Medieval Troubadour Culture in the Crown of Aragon
Who Were the Troubadours?
The troubadours were often sons of noble families associated with convents (though not professed as monks) who lived in royal courts, composing songs in the vernacular tongue.
Provençal Poetry and the Crown of Aragon
After the conquest of Valencia by James I, the Valencian lands became part of the Crown of Aragon.
Provençal poetry was the most important in Europe from the eleventh to the thirteenth century. Early authors used this language not only for its prestige but also
Read MoreRoman Hispania: Conquest, Provinces, and Lasting Legacy
Peoples of Pre-Roman Iberia
Before the arrival of the Romans, the Iberian Peninsula was inhabited by various peoples:
- Iberians: Lived along the Mediterranean coast.
- Tartessians: Lived in western Andalusia.
- Celts: Lived in Castile, Leon, and Galicia.
- Celtiberians: Lived in the center of the Peninsula.
- Greeks: Established colonies like Emporion, primarily for trade in precious metals.
- Phoenicians: Established colonies like Malaca (Málaga).
- Carthaginians: Had significant presence, especially in the south
14th and 15th Century Spanish Literature
14th Century Literature
Mester of Clergy
The issues explored by the clergy are no longer exclusively scholarly, derived from books, but also originate from life experiences.
The Rise of Narrative Prose
Another major innovation is the birth of author’s narrative prose, notably with Don Juan Manuel’s Count Lucanor.
Juan Ruiz, Archpriest of Hita
Juan Ruiz, the Archpriest of Hita (Guadalajara), lived in the first half of the 14th century. His personality is evident in the Book of Good Love.
This book challenges
Read MoreCatalan Literature After the Spanish Civil War: Authors & Themes
Catalan Literature After the Spanish Civil War
The political changes that began in 1939 aimed to replace all minority languages, including Catalan, with Castilian Spanish. The public use and official teaching of Catalan were banned, forcing intellectuals into exile. Some died, but most returned after 1939. Novels in Catalan slowly reappeared, though censorship continued. Works published until the early 1960s often avoided direct depictions of reality, using symbolism and myth. In the Valencian region,
Read MoreGarcilaso de la Vega and Fray Luis de León: Renaissance Poets
Garcilaso de la Vega
Garcilaso de la Vega is the poet who best embodies the new style of poetry in the Renaissance. Born in Toledo in 1501, he was a nobleman skilled in both arms and letters.
He served Emperor Charles I, which led him to travel as a diplomat and participate in various military campaigns. The inspiration for his poetry was not his wife, Elena de Zúñiga, whom he married in 1525, but a Portuguese lady named Isabel Freire. The emperor banished him to an island in the Danube, from where
Read MoreSpanish Literature: 15th & 16th Century Authors & Culture
15th Century Literature
Authors
Authors: Juan Mena, Marqués de Santillana, Jorge Manrique. The poems are collected in cancioneros. Romances develop.
15th Century Culture
The printing press was invented, an important fact for the laity’s access to literature.
Humanism
Resurgence of studies of the history of grammar and literature of Greek and Latin classics.
Jorge Manrique (1440-1479)
Knight who took active part in the civil wars of his time. He wrote love poetry, following the trend of the songbooks, and
Read More