Barcelona’s Tragic Week of 1909 & Catalan Commonwealth
Tragic Week in Barcelona, July 1909
The Tragic Week was a popular uprising in Barcelona that lasted one week.
Causes
- War of Morocco (1906): A colonial war where Spain aimed to dominate the area north of Melilla to Tangier.
- Algeciras Pact (1906): An agreement with France to split Morocco, with Spain gaining territories.
- Guerrilla warfare in the Rif region.
Development
In 1909, reinforcements were needed for the army in Morocco, mainly from Barcelona and nearby areas. The labor movement and unions called
Read MoreFerdinand VII’s Reign: Absolutism, Liberal Triennium, and Decade
Ferdinand VII’s Absolutist Reign (1814-1820)
In 1814, Ferdinand VII returned to Spain, pressured to cancel the constitution and dissolve the Cortes with the Manifesto of Madrid. The ‘Persians’ document, signed by several deputies, requested the restoration of traditional institutions. Signatories were Spanish, but also opposed to liberalism, Godoy, and despotism, justified by Floridablanca. This coup led the king, on May 4, 1814, to issue a decree annulling the reforms of the Cortes of Cadiz and
Read MoreSound Waves: Propagation, Velocity, and Intensity
Introduction to Sound Waves
Part of the study of physics is the movement of sound. Sound waves, or pressure waves, can only propagate through material media by varying the relative pressure of the medium. Sound, like every wave, has characteristics such as amplitude, frequency, wavelength, and propagation speed. The variations in pressure values compared with any sound wave are very small (measured in dB). The frequency of sound establishes a classification: 20-20,000 Hz is audible sound, below 20
Read MoreKey Terms and Events: 19th and 20th Century History
Key Terms of the 19th and 20th Centuries
Economic and Political Concepts
Imperialism: An economic policy linked to industrialization, the extension of capitalism, and the expansion of multinational corporations in industrialized countries.
Arms Race: Military escalation between different countries to acquire more and better military assets, generally in anticipation of a possible conflict.
Colonialism: Ideology and political practice under which industrialized countries believe they have the right and
Read MoreMedieval Iberian Peninsula: Muslim Conquest, Al-Andalus, and Taifa Kingdoms
The Iberian Peninsula in the Middle Ages
Muslim Conquest and Invasion (711-732)
In 711, the Iberian Peninsula was invaded by Arab peoples, Berbers, and Syrians. The Muslim expansion was rapid, exploiting internal Visigoth conflicts. Most local authorities surrendered to the invaders. The first phase (711-716) began after the defeat of King D. Rodrigo at Guadalete by a Berber army led by Tarik, later joined by Arabs under Musa. By 716, most of the mainland was conquered with little bloodshed. Many
Read MoreRock Deformation, Magmatism, and Seismic Activity
Deformation of Rocks
- Compressive stresses: Convergent forces that usually occur in subduction zones and collision areas.
- Tensional stresses: Divergent forces that act on the rocks of rifts.
- Shear stresses: Transform forces that occur at transform boundaries.
How Do Rocks Respond to Stress?
Rocks respond in an elastic way (they accumulate elastic energy). If the stress continues near the surface, the rocks break and release the elastic energy (they are rigid), causing earthquakes and fault joints.
Factors
Read MoreEthical Labor Practices: Tesco’s South African Supply Chain Under Scrutiny
This text from *The Guardian*, dated May 15, 2009, discusses accusations against Tesco for allegedly failing to uphold its commitments regarding the wages and working conditions of agricultural workers in South Africa. It also covers the British chain’s response.
Despite the global crisis, Tesco is making record profits. However, in 2006, the chain was accused of neglecting the living conditions of its workforce. At that time, Tesco committed to paying decent wages that would meet the basic needs
Read MoreHormones, Nervous System Functions, and Endocrine Disorders
Hormones and Glandular Functions
Main Glands and Hormones:
- Hypothalamus: Releasing factors and inhibitors act on the pituitary, enabling hormone production.
- Pituitary:
- Oxytocin: Stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth and milk production in the breast.
- Growth Hormone: Stimulates bone growth.
- Thyroid:
- Thyroid Hormone: Regulates metabolism.
- Calcitonin: Decreases blood calcium levels by promoting bone deposition.
- Adrenal Glands/Pancreas:
- Adrenaline: Prepares the body for intense muscle activity and
Children’s Literature: Functions, Characteristics, and Critical Perspectives
Functions of Children’s Literature
Children’s literature serves multiple functions, including:
- Teaching and Knowledge Acquisition: It helps children learn new things and expand their understanding of the world.
- Moralizing: It instills certain moral values, helping children distinguish between good and evil.
- Entertainment: It provides enjoyment and pleasure, which is crucial for engaging young readers.
Ideally, these functions work together. If the entertainment aspect is strong, the other functions are
Read MoreSpectator Sport and Professional Sport: Impact and Ethics
The Spectator Sport and Professional Sport
The Spectator Sport
In the first half of the 16th century, sporting events were very popular, and sport itself became a spectacle. We can define spectator sport as sport at an elite level that gathers many admissions in its competitions, like the Olympics.
Competition between the participants is not the only objective; standards are tailored to promote the show. There are economic, political, and social factors, and the most important thing is winning.
There
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