artists

His art often showed strange, dream-like images.

🍽 La sobremesa

• Meaning: Time spent talking after a meal

• Common in: Spain and many Spanish-speaking cultures

• Important because: Shows the importance of family, conversation, and socializing

Talking after eating is considered part of the social experience.

🏝 Pollença

• Location: Mallorca, in the Balearic Islands of Spain

• Known for: Historic town, mountains, beaches, and traditional culture

• Important because: It represents the culture and history of the Balearic Islands

It has a famous staircase leading up to a small chapel.

🐂 San Fermín

• Location: Pamplona, northern Spain

• Known for: The running of the bulls and the celebration of Saint Fermín

• Important because: One of Spain's most famous festivals, held every July

The festival begins with the chupinazo, a rocket launched from city hall.