Spain: a Primary Source Cultural Guide (Primary Sources of World Cultures)

Primary Sources Help Illustrate the Cultures and Achievements of Twelve World Cultures Like a passport to a foreign land, the Primary Sources of World Cultures series allows students to examine all aspects of a culture and its achievements from both a historical and modern-day perspective. Vividly illustrated with an abundance of primary source official documents, newspaper articles, period photographs, artifacts, engravings, paintings, maps, and political cartoons, each culture comes alive for readers. Comprehensive text illustrates pivotal moments in history; fascinating portraits of social life and customs including festivals, ceremonies, and food, and provides an examination of the religions, arts, myths, and legends of each culture. Other chapters explain a history of languages and offer a basic geographical overview. Supplementary resources include a timeline, lists of organizations, books for further reading, a primary source list, and a glossary as well as a separate section devoted to facts, maps, and other graphic information at a glance. Spain occupies most of a peninsula that it shares with Portugal in southwestern Europe. Under Muslim control for nearly 800 years, Spain enjoyed the introduction of new farming techniques, magnificent palaces, mosques, gardens, and public baths. Christians conquered Spain in 1722. Spain became a powerful empire in the 16th and 17th centuries. Catholic monarchs sent conquistadors to conquer, convert, and extract riches from native population in the Americas. Spanish influence has been especially strong there. Today Spanish is the first language of more than 200 million people outside of Spain's borders. Through primary sources, readers willget an indepth look at the history, culture, traditions, foods, and lifestyles of the people of Spain. Through this book, readers will come to know Spain and its people.