Peoples of Spain: Final Exam Study Guide

General Info About Spain & Catalonia

Constitutional Monarchy: A political system where the monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government (parliament).
- King: Philip VI (ceremonial head of state)
- Prime Minister: Pedro Sánchez (actual head of government)
Autonomous Communities: Spain is divided into 17 semi-independent regions with their own governments, laws, and identities.
- Ceuta & Melilla: Spanish cities located in North Africa
- Balearic & Canary Islands: Island territories off Spain’s mainland
Official Languages:
- Castilian: Standard Spanish
- Catalan: Spoken in Catalonia and other eastern regions
- Basque/Euskera: Non-Latin-based language spoken in the Basque Country
- Galacian: Spoken in the autonomous community of Galicia
Population:
- Spain: 47 million
- Catalonia: 7.5 million
- Barcelona: 1.5 million
National Symbols:
- Spanish Flag Emblem: Represents the union of medieval kingdoms that formed modern Spain in 1469
- Spanish Anthem: Instrumental military march with no lyrics
- Catalan Flag – La Senyera: Yellow and red stripes
- Catalan Anthem – Els Segadors: “The Reapers” – revolutionary in tone
Religion: Predominantly Catholicism since the Roman Empire
Patron Saints:
- Catalonia: Santa Eulàlia (martyr), Saint George (dragon-slayer, symbol of resistance)
- Spain: Santiago (St. James, symbol of Christian reconquest)
National Holidays:
- Spain: October 12 (Hispanic Day / Columbus' arrival in the Americas)
- Catalonia: September 11 (commemoration of defeat in 1714 during War of Spanish Succession)

History of Spain

Roman Era (3rd Century B.C. – 5th Century A.D.)

Roman Civilization: Laid the foundation for Spanish cities, roads, governance, and language
Cities like Barcelona & Tarragona were Roman colonies
Latin: The root of both Spanish and Catalan
Christianity: Introduced by the Romans, eventually the dominant religion

Middle Ages (5th Century – 1492)

High Middle Ages (5th Century – 1000)

Visigoths: Germanic tribe that took over after Rome’s fall, kept Christianity alive
Muslim Invasion (711): Moors from North Africa conquered much of Iberia, creating Al-Andalus
Feudal Society: Medieval class system:
- Church: Spiritual and social authority
- Nobility: Land-owning elite
- Commoners: Peasants and laborers
Catalan Golden Age: Period of cultural and political development in medieval Catalonia

Low Middle Ages (1000 – 1347)

Heyday of Catalonia: Expansion into Mediterranean, rise of merchant class
Guilds: Professional associations of artisans and merchants regulating trade
Jaume I (James I): King of Aragon who expanded territory and strengthened Catalan identity
Union with Aragon: Formed a powerful Mediterranean confederation
Catalan Government Institutions:
- Consell de Cent: City council of 100 men in Barcelona
- Parliament: Assembly of estates; early democratic body
- Oath of Office: Monarchs had to swear to uphold laws
Religious Coexistence: Peaceful living of Christians, Muslims, and Jews

Late Middle Ages (1347 – 1492)

Black Plague (1347): Killed 1/3 of the population, led to social upheaval & end of coexistence
Castile’s Rise: Became dominant power; Catalonia declined
1469 – Ferdinand & Isabella: Marriage unites Castile and Aragon, forming modern Spain
1492:
- Fall of Granada: Ends 800-year Reconquista (Christian reclaiming of Spain)
- Expulsion of Jews: Driven by religious purity and Inquisition
- Columbus: Sponsored by Spain → American exploration begins
- Inquisition: Church-led trials to enforce Catholic orthodoxy

Early Modern Period (1492 – 1714)

Habsburg Dynasty: Austrian royal family that ruled Spain during its global rise
Spanish Empire: First global empire; massive colonial power
Black Legend: Anti-Spanish propaganda by Protestant nations accusing Spain of cruelty and backwardness
Wars:
- War of the Reapers (1640s): Catalan revolt against centralized Spanish power
- War of Spanish Succession (1701–1714): Fight over control of Spanish throne → Catalonia sides with losing team, leading to loss of autonomy
Bourbons: French dynasty that replaced the Habsburgs

Modern Period (1714 – 1898)

Aftermath of 1714:
- Politically: Catalonia loses autonomy
- Economically: Trade and industry flourish
Colonial Commerce: Trade with Americas, including participation in slave trade
Urban Development:
- Eixample: Iconic urban expansion of Barcelona
- Modernism: Artistic movement (e.g., Gaudí)
Industrial Revolution: Shift from agrarian to industrial economy; rise of factories and city life
Social Changes:
- New class divisions: bourgeoisie vs. working class
- Rise of ideologies:
  - Anarchism: Belief in abolishing government
  - Socialism: Advocated for worker rights & equality
  - Catalanism: Cultural and political identity movement
Renaixença: Romantic revival of Catalan language, literature, and culture in the 19th century
Political Violence: Increased polarization leads to social unrest

Eighteenth Century and the Enlightenment

War of Spanish Succession (1701–1714): A European conflict over who would inherit the Spanish throne.
- Ended with the Bourbon dynasty taking power.
- Shifted power dynamics in Europe and centralized Spain’s government.
The Bourbons and the Enlightenment:
- The new dynasty brought French-inspired reforms.
- Promoted science, education, and centralized governance.
- Pushed Enlightenment ideals like reason, progress, and secular governance.
Role of Catalonia in the New Monarchy:
- Catalonia opposed the Bourbons and supported the Habsburgs.
- After losing the war, Catalonia lost its autonomy.
- Las Ramblas, a major Barcelona street, was developed during this time as part of urban renewal.
Liberalism vs. Absolutism:
- Ongoing debate: should power be shared (liberalism) or held by the monarchy (absolutism)?
- Enlightenment thinkers supported liberal reform, but many elites and monarchists pushed back.

Nineteenth Century

Liberalism vs. Absolutism Continues:
- Spain is trapped in a tug-of-war between progressive reform and conservative monarchy.
- Leads to frequent political instability.
Spain Falls Behind:
- Spain loses most of its empire (e.g., Latin America).
- Misses out on the Industrial Revolution, unlike England and France.
Working-Class Action & Anticlericalism:
- Workers begin organizing against harsh conditions.
- Anticlericalism rises: many see the Catholic Church as a symbol of oppression.
Catalonia’s 19th-Century Changes:
- Eixample: a massive urban expansion in Barcelona.
- Becomes Spain’s industrial hub.
- Modernism (like Gaudí’s architecture) flourishes.
Spanish-American War (1898):
- Spain loses Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.
- Huge blow to national pride → leads to existential crisis in Spanish identity.

Nationalisms

Basque Nationalism:
- Emerges in late 1800s.
- Based on ethnic identity, exclusive and conservative.
- Language and racial purity emphasized.
Catalan Nationalism:
- Also born in the late 19th century.
- Focused on cultural identity and language.
- More inclusive and based on regional pride.
Language’s Role:
- Central to Catalan identity—seen as the heart of their culture.
- Important in Basque nationalism too, but not as central.
ETA and Violence:
- Some Basque nationalists form ETA, a terrorist group.
- They use violence to push for Basque independence.
- Active until it disbands in 2011.

Early 20th Century (1900–1931)

Social Fragmentation:
- Deep class divisions and cultural tensions emerge.
- Country is polarized and unstable.
Political Instability:
- Monarchs, dictators, and weak governments alternate.
- No consistent leadership or policy direction.
Tragic Week (1909):
- Violent protests in Barcelona against military conscription.
- Workers vs. government + Church → widespread riots.

Second Republic (1931–1936)

Democratic Breakthrough:
- Spain’s first attempt at democracy.
- Progressive and reformist.
Key Reforms:
- Women’s suffrage and civil rights.
- Autonomy granted to Catalonia and the Basque Country.
- Public education expanded.
- Church-State separation enforced.
- Land reforms and taxation of elites attempted.

Spanish Civil War (1936–1939)

The Two Spains:
- Republicans: progressive, pro-worker, feminist, supported Catalan autonomy.
- Francoists/Nationalists: conservative, pro-Church, anti-autonomy.
Urban Bombings:
- Cities like Barcelona were air-raided.
- Heavy civilian casualties and devastation.
End of War:
- Franco wins, Republicans defeated in 1939.

Francoism (1939–1975)

Nature of the Regime:
- Authoritarian dictatorship, semi-fascist.
- Lasted 36 years.
Catalan Repression:
- Language banned, symbols outlawed.
- Lluis Companys, Catalan president, was executed in 1941.
Economic Phases:
1. Years of Hunger (1940s)
2. Development Years (1950s)
3. Prosperity & Growth (1960s–70s)
Immigration Policy:
- Franco encouraged poor Spaniards to move to Catalonia.
- Aimed to dilute Catalan identity.
Cultural Resistance in the 1960s:
- Catalans fought back with folk songs, cultural events, and football (FC Barcelona).
Franco Dies:
- Natural causes in 1975, ending the dictatorship.

Transition to Democracy (1975–1982)

The "Pact of Forgetting":
- Decision to avoid punishing Francoists and move forward together.
Constitution of 1978:
- Spain becomes a Constitutional Monarchy.
- Grants civil rights and regional autonomy.
- Recognizes Catalan and Basque identities.

1980s–Early 2000s

1980s – PSOE in Power:
- Welfare state created.
- Spain joins the European Union.
- Universal healthcare and education introduced.
1990s – PP in Power:
- Focused on economic liberalization.
- Housing boom leads to a speculative bubble.
2008 Financial Crisis:
- Housing crash leads to massive recession and austerity.
2004 – Socialists Return:
- Government promotes gender equality and feminist reforms.
- Surge in international immigration to Spain.

Spain in the Last 15 Years

Key Themes:
- Economic turbulence (post-2008 & COVID-19 recovery)
- Catalan Secessionism resurges
- Rise of new political parties (Podemos, Ciudadanos, Vox)
- Political disaffection and fragmentation
Current Situation:
- Pedro Sánchez (PSOE) is Prime Minister.
- Recovery ongoing but Spain faces:
  - Social division
  - Widening inequality
  - Tense political climate