15th Century Chronology, Culture & Society: A Look at Late Middle Ages
15th Century Chronology: The Late Middle Ages
The 15th century belongs to the Middle Ages, a period between Antiquity and the Renaissance. It corresponds to the late Middle Ages, ending around the conquest of America (1492). For many years, two distinct cultures coexisted in the Iberian Peninsula: Islam and Christianity.
Culture, Society, and Economy
Muslims had a trade-based economy, flourishing cities like Cordoba, a strong currency, rich architecture, and extensive knowledge from Antiquity. Christians,
Read More20th-Century Spanish Literature: From Civil War to Democracy
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) profoundly impacted subsequent cultural activity, with literature serving as both an escape and a tool for denunciation. During the 1940s, Spanish literature embraced realism, reflecting the realities of the time. Authors of this period often replicated narrative models, portraying Spanish society in the 1940s and 1950s. Censorship and limited access to foreign novels significantly shaped the literary scene.
Early Influences
The Family of Pascual Duarte marked Camilo
Read MoreAdventures of Don Quixote: A Summary and Analysis
Don Quixote: A Summary and Analysis
Description of Don Quixote
Don Quixote, a man of around fifty, was strong, thin, and lean-faced. An early riser and a lover of hunting, his name was either Quijada or Quesada (the authors differ on this point, but it seems more likely Quesada). In his idle hours, which comprised most of the year, he devoted himself to reading books of chivalry with such passion that he neglected hunting and managing his estate. He even sold some of his land to buy more books.
Don
Read MoreTrends in Post-War Catalan Poetry and Prose
Post-War Catalan Poetry (1943-1970s)
Early Post-War Period and Existentialism
In the early post-war period, a basic cultural infrastructure began to emerge in Valencia with the appearance of editorials and literary magazines. Amidst the desolation and hardship caused by the Spanish Civil War and World War II, existentialism (Albert Camus, Jean Paul Sartre) took root among Valencian poets. This nonconformist movement prioritized issues arising from the human condition and reflected the anxiety of living
Read More20th Century Spanish Theater: From Benavente to Lorca
Early 20th Century Spanish Theater
Social Context and Limitations
At the dawn of the 20th century, Spanish theater faced constraints due to its bourgeois audience, largely uninterested in social issues or innovative styles. This audience sought entertainment that mirrored their own perspectives, neglecting the realities of marginalized communities. This preference contributed to a stagnant theatrical landscape, resistant to the renewal movements sweeping Europe and the world. Existing theatrical
Read MoreModernism and the Generation of ’98
Modernism and the Generation of ’98 in Spanish Literature
Modernism
Modernism was an aesthetic movement that emerged in the late 19th century as a reaction against bourgeois materialism and the perceived crisis of conscience it engendered. It synthesized innovative attitudes and sought to revitalize art and literature.
Modernism in Spain
Modernism in Spain was spearheaded by Rubén Darío. It differed from other European expressions of Modernism by exhibiting a greater degree of intimacy and symbolism,
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