Prehistoric Spain & Late Medieval Crisis (14th-15th C.)
ITEM 1: PREHISTORIC AND ANCIENT: 1. The Paleolithic. A) Lower Palaeolithic:
discoveries now in the Sierra de Atapuerca, near Burgos. In 1994, a survey into the abyss called Gran Dolina, are remains of a hominid which is about dating to 780,000 years ago. This can slow subsequent findings that date to the 1,200,000 years. Even the oldest hominids found in Europe. The Atapuerca team members, an come to the conclusion q is a hominid species other than Homo erectus. And they have proposed a new hypothesis on the evolution of the species: the inhabitants of Atapuerca would be Homo antecessor, intermediate between the Homo erectus and the two species, from the Middle Pleistocene, expanded to Eurasia, Homo sapiens and Homo neardentalensis. The culture of the lower Paleolithic hominids would
feature of the hunters, gathered in droves very small, no permanent habitat, they camped in outdoor locations near rivers.
B) Middle Paleolithic
In Europe, the Neanderthals, hominids developed their culture for 100,000 to 35,000 years, coinciding with part of the Würm glaciation. Under hypothesis Atapuerca team could be a direct evolution of Homo antecessor. This seems to accredit the remains of 32 individuals found in the Sima de los Huesos, Sierra de Atapuerca. Neanderthals were also hunters. Strong consistency of physical and brain development close to the present man, greater cultural diversity than their predecessors, a more variable climate that made them seek refuge in caves and advance techniques such as hunting large animals and the use of fur . Burials (does not see existence of beliefs of a spiritual nature).
C) Upper Paleolithic: All over
Europe from 35,000 to 8,000 years BC Associate Homo sapiens (Cro-Magnon man), replacing the Neanderthals. Highly developed culture they lived in huts in the open or in caves. Nomads who occupied alternately
hunting areas. Also population growth (many sites), more diversified diet (fishing, collecting fruits and shellfish). The lithic industry, diversity of instruments, tools of bone, horn and ivory decorated and quite sophisticated. Cultural aspects-artistic objects, ornaments, and spiritual-burials, funerary offerings, small sculptures. Cantabrian Zone (sites), rock paintings in the caves of El Castillo, Altamira, Tito Bustillo. They are interpreted as magical paintings, hunting scapegoats. Rarely are human figures.
Item 4: The Late Middle Ages: The Crisis of the XIV and XV: I. THE CHRISTIANS AND THE UNITED KINGDOMS NASRID:
1. The crowns of Castile and Leon: towards real authoritarianism:
During the late Middle Ages, the crown of Castile experienced a significant process of centralization
policy. He established the Audiencia (supreme court) based in Valladolid. From the thirteenth century, the nobility and the church stopped attending the Cortes. This fact and the regular tax appropriation weakened and strengthened the institution of the monarchy authoritarianism. The establishment of Trastámara in Castile, with the defeat of Pedro I, saw the victory of the landed nobility.The war that confronted him with his bastard brother, Henry II of Castile (1369-1379), is seen as the Hundred Years War:
Peter had the support of England, and Henry, of France. With the reign of John I, the Castilian troops were defeated in their attempt to invade Portugal (Battle of Aljubarrota, 1385). However, the monarch continued its process of
political centralization with the creation of the Real (1385), preceding the Council of Castile. His successor, Henry III extended the system of magistrates throughout the country, (increased real authority). Henry IV high level of centralization. But at his death, as we shall see, Castilla had to face the dynastic quarrel between Jane, daughter of the King, and Isabella, sister of the monarch.
2. The Crown of Aragon: the wheeling and dealing:
The Reign of the Ceremonious P eter IV (1336-1387) The kingdom of Mallorca was annexed to the crown (1343) and the Aragonese nobility was defeated. And match the demographic crisis. It creates the Generalitat of Catalonia and the Generalitat de Valencia, initially only collection function. In Aragon, the Cortes of Zaragoza, 1348
set the powers of Justice, judged disputes among the nobles and the king. Pedro IV’s successors, his sons John I (1387-1396) and the Humane Martin (1396-1410), inherited economic and social problems. Thus each kingdom Courts took over the government. Jaime, Count of Urgell, was the candidate for the crown with more support in Catalonia, and Castilian Trastámara Fernando de Antequera had more strength in Aragon and Valencia. Fernando used his large financial resources and Castilian troops in both realms. Also, Pope Benedict XIII in his favor. Finally, Fernando proclaimed king, under the name of Ferdinand I (1412-1416). The brief reign of Ferdinand I expanded the scope of the councils of Catalonia and Valencia and involved the creation of the Regional Government of the Kingdom of Aragon. Alfonso V the Magnanimous (1416-1458), supported in Catalonia to weaken popular collective nobility. The monarch lived for much of his reign in Naples, who won in 1442. During John II (1458-1479), the real opposition between authoritarianism and the wheeling and dealing of the Catalan institutions of the Civil War Catalan (1462-1472). And coincided with the first Remença.
3. The kingdom of Navarre, the kingdom of Navarre was under French rule since the late thirteenth century, but in mid
fourteenth century, the reigning house of Evreux, led to a progressive navarrización the
administration. Las Cortes de Navarra acquired a significant political power have the capacity
legislation and representing the interests of the territory against the monarch. With Charles III
(1397-1425) the kingdom of Navarre, weakened by his continuing struggles and dynastic changes
noble, achieved its full and effective independence.
During the fifteenth century the kingdom was further weakened, especially by Civil War between John
II, brother of King Alfonso V of Aragon, and his son Charles of Viana. John, married White
Navarre was king consort of the kingdom of Navarre since 1425. On the death of White (1441), there was a
conflict between the heir, his son Charles, and John II, who refused to renounce the title of king.