15th-Century Society, Culture, and Literature: A Transition
Society and Culture in the 15th Century
The 15th century marked a period of significant change, a transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Two key events shaped history and culture: the discovery of America, which elevated Spain to a European power and gave the Castilian language global reach, and the expulsion of the Jews, leading to conversions and distinctions between “old” and “new” Christians. While nobility retained privilege, the bourgeoisie gained strength, and individual consciousness
Read MoreRomantic Literature: A Deep Dive
Romantic Literature
Historical Context
The French Revolution (1789) spread new political, ideological, and social ideas throughout Europe, proposing a parliamentary and constitutional system. Society divided into absolutists and liberals. The Industrial Revolution, beginning in late 18th-century England, led to the rise of the proletariat and the bourgeoisie’s dominance. Napoleon’s invasion of Spain sparked the War of Independence (1808-1814), and King Ferdinand VII later restored absolutism.
Characteristics
Read MoreSpanish Prose: 1910-1940 – From Avant-Garde to Social Realism
Spanish Prose: 1910-1940
1. Prose 1910-1930
1.1. Essayists
José Ortega y Gasset
Author of numerous essays, including: Meditations on Don Quixote (1914), Spain Invertebrate, The Dehumanization of Art (1925), and The Revolt of the Masses (1930). In The Dehumanization of Art, he takes a sociological analysis of avant-garde art. He posits that the new art divides the public into two kinds of men: those who understand it and those who do not. It is a hermetic, intellectual, anti-Romantic, and anti-realist
Read MoreThe Rise of Catalan Literature and the Legacy of Ramon Llull
The Rise of Catalan Literature
Troubadour Poetry and the Occitan Influence
The troubadour poetry of the 13th century marked a significant step in the consolidation of Catalan prose. While Latin remained dominant, signs of popular verse literature emerged from the mid-12th century. Much of the poetry from the 11th to 13th centuries was written in the Occitan language of Provence. This troubadour poetry, performed by minstrels in the feudal courts of Southern France and the Crown of Aragon, established
Read MoreMiddle Ages in the Iberian Peninsula: A Historical and Social Overview
The Middle Ages in the Iberian Peninsula
Historical Context
The Middle Ages, a period spanning from the 5th to the late 15th century, significantly shaped Western culture. In the Iberian Peninsula, this era commenced with barbarian invasions that supplanted Roman rule. The Visigoths eventually dominated the territory, imposing their laws and customs. A key figure of Visigothic culture is Saint Isidore of Seville, renowned for his work Etymologies.
In the 8th century, Arab invasions forced Christians
Read More16th-Century Spanish Literature: Renaissance & Mysticism
16th-Century Spanish Literature
Historical Background
Politically, Charles I continued strengthening the royal power established by the Catholic Monarchs. Socially, trade shifted from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. Religiously and culturally, two phases emerged: first, under Charles I, Renaissance humanism expanded; second, under Philip II, a conservative Counter-Reformation movement took hold.
Renaissance Culture
Renaissance culture reflects the assimilation of humanism, which places humanity at
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