Spain
Un article de Vev.
← Version précédente | Version suivante →
Modèle:This Modèle:Infobox Country</ref>//siteresources.worldbank.org/DATASTATISTICS/Resources/GDP.pdf |title=World Bank World Development Indicators 2007 |date=Noviembre 25 2007}}</ref> | GDP_nominal_per_capita = $27,767 (2006) | GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 26th | HDI_year = 2005 | HDI = 0.949 | HDI_rank = 13th |HDI_category = high | Gini = 34.7 | Gini_year = 2000 |Gini_category = medium | currency = Euro (€) ³ | currency_code = EUR | time_zone = CET4 | utc_offset = +1 | time_zone_DST = CEST | utc_offset_DST = +2 | cctld = .es5 | calling_code = 34 | footnote1 = Also serves as the Royal anthem. | footnote2 = In some autonomous communities, Aranese (Occitan), Basque, Catalan and Galician are co-official languages. | footnote3 = Prior to 1999 (by law, 2002) : Spanish Peseta. | footnote4 = Except in the Canary Islands, which are in the WET time zone (UTC, UTC+1 in summer). | footnote5 = The .eu domain is also used, as it is shared with other European Union member states. }} Spain (Modèle:Audio-es, Modèle:IPA2), is a Southern European country. The country consists of Peninsular Spain which is located between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, two archipelagos, one in each sea, and two autonomous cities in North Africa.
The Spanish mainland is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the south and east, by the Cantabric Sea that includes the Bay of Biscay to the north, and by the Atlantic Ocean and Portugal to the west. Spanish territory also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands off the African coast. It shares land borders with Portugal, France, Andorra, the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, and Morocco. It is the largest of the three sovereign states that make up the Iberian Peninsula — the others being Portugal and Andorra. With an area of 504,030 km², Spain is the second largest country in Western Europe (behind France).
Spain is a constitutional monarchy organised as a parliamentary democracy, and has been a member of the European Union since 1986. It is a developed country with the ninth largest economy in the world and fifth largest in the EU, based on nominal GDP.<ref name=Lists>Rank by nominal GDP: 9 (2006) ; List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita: 28 (2007) ; Economy of the European Union: 13 (2006).</ref>
Sommaire |
History
Spain has a very ancient and complex prehistory. Under the Roman Empire Hispania flourished and became one of the Empire's most important regions. During the early Middle Ages it came under Germanic rule. Later, nearly the entire peninsula came under Muslim rulers. Through a long process Christian kingdoms in the north gradually rolled back Muslim rule, which was finally extinguished in 1492. That year Columbus reached the Americas, the beginnings of a global empire. Spain became the strongest kingdom in Europe in the 16th and first half of the 17th centuries but continued wars and other problems eventually led to a diminished status. In the middle decades of the 20th century it came under a dictatorship, under which it went through many years of stagnation and then a spectacular economic revival. In 1986 it joined the European Union and has experienced an economic and cultural renaissance.
Prehistory and pre-Roman peoples in the Iberian Peninsula
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6256356.stm|title='First west Europe tooth' found|publisher=BBC News|date=30 June 2007|accessdate=2007-10-10}}</ref> Furthermore, archeological evidence in places like Los Millares in Almería and in El Argar in Murcia suggest that developed cultures existed in the eastern part of the Iberian Peninsula during the late Neolithic and the Bronze Age; these cultures may result from migrations from northern Africa.//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6256356.stm|title='First west Europe tooth' found|publisher=BBC News|date=30 June 2007|accessdate=2007-10-10}}</ref> Furthermore, archeological evidence in places like Los Millares in Almería and in El Argar in Murcia suggest that developed cultures existed in the eastern part of the Iberian Peninsula during the late Neolithic and the Bronze Age; these cultures may result from migrations from northern Africa.
The two main historical peoples of the peninsula were the Iberians and the Celts, the former inhabiting the Mediterranean side from the northeast to the southwest, the latter inhabiting the Atlantic side, in the north and northwest part of the peninsula. In the inner part of the peninsula, where both groups were in contact, a mixed, distinctive, culture was present, known as Celtiberian. Different names of places witness their geographical distribution. Celts founded military forts (from the Celt "briga" = fortress) that later evolved into cities such as Coimbra, Braga, and Segovia.<ref>Modèle:Cite book</ref> The Iberians gave their name to Spain's longest river Ebro (or "Iberian river") and to cities such as Ilici (present-day Elche) and Ilerda (Lérida). In addition, Basques occupied the western area of the Pyrenees mountains, although some geographical names attest their presence as far south as Aranjuez, a name that originates in the Basque words aran zuri ("valley of thorns") and contemporary Basque aranzazu (thorn, thistle). Other ethnic groups existed along the southern coastal areas of present day Andalusia. Among these southern groups there grew the earliest urban culture in the Iberian Peninsula, that of the semi-mythical southern city of Tartessos (perhaps pre-1100 BC) near the location of present-day Cádiz. The flourishing trade in gold and silver between the people of Tartessos and Phoenicians and Greeks is documented in the history of Strabo and in the biblical book of king Solomon. Between about 500 BC and 300 BC, the seafaring Phoenicians and Greeks founded trading colonies along the Mediterranean coast. These colonies include present-day cities like Empúries (from the Greek word 'emporion'), Málaga (from the Phoenician word 'malaka' for salt, as fish was salted in the harbour), and the city of Alicante, originally named in Greek Akra Leuka (i.e., white bay). Phoenicians from the African city of Carthage (Carthaginians) briefly took control of much of the Mediterranean coast in the course of the Punic Wars until they were eventually defeated and replaced by the Romans.<ref name="country"/> Carthaginians created important cities in the Mediterranean littoral, including 'Carthago nova' or 'New Carthage' (present-day Cartagena) and a city in the northeast founded by Hannibal's father Hamilcar Barca. Hamilcar named the city Barcino, after his family; the city is present day Barcelona.
Roman Empire and Germanic invasions
libro.uca.edu/payne1/spainport1.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-08}}</ref> The base Celt and Iberian population remained in various stages of Romanisation,<ref>The latifundia (sing., latifundium), large estates controlled by the aristocracy, were superimposed on the existing Iberian landholding system.</ref> and local leaders were admitted into the Roman aristocratic class.<ref name="country"> Rinehart , Robert
; Seeley, Jo Ann Browning
(1998) . A Country Study: Spain - Hispania . Library of Congress Country Series
. Retrieved on 2007-03-08. </ref>//libro.uca.edu/payne1/spainport1.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-08}}</ref> The base Celt and Iberian population remained in various stages of Romanisation,<ref>The latifundia (sing., latifundium), large estates controlled by the aristocracy, were superimposed on the existing Iberian landholding system.</ref> and local leaders were admitted into the Roman aristocratic class.<ref name="country"> Rinehart , Robert
; Seeley, Jo Ann Browning
(1998) . A Country Study: Spain - Hispania . Library of Congress Country Series
. Retrieved on 2007-03-08. </ref>
The Romans improved existing cities, such as Lisbon (Olissis bona or 'good for Ulysses') and Tarragona (Tarraco), and established Zaragoza (Caesaraugusta), Mérida (Augusta Emerita), Valencia (Valentia), León ("Legio Septima"), Badajoz ("Pax Augusta"), and Palencia (Παλλαντία, "Pallas Ateneia").<ref>The Roman provinces of Hispania included Provincia Hispania Ulterior Baetica (Hispania Baetica), whose capital was Corduba, presently Córdoba, Provincia Hispania Ulterior Lusitania (Hispania Lusitania), whose capital was Emerita Augusta (now Mérida), Provincia Hispania Citerior, whose capital was Tarraco (Tarragona), Provincia Hispania Nova, whose capital was Tingis (Tánger in present Morocco), Provincia Hispania Nova Citerior and Asturiae-Calleciae (these latter two provinces were created and then dissolved in the third century CE).</ref> The peninsula's economy expanded under Roman tutelage. Hispania served as a granary for the Roman market, and its harbors exported gold, wool, olive oil, and wine. Agricultural production increased with the introduction of irrigation projects, some of which remain in use. Emperors Trajan, Theodosius I, and the philosopher Seneca were born in Hispania.<ref>The poets Martial, Quintilian and Lucan were also born in Hispania.</ref> Christianity was introduced into Hispania in the first century CE and it became popular in the cities in the second century CE.<ref name="country"/> Most of Spain's present languages and religion, and the basis of its laws, originate from this period.<ref name="hispania"/>
The first Germanic barbarians to invade Hispania arrived in the 5th century, as the Roman Empire decayed.<ref name="hispania"/> The Visigoths, Suebi, Vandals and Alans arrived in Spain by crossing the Pyrenees mountain range.<ref>This led to the establishment of the Suebi Kingdom in Gallaecia, in the northwest, the Vandal Kingdom of Vandalusia (Andalusia) and the Visigothic Kingdom in Toledo.</ref> The Romanized Visigoths entered Hispania in 415. After the conversion of their monarchy to Roman Catholicism, the Visigothic Kingdom eventually encompassed a great part of the Iberian Peninsula after conquering the disordered Suebic territories in the northwest and Byzantine territories in the southeast.<ref name="country" />
Muslim Iberia
In the 8th century, nearly all of the Iberian Peninsula was quickly conquered (711-718) by mainly Berber Muslims (see Moors) from North Africa. These conquests were part of the expansion of the Umayyad Islamic Empire.<ref>The Moorish armies continued northwards until they were defeated in central France at the Battle of Tours in 732.</ref> Only a number of areas in the mountains to the north of the Iberian Peninsula managed to cling to their independence, occupying the areas roughly corresponding to modern Asturias, Navarre and Aragon.
www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/anti-semitism/Jews_in_Arab_lands_(gen).html The Treatment of Jews in Arab/Islamic Countries]</ref><ref>The Forgotten Refugees</ref><ref>The Almohads</ref> Conversion to Islam proceeded at a steadily increasing pace, with conversions among the aristocracy, commoners and slaves, as it circumvented the disadvantages of dhimmi status.<ref>Slaves of Christians would gain freedom by becoming Muslims. The same did not apply to the slaves of Muslims, most who had been captured or were the descendants of those captured in conquests and raids from non Muslim lands around the Mediterranean basin.</ref> With the mass conversions in the 10th and 11th centuries Muslims are believed to have come to outnumber Christians in Al-Andalus.<ref name="chap2"> Payne , Stanley G.
(1973) . A History of Spain and Portugal; Ch. 2 Al-Andalus . The Library of Iberian Resources Online
. Retrieved on 2007-03-09. </ref>//www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/anti-semitism/Jews_in_Arab_lands_(gen).html The Treatment of Jews in Arab/Islamic Countries]</ref><ref>The Forgotten Refugees</ref><ref>The Almohads</ref> Conversion to Islam proceeded at a steadily increasing pace, with conversions among the aristocracy, commoners and slaves, as it circumvented the disadvantages of dhimmi status.<ref>Slaves of Christians would gain freedom by becoming Muslims. The same did not apply to the slaves of Muslims, most who had been captured or were the descendants of those captured in conquests and raids from non Muslim lands around the Mediterranean basin.</ref> With the mass conversions in the 10th and 11th centuries Muslims are believed to have come to outnumber Christians in Al-Andalus.<ref name="chap2"> Payne , Stanley G.
(1973) . A History of Spain and Portugal; Ch. 2 Al-Andalus . The Library of Iberian Resources Online
. Retrieved on 2007-03-09. </ref>
The Muslim community in the Iberian peninsula was itself diverse and beset by social tensions. The Berber people of North Africa, who had provided the bulk of the invading armies, clashed with the Arab leadership from the Middle East.<ref>The Berbers soon gave up attempting to settle the harsh lands in the north of the Meseta Central handed to them by the Arab rulers.</ref> Over time, large Moorish populations became established, especially in the Guadalquivir River valley, the coastal plain of Valencia, and (towards the end of this period) in the mountainous region of Granada.<ref name="chap2"/>
Córdoba, the capital of the muslim caliphate, was the largest, richest and most sophisticated city of medieval Europe.<ref>It was not until the 12th century that western medieval Christendom began reaching comparable levels of sophistication, and this was due in to a great extent to the stimulus coming from Muslim Al-Andalus.</ref> Mediterranean trade and cultural exchange flourished. Muslims imported a rich intellectual tradition from the Middle East and North Africa. Muslim and Jewish scholars played a great part in reviving and expanding classical Greek learning in Western Europe. The Romanized cultures of the Iberian peninsula interacted with Muslim and Jewish cultures in complex ways, thus giving the region a distinctive culture.<ref name="chap2"/> Outside the cities, where the vast majority lived, the land ownership system from Roman times remained largely intact as Muslim leaders rarely dispossessed landowners, and the introduction of new crops and techniques led to a remarkable expansion of agriculture.
However, by the 11th century, Muslim holdings had fractured into rival Taifa kingdoms, allowing the small Christian states the opportunity to greatly enlarge their territories and consolidate their positions.<ref name="chap2"/> The arrival of the North African Muslim ruling sects of the Almoravids and the Almohads restored unity upon Muslim holdings, with a stricter, less tolerant application of Islam, but ultimately, after some successes in invading the north, proved unable to resist the increasing military strength of the Christian states.<ref name="country"/>
Fall of Muslim rule and unification
lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/estoc.html | accessdate = 2007-03-11}}</ref>//lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/estoc.html | accessdate = 2007-03-11}}</ref>
libro.uca.edu/payne1/spainport1.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-11}}</ref> Also in the 13th century, the kingdom of Aragon, still ruled by the Catalan count of Barcelona, expanded its reach across the Mediterranean to Sicily.<ref> Payne , Stanley G.
(1973) . A History of Spain and Portugal; Ch. 5 The Rise of Aragón-Catalonia . The Library of Iberian Resources Online
. Retrieved on 2007-03-11. </ref>//libro.uca.edu/payne1/spainport1.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-11}}</ref> Also in the 13th century, the kingdom of Aragon, still ruled by the Catalan count of Barcelona, expanded its reach across the Mediterranean to Sicily.<ref> Payne , Stanley G.
(1973) . A History of Spain and Portugal; Ch. 5 The Rise of Aragón-Catalonia . The Library of Iberian Resources Online
. Retrieved on 2007-03-11. </ref>
www.cyberistan.org/islamic/treaty1492.html The Treaty of Granada, 1492]) guaranteed religious tolerance toward Muslims.</ref> The year 1492 also marked the arrival in the New World of Christopher Columbus, during a voyage funded by Isabella. That same year, Spain's Jews were ordered to convert into the Catholicism or face expulsion from Spanish territories during the Spanish Inquisition.<ref>Muslims were expelled in a lengthier process beginning in 1502, and ending as late as 1609-1614.</ref><ref name="cong"> Rinehart , Robert
; Seeley, Jo Ann Browning
(1998) . A Country Study: Spain - The Golden Age . Library of Congress Country Series
. Retrieved on 2007-03-11. </ref>//www.cyberistan.org/islamic/treaty1492.html The Treaty of Granada, 1492]) guaranteed religious tolerance toward Muslims.</ref> The year 1492 also marked the arrival in the New World of Christopher Columbus, during a voyage funded by Isabella. That same year, Spain's Jews were ordered to convert into the Catholicism or face expulsion from Spanish territories during the Spanish Inquisition.<ref>Muslims were expelled in a lengthier process beginning in 1502, and ending as late as 1609-1614.</ref><ref name="cong"> Rinehart , Robert
; Seeley, Jo Ann Browning
(1998) . A Country Study: Spain - The Golden Age . Library of Congress Country Series
. Retrieved on 2007-03-11. </ref>
As Renaissance New Monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand centralized royal power at the expense of local nobility, and the word España - whose root is the ancient name "Hispania" - began to be used to designate the whole of the two kingdoms.<ref name="cong"/> With their wide-ranging political, legal, religious and military reforms, Spain emerged as a world powerful nation.
Imperial Spain
Modèle:Redirectstohere libro.uca.edu/payne1/spainport1.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-12}}</ref>//libro.uca.edu/payne1/spainport1.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-12}}</ref>
The Spanish Empire expanded to include most part of South and Central America, Mexico, southern and western portions of today's United States, the Philippines, Guam and the Mariana Islands in Eastern Asia, the Iberian peninsula (including the Portuguese Empire (from 1580)), southern Italy, Sicily, cities in Northern Africa, as well as parts of modern Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. It was the first empire about which it was said that the sun did not set. This was an age of discovery, with daring explorations by sea and by land, the opening up of new trade routes across oceans, conquests and the beginning of European colonial exploitation. Along with the arrival of precious metals, spices, luxuries, and new agricultural plants, Spanish explorers and others brought back knowledge, playing a leading part in transforming the European understanding of the world.<ref>Modèle:Cite book </ref>
Of note was the cultural efflorescence now known as the Spanish Golden Age and the intellectual movement known as the School of Salamanca.
In the 16th and 17th centuries Spain was confronted by unrelenting challenges from all sides. In the early 16th century Barbary pirates under the aegis of the rapidly growing Ottoman empire, disrupted life in many coastal areas through their slave raids and renewed the threat of an Islamic invasion.<ref>The coastal villages and towns of Spain and Mediterranean islands were frequently attacked by Barbary pirates from North Africa, who were under the aegis of the Ottoman empire. The Formentera was even temporarily left by its population and long stretches of the Spanish and Italian coasts were almost completely abandoned by their inhabitants. In 1514, 1515 and 1521 coasts of the Balearic Islands and the Spanish mainland were raided by the Turkish privateer and Ottoman admiral Hayreddin Barbarossa. According to Robert Davis between 1 million and 1.25 million Europeans were captured by North African pirates and sold as slaves during the 16th and 17th centuries. These slaves were captured mainly from seaside villages in Spain, Italy and Portugal.</ref> This at a time when Spain was often at war with France in Italy and elsewhere. Later the Protestant Reformation schism from the Catholic Church dragged the kingdom ever more into the mire of religiously charged wars. The result was a country forced into ever expanding military efforts across Europe and in the Mediterranean.
libro.uca.edu/payne1/spainport1.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-12}}</ref>//libro.uca.edu/payne1/spainport1.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-12}}</ref> From the 1640s Spain went into a gradual but seemingly irreversible decline for the remainder of the century, however it was able to maintain and enlarge its vast overseas empire which remained intact until the 19th century.
lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/estoc.html | accessdate = 2007-03-12}}</ref>//lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/estoc.html | accessdate = 2007-03-12}}</ref>
lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/estoc.html | accessdate = 2007-03-12}}</ref>//lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/estoc.html | accessdate = 2007-03-12}}</ref>
www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?HistoryID=ab50&ParagraphID=iss#iss | accessdate = 2007-03-12}} </ref>//www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?HistoryID=ab50&ParagraphID=iss#iss | accessdate = 2007-03-12}} </ref>
Napoleonic rule and its consequences
In 1793, Spain went to war against the new French Republic, which had overthrown and executed its Bourbon king, Louis XVI. The war polarised the country in an apparent reaction against the gallicised elites. Defeated in the field, Spain made peace with France in 1795 and effectively became a client state of that country; the following year, it declared war against Britain and Portugal. A disastrous economic situation, along with other factors, led to the abdication of the Spanish king in favour of Napoleon's brother, Joseph Bonaparte.This new foreign monarch was regarded with scorn. On May 2, 1808, the people of Madrid began a nationalist uprising against the French army, marking the beginning of what is known to the Spanish as the War of Independence, and to the English as the Peninsular War. Napoleon was forced to intervene personally, defeating several badly-coordinated Spanish armies and forcing a British Army to retreat to Corunna. However, further military action by Spanish guerrillas and Wellington's Anglo-Portuguese army, combined with Napoleon's disastrous invasion of Russia, led to the ousting of the French from Spain in 1814, and the return of King Ferdinand VII.
The French invasion proved disastrous for Spain's economy, and left a deeply divided country that was prone to political instability for more than a century. The power struggles of the early 19th century led to the loss of all of Spain's colonies in Latin America, with the exception of Cuba and Puerto Rico. Modèle:See
Spanish-American War
Amid the instability and economic crisis that afflicted Spain in the 19th century there arose nationalist movements in the Philippines and Cuba. Wars of independence ensued in those colonies and eventually the United States became involved. Although Spanish military units won respect from American soldiers they fought, for their bravery and skill, the Spanish-American war of 1898 was so badly mismanaged by the highest levels of command and government that it was soon over. "El Desastre", as the war became known in Spain, helped give impetus to the Generation of 98 who were already conducting much critical analysis concerning the country. It also weakened the stability that had been established during Alfonso XII's reign.
The Twentieth Century
The 20th century brought little peace; Spain played a minor part in the scramble for Africa, with the colonisation of Western Sahara, Spanish Morocco and Equatorial Guinea. The heavy losses suffered during the Rif war in Morocco helped to undermine the monarchy. A period of authoritarian rule under General Miguel Primo de Rivera (1923-1931) ended with the establishment of the Second Spanish Republic. The Republic offered political autonomy to the Basque Country, Catalonia and Galicia and gave voting rights to women.The bitterly fought Spanish Civil War (1936-39) ensued. Three years later the Nationalist forces, led by General Francisco Franco, emerged victorious with the support of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. The Republican side was supported by the Soviet Union and Mexico, but it was not supported by the Western powers due to the British-led policy of Non-Intervention. The Spanish Civil War has been called the first battle of the Second World War; under Franco, Spain was neutral in the Second World War though sympathetic to the Axis.<ref>Over a hundred thousand highly motivated Spanish Civil War veterans were to give both sides the benefit of their experience throughout the Second World War in Europe, the Eastern Front and North Africa. Many in the French Resistance and French Foreign Legion were Spanish as was the 9th Armoured Company that spearheaded Général Leclerc's 2nd Armoured Division's liberation of Paris. On the other side, some 47,000 Spaniards fought against the Soviet Union in the Wehrmacht's Blue Division (División Azul).</ref>
The only legal party under Franco's regime was the Falange española tradicionalista y de las JONS, formed in 1937; the party emphasised anti-Communism, Catholicism and nationalism. Nonetheless, since Franco's anti-democratic ideology was opposed to the idea of political parties, the new party was renamed officially a National Movement (Movimiento Nacional) in 1949.
After World War II, Spain was politically and economically isolated, and was kept out of the United Nations until 1955, when due to the Cold War it became strategically important for the U.S. to foment a military presence on the Iberian peninsula, next to the Mediterranean Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar, in order to protect southern Europe. In the 1960s, Spain registered an unprecedented economic growth in what was called the Spanish miracle, which gradually transformed it into a modern industrial economy with a thriving tourism sector and a high degree of human development.
Upon the death of General Franco in November 1975, Prince Juan Carlos assumed the position of king and head of state. With the approval of the new Spanish Constitution of 1978 and the arrival of democracy, political autonomy were established. In the Basque Country, moderate Basque nationalism coexisted with a radical nationalism supportive of the terrorist group ETA.
On February 23 1981, rebel elements among the security forces seized the Cortes and tried to impose a military-backed government. However, the great majority of the military forces remained loyal to King Juan Carlos, who used his personal authority and addressed the usurpers via national TV as commander in chief to put down the bloodless coup attempt.
In 1982, the Spanish Socialist Worker's Party (PSOE) came to power, which represented the return to power of a leftist party after 43 years. In 1986, Spain joined the European Community (which was to become the European Union). The PSOE was replaced by the PP after the latter won the 1996 General Elections; at that point the PSOE had served almost 14 consecutive years in office.
The Government of Spain has been involved in a long-running campaign against the terrorist organization ETA ("Basque Homeland and Freedom"), founded in 1959 in opposition to Franco and dedicated to promoting Basque independence through violent means. They consider themselves a guerrilla organization while they are listed as a terrorist organization by both the European Union and the United States on their respective watchlists. The current nationalist-led Basque Autonomous government does not endorse ETA's nationalist violence, which has caused over 800 deaths in the past 40 years.
21st century
www.iht.com/articles/2002/07/11/a10_18.php|title=Economy reaps benefits of entry to the 'club' : Spain's euro bonanza|publisher=International Herald Tribune|accessdate=2007-10-10|date=July 11, 2002|author=Pfanner, Eric}}</ref> which has kept the Spanish economy growing well over the EU average, but concerns are growing that the extraordinary property boom and high foreign trade deficits of recent years may bring this to an end.<ref> Spain's economy / Plain sailing no longer / Economist.com
(May 3, 2007)
. Retrieved on 2007-10-10. </ref>//www.iht.com/articles/2002/07/11/a10_18.php|title=Economy reaps benefits of entry to the 'club' : Spain's euro bonanza|publisher=International Herald Tribune|accessdate=2007-10-10|date=July 11, 2002|author=Pfanner, Eric}}</ref> which has kept the Spanish economy growing well over the EU average, but concerns are growing that the extraordinary property boom and high foreign trade deficits of recent years may bring this to an end.<ref> Spain's economy / Plain sailing no longer / Economist.com
(May 3, 2007)
. Retrieved on 2007-10-10. </ref>
On March 11, 2004, a series of bombs exploded in commuter trains in Madrid, Spain. This act of terror (later claimed by Al Quaeda) killed 191 people and wounded 1,460 more, besides possibly affected national elections scheduled for March 14, three days after the attack, which was, arguably, the main goal of the terrorists. The Madrid train bombings had an adverse effect on the image of the then-ruling conservative party Partido Popular (PP) which polls had indicated was likely to win the elections. Reversely, it helped the election of Zapatero's Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE). Following the bombings, there were two nights of incidents around the PP headquarters, with the PSOE and other political parties accusing the PP of hiding the truth by saying that the incidents were caused by ETA even though new evidence that pointed to an Islamic attack started appearing. These incidents are still a cause of discussion, since some factions of the PP suggest that the elections were "stolen" by means of the turmoil which followed the terrorist bombing, which was, according to this point of view, backed by the PSOE.
March 14, 2004, three days after the bombings, saw the PSOE party elected into government, with Rodríguez Zapatero becoming the new Presidente del Gobierno or prime minister of Spain thus replacing the former PP administration.
Politics
Spanish Government
Spain is a constitutional monarchy, with a hereditary monarch and a bicameral parliament, the Cortes Generales. The executive branch consists of a Council of Ministers presided over by the President of Government (comparable to a prime minister), proposed by the monarch and elected by the National Assembly following legislative elections.
The legislative branch is made up of the Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados) with 350 members, elected by popular vote on block lists by proportional representation to serve four-year terms, and a Senate (Senado) with 259 seats of which 208 are directly elected by popular vote and the other 51 appointed by the regional legislatures to also serve four-year terms.
- Chief of State
- King Juan Carlos I, since November 22 1975
- Head of Government
- President of the Government: José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, elected 14 March 2004.
- First Vice President and Minister of Presidency: María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, elected 14 March 2004.
- Second Vice President and Minister of Economy and Finance: Pedro Solbes, elected 14 March 2004.
- President of the Government: José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, elected 14 March 2004.
- Cabinet
- Council of Ministers (Spanish Consejo de Ministros) designated by the president.
www.oecd.org/document/57/0,2340,en_2649_201185_34578361_1_1_1_1,00.html |title= Economic Survey: Spain 2005|accessdate=2007-10-10|work=Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development}}</ref><ref> Economist.com / Country Briefings: Spain
. Retrieved on 2007-10-10.
</ref><ref>The World Bank: Swiss Experience With Decentralized Government</ref> for example, all territories manage their own health and education systems, and other territories (the Basque Country and Navarre) manage their own public finances. In Catalonia and the Basque Country, an autonomous police corps replaces some of the State police functions (see Mossos d'Esquadra and Ertzaintza).//www.oecd.org/document/57/0,2340,en_2649_201185_34578361_1_1_1_1,00.html |title= Economic Survey: Spain 2005|accessdate=2007-10-10|work=Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development}}</ref><ref> Economist.com / Country Briefings: Spain
. Retrieved on 2007-10-10.
</ref><ref>The World Bank: Swiss Experience With Decentralized Government</ref> for example, all territories manage their own health and education systems, and other territories (the Basque Country and Navarre) manage their own public finances. In Catalonia and the Basque Country, an autonomous police corps replaces some of the State police functions (see Mossos d'Esquadra and Ertzaintza).
Spanish Constitution
The Spanish Constitution of 1978 is the culmination of the Spanish transition to democracy.
The constitutional history of Spain dates back to the constitution of 1812. After the death of Francisco Franco in 1975, a general election in 1977 convened the Constituent Cortes (the Spanish Parliament, in its capacity as a constitutional assembly) for the purpose of drafting and approving the constitution of 1978.
www.constitucion.es/constitucion/castellano/titulo_preliminar.html Spanish Constitution]</ref>//www.constitucion.es/constitucion/castellano/titulo_preliminar.html Spanish Constitution]</ref>
Foreign relations of Spain
After the return of democracy following the death of Franco in 1975, Spain's foreign policy priorities were to break out of the diplomatic isolation of the Franco years and expand diplomatic relations, enter the European Community, and define security relations with the West.
As a member of NATO since 1982, Spain has established itself as a major participant in multilateral international security activities. Spain's EU membership represents an important part of its foreign policy. Even on many international issues beyond western Europe, Spain prefers to coordinate its efforts with its EU partners through the European political cooperation mechanisms.
With the normalization of diplomatic relations with North Korea in 2001, Spain completed the process of universalizing its diplomatic relations.
Spain has maintained its special identification with Latin America. Its policy emphasizes the concept of an Iberoamerican community, essentially the renewal of the historically liberal concept of hispanoamericanismo (or hispanism as it is often referred to in English), which has sought to link the Iberian peninsula with Latin America through language, commerce, history and culture. Spain has been an effective example of transition from dictatorship to democracy, as shown in the many trips that Spain's King and Prime Ministers have made to the region.
Territorial disputes
Territory claimed by Spain
There is a territorial dispute with the United Kingdom over Gibraltar, a 6 square km. Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom in the southernmost part of the Iberian Peninsula which was conquered by Britain from Spain in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession, along with the Spanish island of Minorca (which had also been invaded but was reconquered in 1782 and finally ceded back to Spain in 1802 by the Treaty of Amiens).
www.mgar.net/docs/utrech.htm Tratado de Utretch - Gibraltar (Spanish)]</ref>//www.mgar.net/docs/utrech.htm Tratado de Utretch - Gibraltar (Spanish)]</ref>
www.gibnet.com/texts/ref2.htm Gibraltar rejects Spain]</ref> UN resolutions call on the United Kingdom and Spain, both EU members, to reach an agreement over the status of Gibraltar.<ref>UN Consensus Resolution</ref>//www.gibnet.com/texts/ref2.htm Gibraltar rejects Spain]</ref> UN resolutions call on the United Kingdom and Spain, both EU members, to reach an agreement over the status of Gibraltar.<ref>UN Consensus Resolution</ref>
Spanish territories claimed by other countries
Morocco claims the Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla and some isles plazas de soberanía off the northern coast of Africa. Portugal does not recognise Spain's sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza / Olivença.
Administrative divisions
Modèle:Autonomous communities of Spain
Spain is divided into 17 autonomous communities (comunidades autónomas) and 2 autonomous cities (ciudades autónomas) - Ceuta and Melilla. These autonomous communities are subdivided into 50 provinces (provincias).
Administratively Spain is also divided into fifty provinces since the reforming bourbonism. Seven autonomous communities are composed of only one province: Asturias, Balearic Islands, Cantabria, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, and Navarre.
Historically, some provinces are also divided into comarcas (roughly equivalent to a US "county" or an English district). The lowest administrative division of Spain is the municipality (municipio).
Geography
At 194,884 mi² (504,782 km²), Spain is the world's 51st-largest country. It is comparable in size to Turkmenistan, and is somewhat larger than the U.S. state of California.
On the west, Spain borders Portugal, on the south, it borders Gibraltar (a British overseas territory) and Morocco, through its cities in North Africa (Ceuta and Melilla). On the northeast, along the Pyrenees mountain range, it borders France and the tiny principality of Andorra. Spain also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean and a number of uninhabited islands on the Mediterranean side of the strait of Gibraltar, known as Plazas de soberanía, such as the Chafarine islands, the isle of Alborán, the "rocks" (peñones) of Vélez and Alhucemas, and the tiny Isla Perejil. In the northeast along the Pyrenees, a small exclave town called Llívia in Catalonia is surrounded by French territory.
Mainland Spain is dominated by high plateaus and mountain ranges, such as the Sierra Nevada. Running from these heights are several major rivers such as the Tagus, the Ebro, the Duero, the Guadiana and the Guadalquivir. Alluvial plains are found along the coast, the largest of which is that of the Guadalquivir in Andalusia.
Due to Spain's geographical situation and orographic conditions, the climate is extremely diverse; it can be roughly divided in three areas:
- The moderate Continental climate takes place in the inland areas of the Peninsula (largest city, Madrid).
- The Mediterranean climate region, which roughly extends from the Andalusian plain along the southern and eastern coasts up to the Pyrenees, on the seaward side of the mountain ranges that run near the coast (largest city, Barcelona).
- An Oceanic climate takes place in Galicia and the coastal strip by the Bay of Biscay (largest city, Bilbao). This area is often called Green Spain.
Military of Spain
The armed forces of Spain are known as the Spanish Armed Forces (Spanish: Fuerzas Armadas Españolas). Their Commander-in-Chief is the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I.
The Spanish Armed Forces are divided into four branches:
- Army (Ejército de Tierra)
- Navy (Armada)
- Air Force (Ejército del Aire)
- Guardia Civil (Military police) which serves for the most part as a rural and general purpose police force.
Economy
According to the World Bank, Spain's economy is the ninth largest worldwide and the fifth largest in Europe. As of 2006, absolute GDP was valued at $1.084 trillion according to the CIA Factbook, (see List of countries by GDP (nominal)). The per capita PPP is estimated at $27,400 (2006), trailing the major industrialized nations of the G7 and placing Spain at 13th in the European Union.
www.oecdobserver.org/news/fullstory.php/aid/1592/Spain%92s_economy_.html Spain's Economy: Closing the Gap]," in the OECD Observer, May 2005. Retrieved July 8, 2007.</ref> a large underground economy,<ref>Going Underground: America's Shadow Economy, FrontPage magazine, January 2005</ref> and an education system which OECD reports place among the poorest for developed countries, together with the United States and UK.<ref>OECD report for 2006</ref> Nevertheless, it is expected that the Spanish economy will continue growing based on the strengthening of industry, the growth of the global economy and increasing trade with Latin America and Asia.//www.oecdobserver.org/news/fullstory.php/aid/1592/Spain%92s_economy_.html Spain's Economy: Closing the Gap]," in the OECD Observer, May 2005. Retrieved July 8, 2007.</ref> a large underground economy,<ref>Going Underground: America's Shadow Economy, FrontPage magazine, January 2005</ref> and an education system which OECD reports place among the poorest for developed countries, together with the United States and UK.<ref>OECD report for 2006</ref> Nevertheless, it is expected that the Spanish economy will continue growing based on the strengthening of industry, the growth of the global economy and increasing trade with Latin America and Asia.
stats.oecd.org/WBOS/ViewHTML.aspx?QueryName=198&QueryType=View&Lang=en OECD figures]</ref> In fact, the country's economy has created more than half of all the new jobs in the European Union over the five years ending 2005.<ref>Economic statistics</ref> The Spanish economy has thus been regarded lately as one of the most dynamic within the EU, attracting significant amounts of foreign investment.<ref>Official report on Spanish recent Macroeconomics, including tables and graphics</ref>//stats.oecd.org/WBOS/ViewHTML.aspx?QueryName=198&QueryType=View&Lang=en OECD figures]</ref> In fact, the country's economy has created more than half of all the new jobs in the European Union over the five years ending 2005.<ref>Economic statistics</ref> The Spanish economy has thus been regarded lately as one of the most dynamic within the EU, attracting significant amounts of foreign investment.<ref>Official report on Spanish recent Macroeconomics, including tables and graphics</ref> www.theglobalguru.com/article.php?id=60&offer=GURU001 "Global Guru" analysis]</ref> worth approximately 40 billion Euros in 2006<ref>Bank of Spain economic report.</ref> More recently, the Spanish economy has benefited greatly from the global real estate boom, with construction representing 16% of GDP and 12% of employment.<ref name="guru"/> According to calculations by the German newspaper Die Welt, Spain is on pace to overtake countries like Germany in per capita income by 2011.<ref>[1]</ref> However, the downside of the real estate boom has been a corresponding rise in the levels of personal debt; as prospective homeowners struggle to meet asking prices, the average level of household debt has tripled in less than a decade. Among lower income groups, the median ratio of indebtedness to income was 125% in 2005.<ref>Bank of Spain Economic Bulletin 07/2005</ref>//www.theglobalguru.com/article.php?id=60&offer=GURU001 "Global Guru" analysis]</ref> worth approximately 40 billion Euros in 2006<ref>Bank of Spain economic report.</ref> More recently, the Spanish economy has benefited greatly from the global real estate boom, with construction representing 16% of GDP and 12% of employment.<ref name="guru"/> According to calculations by the German newspaper Die Welt, Spain is on pace to overtake countries like Germany in per capita income by 2011.<ref>[2]</ref> However, the downside of the real estate boom has been a corresponding rise in the levels of personal debt; as prospective homeowners struggle to meet asking prices, the average level of household debt has tripled in less than a decade. Among lower income groups, the median ratio of indebtedness to income was 125% in 2005.<ref>Bank of Spain Economic Bulletin 07/2005</ref>
Demography
www.ine.es/prensa/np457.pdf</ref><ref>Elpais.com</ref> registered at the Padrón municipal, an official record analogous to the British Register office. Spain's population density, at 87.8/km² (220/sq. mile), is lower than that of most Western European countries and its distribution along the country is very unequal. With the exception of the region surrounding the capital, Madrid, the most populated areas lie around the coast.//www.ine.es/prensa/np457.pdf</ref><ref>Elpais.com</ref> registered at the Padrón municipal, an official record analogous to the British Register office. Spain's population density, at 87.8/km² (220/sq. mile), is lower than that of most Western European countries and its distribution along the country is very unequal. With the exception of the region surrounding the capital, Madrid, the most populated areas lie around the coast.
www.ine.es/inebase/cgi/axi?AXIS_PATH=/inebase/temas/t20/e245/p04/a2005/l0/&FILE_AXIS=00000010.px&CGI_DEFAULT=/inebase/temas/cgi.opt&COMANDO=SELECCION&CGI_URL=/inebase/cgi/ Instituto Nacional de Estadística]</ref> In 2005, Spain instituted a 3-month amnesty program through which certain hitherto undocumented aliens were granted legal residency. Also some important pockets of population coming from other countries in the European Union are found (20.77% of the foreign residents), specially along the Mediterranean costas and Balearic islands, where many choose to live their retirement or even telework. These are mostly English, French, German, and Dutch from fellow EU countries and, from outside the EU, Norwegian.//www.ine.es/inebase/cgi/axi?AXIS_PATH=/inebase/temas/t20/e245/p04/a2005/l0/&FILE_AXIS=00000010.px&CGI_DEFAULT=/inebase/temas/cgi.opt&COMANDO=SELECCION&CGI_URL=/inebase/cgi/ Instituto Nacional de Estadística]</ref> In 2005, Spain instituted a 3-month amnesty program through which certain hitherto undocumented aliens were granted legal residency. Also some important pockets of population coming from other countries in the European Union are found (20.77% of the foreign residents), specially along the Mediterranean costas and Balearic islands, where many choose to live their retirement or even telework. These are mostly English, French, German, and Dutch from fellow EU countries and, from outside the EU, Norwegian.
Immigration in Spain
www.ine.es/prodyser/pubweb/anuario06/anu06_02demog.pdf Instituto Nacional de Estadística: Avance del Padrón Municipal a 1 de enero de 2006. Datos provisionales]</ref><ref>Immigration Shift: Many Latin Americans Choosing Spain Over U.S.</ref><ref>Spain: Immigrants Welcome</ref><ref>Immigrants Fuel Europe's Civilization Clash</ref><ref>Spanish youth clash with immigrant gangs</ref>//www.ine.es/prodyser/pubweb/anuario06/anu06_02demog.pdf Instituto Nacional de Estadística: Avance del Padrón Municipal a 1 de enero de 2006. Datos provisionales]</ref><ref>Immigration Shift: Many Latin Americans Choosing Spain Over U.S.</ref><ref>Spain: Immigrants Welcome</ref><ref>Immigrants Fuel Europe's Civilization Clash</ref><ref>Spanish youth clash with immigrant gangs</ref>
epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-NK-06-001/EN/KS-NK-06-001-EN.PDF Eurostat - Population in Europe in 2005]</ref>, within the EU Spain has the second highest immigration rate in percentage terms (after Cyprus), but by a great margin the highest in actual numbers of immigrants.//epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-NK-06-001/EN/KS-NK-06-001-EN.PDF Eurostat - Population in Europe in 2005]</ref>, within the EU Spain has the second highest immigration rate in percentage terms (after Cyprus), but by a great margin the highest in actual numbers of immigrants.
international.ibox.bg/news/id_1406161495] (see Immigration to Spain).//international.ibox.bg/news/id_1406161495] (see Immigration to Spain).
Minority groups
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6161705.stm Immigration statistics].</ref>//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6161705.stm Immigration statistics].</ref>
Jewish emigration to Spain is primarily the result of three events: after the 19th century, some Jews established themselves in Spain as a result of migration from what was formerly Spanish Morocco, the flight of Jews escaping from Nazi repression, and immigration from Argentina. Spanish law allows Sephardi Jews to claim Spanish citizenship.
The arrival of the Gitanos (Gypsies), a Roma people group, began in the 16th century.
Most populous urban regions
- Madrid 5,943,041
- Barcelona 5,327,872
- Valencia 1,623,724
- Seville 1,317,098
- Málaga 1,074,074
- Bilbao 946,829
Identities
Peoples
The Spanish Constitution of 1978, in its second article, recognises historic entities ("nationalities", a carefully chosen word in order to avoid the more politically charged "nations") and regions, within the context of the Spanish nation. For some people, Spain's identity consists more of an overlap of different regional identities than of a sole Spanish identity. Indeed, some of the regional identities may even conflict with the Spanish one.
It is this last feature of "shared identity" between the more local level or Autonomous Community and the Spanish level which makes the identity question in Spain complex and far from univocal.
Languages
"Castilian", universally known to non-Spanish speakers as "Spanish" (while called both español and castellano in the language itself) is the official language throughout Spain, but other regional languages are also spoken, and are the primary languages in some of their respective regions.Modèle:Dubious The following languages are, in the territories where they are spoken, co-official with Spanish according to the respective Autonomy Statutes.
- Aranese (aranés) (Occitan)
- Asturian (asturianu), which has more unofficial dialects such as Astur-Leonese in León and Zamora provinces.
www.jgpa.es/portal.do?TR=C&IDR=45</ref> and some municipalities of Asturias have declared themselves as bilingual, such as the city of Gijón, which changed its name to Gijón/Xixón.<ref>New placenames of some Asturian municipalities. They come from Asturian language traditional names.</ref><ref>http://www.gijon.es/Contenido.aspx?area=110&leng=es&id=32326</ref>//www.jgpa.es/portal.do?TR=C&IDR=45</ref> and some municipalities of Asturias have declared themselves as bilingual, such as the city of Gijón, which changed its name to Gijón/Xixón.<ref>New placenames of some Asturian municipalities. They come from Asturian language traditional names.</ref><ref>http://www.gijon.es/Contenido.aspx?area=110&leng=es&id=32326</ref>
- Basque (euskera).
- Catalan (català), which is known as Valencian in the Autonomous Community of Valencia.
- Galician (galego).
www.ethnologue.com/14/show_country.asp?name=Spain Ethnologue report of Spain] and map from Proel.org</ref>//www.ethnologue.com/14/show_country.asp?name=Spain Ethnologue report of Spain] and map from Proel.org</ref>
In the tourist areas of the Mediterranean coast and the islands, English and German are widely spoken by tourists, foreign residents, and tourism workers.
Religion
mas.lne.es/documentos/archivos/20-11-06-cis.pdf Centre of Sociological Investigations, questions 32 and 32a]</ref> shows that of the 76% of Spaniards who identify themselves as Catholics or with another religious faith, 54% hardly ever or never go to church, 15% go to church a few times per year, 10% a few times per month and 19% attend church every Sunday or multiple times per week. About 22% of the entire Spanish population attends religious services at least once per month.//mas.lne.es/documentos/archivos/20-11-06-cis.pdf Centre of Sociological Investigations, questions 32 and 32a]</ref> shows that of the 76% of Spaniards who identify themselves as Catholics or with another religious faith, 54% hardly ever or never go to church, 15% go to church a few times per year, 10% a few times per month and 19% attend church every Sunday or multiple times per week. About 22% of the entire Spanish population attends religious services at least once per month.
www.cis.es/ Centre of Sociological Investigations]</ref> Indeed, in June 2005 a bill was passed by 187 votes to 147 to allow gay marriage, making Spain the third country in the European Union to allow same-sex couples to marry after Belgium and the Netherlands.//www.cis.es/ Centre of Sociological Investigations]</ref> Indeed, in June 2005 a bill was passed by 187 votes to 147 to allow gay marriage, making Spain the third country in the European Union to allow same-sex couples to marry after Belgium and the Netherlands.
Protestant denominations are also present, all of them with less than 50,000 members. Evangelism has been better received among Gypsies than among the general population; pastors have integrated flamenco music in their liturgy. Taken together, all self-described "Evangelicals" slightly surpass Jehovah's Witnesses (105,000) in number. While not Protestants, about 35,000 residents of Spain are members of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).
The recent waves of immigration have led to an increasing number of Muslims, who have about 1 million members. Muslims had not lived in Spain for centuries; however, colonial expansion in Northern and Western Africa gave some number of residents in the Spanish Morocco and the Western Sahara full citizenship. Presently, Islam is the second largest religion in Spain, accounting for approximately 2.5% of the total population.
Along with these waves of immigration, a significant number of Latin American people, who tend to be strong Catholic practitioners, have helped the Catholic Church to recover.
Judaism was practically non-existent until the 19th century, when Jews were again permitted to enter the country. Currently there are around 50,000 Jews in Spain, all arrivals in the past century and accounting for less than 1% of the total number of inhabitants. Spain is believed to have been about 8% Jewish on the eve of the Spanish Inquisition.[citation needed]Modèle:See
Culture
Spain is known for its culturally diverse heritage, having been influenced by many nations and peoples throughout its history. Spanish culture has its origins in the Iberian, Celtiberian, Latin, Visigothic, Roman Catholic, and Islamic cultures. The definition of a national Spanish culture has been characterized by tension between the centralized state (dominated in recent centuries by Castile) and numerous regions and minority peoples. In addition, the history of the nation and its Mediterranean and Atlantic environment have played strong roles in shaping its culture.
After Italy, Spain is the country with the second highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, with a total of 40.
Education in Spain
State Education in Spain is free and compulsory from the age of 6 to 16. The current education system is called LOGSE (Ley de Ordenación General del Sistema Educativo).
Spanish Academy
The Real Academia Española (Spanish for "Royal Spanish Academy"; RAE) is the institution responsible for regulating the Spanish language. It is based in Madrid, but is affiliated with national language academies in 21 Spanish-speaking nations through the Association of Spanish Language Academies. Its emblem is a fiery crucible, and its motto is Limpia, fija y da esplendor ("It cleans, sets, and gives splendor").
Spanish art
Spanish art is an important and influential type of art in Europe. Spanish art is the name given to the artistic disciplines and works developed in Spain throughout time, and those by Spanish authors world-wide. Due to historical, geographical and generational diversity, Spanish art has known a great number of influences. The Moorish heritage in Spain, especially in Andalusia, is still evident today in cities like Córdoba, Seville, and Granada. European influences include Italy, Germany and France, especially during the Baroque and Neoclassical periods.
Spanish literature
Spanish literature is the name given to the literary works written in Spain throughout time, and those by Spanish authors world-wide. Due to historic, geographic and generational diversity, Spanish literature has known a great number of influences and it is very diverse. Some major movements can be identified within it.
Spanish architecture
Spanish architecture refers to architecture carried out during any era in what is now modern-day Spain, and by Spanish architects worldwide. The term includes buildings within the current geographical limits of Spain before this name was given to those territories (whether they were called Hispania, Al-Andalus, or were formed of several Christian kingdoms). Due to its historical and geographical diversity, Spanish architecture has drawn from a host of influences.
For example, Córdoba was established as the cultural Capital of its time under the Umayyad dynasty. Simultaneously, the Christian kingdoms gradually emerged and developed their own styles, at first mostly isolated from European architectural influences, and later integrated into Romanesque and Gothic streams, they reached an extraordinary peak with numerous samples along the whole territory. The Mudéjar style, from the 12th to 17th centuries, was characterised by the blending of cultural European and Arabic influences.
The arrival of Modernism in the academic arena produced figures such as Gaudí and much of the architecture of the twentieth century. The International style was led by groups like GATEPAC. Spain is currently experiencing a revolution in contemporary architecture and Spanish architects like Rafael Moneo, Santiago Calatrava, Ricardo Bofill as well as many others have gained worldwide renown.
Music of Spain
Spanish music is often considered abroad to be synonymous with flamenco, an Andalusian musical genre, which, contrary to popular belief, is not widespread outside that region. Various regional styles of folk music abound in Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, Castile, the Basque Country, Galicia and Asturias. Pop, rock, hip hop and heavy metal are also popular.
Cinema of Spain
In recent years, Spanish cinema has achieved high marks of recognition as a result of its creative and technical excellence. In the long history of Spanish cinema, the great filmmaker Luis Buñuel was the first to achieve universal recognition, followed by Pedro Almodóvar in the 1980s. Spanish cinema has also seen international success over the years with films by directors like Segundo de Chomón, Florián Rey, Luis García Berlanga, Carlos Saura, Julio Medem and Alejandro Amenábar.
Spanish cuisine
Spanish cuisine consists of a great variety of dishes which stem from differences in geography, culture and climate. It is heavily influenced by seafood available from the waters that surround the country, and reflects the country's deep Mediterranean roots. Spain's extensive history with many cultural influences has led to a unique cuisine.
Sports in Spain
Sport in Spain has been traditionally dominated by football (soccer) (since the early 20th century), cycling and bullfighting (since the 17th century). Today, Spain is a major world sports power, especially since the 1992 Summer Olympics that were hosted in Barcelona and promoted a great variety of sports in the country. The tourism industry has led to an improvement in sports infrastructure, especially for water sports, golf and skiing.
Public holidays in Spain
Public holidays celebrated in Spain include a mix of religious (Roman Catholic), national and regional observances. Each municipality is allowed to declare a maximum of 14 public holidays per year; up to nine of these are chosen by the national government and at least two are chosen locally.
International rankings
www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=17496&Valider=OK/ Reporters Without Borders points out problems with free press in Spain due to ETA's threats and violence, 2006]</ref>//www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=17496&Valider=OK/ Reporters Without Borders points out problems with free press in Spain due to ETA's threats and violence, 2006]</ref> www.economist.com/media/pdf/QUALITY_OF_LIFE.pdf Worldwide Quality-of-Life Index, 2005] The Economist.</ref>//www.economist.com/media/pdf/QUALITY_OF_LIFE.pdf Worldwide Quality-of-Life Index, 2005] The Economist.</ref> www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/eco_eco_imp Nation Master's country ranking by economic importance].</ref>//www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/eco_eco_imp Nation Master's country ranking by economic importance].</ref> www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/eco_tec_ach Nation Master's country ranking by technological achievement].</ref>//www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/eco_tec_ach Nation Master's country ranking by technological achievement].</ref>
 The Sagrada Família by night, Barcelona |
|||
 The Sanctuary of Santa María Magdalena in Novelda |
|||
 The Maspalomas Dunes, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands |
 The Pyrenees |
See also
References
Further reading
- Modèle:Cite book
- John Hickman and Chris Little, "Seat/Vote Proportionality in Romanian and Spanish Parliamentary Elections", Journal of Southern Europe and the Balkans Volume 2, Number 2, November 2000.
- Harold Raley, "The Spirit of Spain", Houston: Halcyon Press 2001. (ISBN 0-9706054-9-8)
- George Orwell's Homage to Catalonia.
External links
|
[modifier] OverviewsModèle:Sisterlinks www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sp.html Spain]: CIA World Factbook entry (Updated on May 16 2006; info as available on January 1 2005)//www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sp.html Spain]: CIA World Factbook entry (Updated on May 16 2006; info as available on January 1 2005) www.britannica.com/nations/Spain Encyclopaedia Britannica's Spain Portal site]//www.britannica.com/nations/Spain Encyclopaedia Britannica's Spain Portal site] www.britannica.com/nations/Spain Encyclopaedia Britannica's Spain Portal site]//www.maps.data-spain.com/ Maps of Spain:] satellite images, relief maps, outlines and themed maps of Spanish autonomous communities, provinces and municipalities www.britannica.com/nations/Spain Encyclopaedia Britannica's Spain Portal site]//www.iberianature.com/ IberiaNature] a guide to the environment, geography, climate, wildlife, natural history and landscape of Spain www.britannica.com/nations/Spain Encyclopaedia Britannica's Spain Portal site]//www.economist.com/countries/Spain/ Spain]: The Economist Country Briefings entry lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/estoc.html Link to Library of Congress Spain Country Series site] (1988))//lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/estoc.html Link to Library of Congress Spain Country Series site] (1988))
|
