Evolution of Castilian Spanish: History, Influence, and Current Status
Castilian Developments Through Time
King Alfonso X, “the Wise,” unintentionally gave a great impetus to Castilian. Although he favored Galician, he wrote “the Cantigas to Mary” in Castilian. He promoted the Toledo School of Translation, which aimed to translate scientific knowledge from Semitic languages (Arabic, Hebrew, Aramaic) into Latin. However, a double translation was necessary: first into Castilian, then into Latin. This process introduced new terms into Castilian and necessitated the creation
Read MoreState, Nation, and Nationalism: A Historical Analysis
State, Nation, and Nationalism
The concepts of the French state and nation initially aligned but later diverged. Nation refers to a group of people sharing common traits like language, religion, and rights. A state is a political and administrative entity with laws and rules governing a specific territory. A multinational state contains different nations within its borders.
Protectionist policy aims to safeguard the domestic market. A market is any place where goods are exchanged. Duties are taxes
Read MoreCatalan Modernism and Noucentisme: Art, Literature, and Cultural Impact
Catalan Modernism: A Cultural Revolution
The Modernisme cultural movement, prominent in Europe during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was primarily identified with artistic currents, especially in architecture and decorative arts, rather than literature. Notable examples include Barcelona’s “Sagrada Família” and “Casa Milà,” and Valencia’s “Estació del Nord” and “Mercat Central.” In literature, Catalan Modernism aimed to build a national literature, overcoming regionalism and bridging
Read MoreImpact of Technology on Society and Human Behavior
Virtual Reality
The development of technologies has opened new possibilities in all areas of our lives, making it a key factor in shaping our society. However, these advances are also associated with various negative consequences, such as the loss of communication and interpersonal relationships. Conversely, they can also cause the opposite effect by opening doors of contact between people who use the internet to commit crimes and mislead. Although it has advantages for the development of science,
Read MoreIntroduction to Sociology: Understanding Human Behavior and Culture
Introduction to Sociology
Sociology is a branch of social science that uses systematic methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop and refine a body of knowledge about human social life, behavior, associations, social groups, societies, and institutions, as well as the relationships among them. It tries to understand how the world works by situating social events in their context. The objective is to gain knowledge about ourselves, the society we live in, and other societies
Read MoreMatthew Arnold: Victorian Critic, Literature, and Society
Matthew Arnold: The Critic’s Critic
Matthew Arnold (1822-1888), the Victorian poet and critic, was ‘the first modern critic’ and could be called ‘the critic’s critic’, being a champion not only of great poetry, but of literary criticism itself. The purpose of literary criticism, in his view, was ‘to know the best that is known and thought in the world, and by in its turn making this known, to create a current of true and fresh ideas’. He influenced a whole school of critics including new critics
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