Humanities 335 – Flashcards
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What do we mean by culture?
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Culture refers to how we relate to each other in a community, including our common language, foods, arts, beliefs, religions, gender relations, and history. Briefly, culture refers to the ways of living built up by a group and passed on from one generation to another.
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What do the words Latino or Hispanic mean?
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-is used to refer to a specific community living in the U.S. A person who identifies himself as Latino or herself as Latina might have ties to some of the Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America. Thus, a working definition of Latino (as proposed by Geoffrey Fox) would be simply a person living in the U.S. who speaks Spanish (learned at home) or had an ancestor that spoke Spanish. -often used in California, another term—Hispanic—is often preferred in Texas, Florida, and in other parts of the U.S. (and on U.S. census forms); -Latino (or Hispanic) are "cover terms," or terms that, like an umbrella, attempt to incorporate many different families in one broad category (i.e., families whose roots lie in Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and other Spanish-speaking regions of the Americas).
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To what principal continents do we return to uncover Latino roots?
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?the European roots of Latino culture, focusing on Spain and the Iberian Peninsula; ?the heritages of the indigenous peoples of the Americas (such as the Maya, Aztec, and Inca) as well as Africa; ?and the role of contemporary Latino communities living in the United States (especially those families who acknowledge cultural roots in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and other Spanish-speaking countries of the Americas).
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Why is Knowing the Geography of Spain(Iberian Peninsula) key to understanding its first people and history?
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Geography can shape the cultures of the peoples in a region. For example, different languages and customs can develop in different parts of a region separated by mountain ranges. This is exactly what happened in Spain where in addition to Spanish other languages are spoken today.
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Origin names of Spain
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Tarshish:Unknown Ancient mariners 1000 BC ("Tarshish" appears in the Old Testament as a reference to Spain; see Isaiah 2 v.16) Iberia:"Land of many rivers" Iberians 3000 - 2000 BC (The Iberians came from Africa and were impressed by Spain's rivers) Hesperia:"Land of the setting sun" Greeks 600 BC Ispania:"Land of rabbits" Carthaginians 200 BC Hispania:Latinization of "Ispania") Romans 100 BC - 400 AC (from Hispania we today have "Hispanic" and "Hispano") Al-Andalus:Land of the Vandals" Moors 711 - 1492 (See the class about the Moors, or the Islamic occupation of Spain) Espana:España (from the Latin Hispania) Modern Spaniards Today
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What's in the cave of Altamira? Where are the caves? Why are they significant?
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-located on the land owned by Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola. One day in 1879 as he was exploring the entrance to the cave, his daughter went further inside and noticed large paintings of animals on the roof of the cave. She told her father to look up and see them for himself.Location Cantabrian Mountains,northern Spain;Near Santander - joins other famous caves of ancient peoples in Western Europe (such as Lascaux in France). The cave is nearly 1,000 feet long and was probably first inhabited nearly 20,000 years ago. -is significant because it contains over 150 paintings of large animals, such as bison, deer and horses (below). More importantly, the ancient cave painters depicted the animals realistically both in motion and in resting positions.
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Who is the Dama De Elche and what culture does she represent?
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-The finely carved and realistic face has Greek roots; and -The large disks on each side of the head (either a headdress or braided hair) is probably of Celtic-Iberian origin -Some have seen a resemblance of the Lady of Elche to Princess Leia of Star Wars -The Lady of Elche is revered by some Spaniards as Americans honor the Statue of Liberty. So a book by a recent art critic—John F. Moffitt—caused much debate. Moffitt claims the bust is only 100 years old, is a finely carved forgery, and was sold by a landowner who needed ready cash.
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Which people of ancient Spain came to the Iberian Pennisula principally to trade, living on the Mediterranean coast, which people migrated there to settle, mostly in the interior?
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-Coastal dwellers included the Greeks (600 BC) and the Carthaginians (200 BC). -The interior of Spain from about 1000 BC to the times of the Romans (100 BC) was settled by the Celts and the Iberians; when two large immigrations of Celtic peoples arrived from Western Europe around 900 and 600 BC, they encountered the Iberians. These two cultures intermarried and became known as the Celtiberian culture of Spain.
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Of all the ancient peoples of the Iberian Peninsula, which was the most important to later Spanish Culture.
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The last and most important of Spain's ancient cultures—Roman—arrives around 200 BC to fight the Carthaginians, who are using the Iberian Peninsula as a staging area to attack Rome. Carthage was a great city in northern Africa whose most famous general, Hannibal, nearly conquered Rome. Rome finally defeated Carthage in 146 BC and found herself in control of Ancient Spain.
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What happened in the city of Numancia?
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Entering in the heart of the Iberian Peninsula, Roman soldiers had to conquer territory one village at at time and face guerrilla warfare. The city of Numancia took nearly 20 years to subdue and only surrendered when the inhabitants killed themselves. Finally, by 19 BC and with a personal visit of the Roman Emperor Augustus, the Romans were the masters of Spain and remained there for nearly 400 years.
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Why is Roman Civilization so important in the development of Spanish Culture?
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The most important ancient culture of Spain was that of Rome. From 100 BC to around 400 AD, Spain was one of the richest and most prosperous regions of the Roman Empire. The Romans called the Iberian Peninsula Hispania, and this part of the Empire became an important food source of grains, such as wheat. Three Roman Emperors were born in Spain—Trajan, Hadrian, and Teodosio
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What did Rome bring to the Iberian Peninsula?
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Once fighting was over, the Romans brought roads and city life to the lands once dominated by the small villages of the Celtiberians. The Romans also brought their Latin language and began naming some important areas.
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When did Christianity arrive in Spain?
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-Christianity arrives in Spain during the time of the Romans, beginning in the first century AD. Many believed that St. James (son of Zebedee, disciple of Christ) brought the new faith to Spain. According to tradition, the body of the saint is buried in the great Cathedral of Santiago (Galicia). -The first Christians, both men and women, were severely punished by Roman authorities, who viewed them as a threat to the state. Famous for her faith is St. Eulalia, a young girl (12-13 years old) who was tortured and burned at the stake for refusing to renounce her new beliefs. The citizens of MĂ©rida (her city) remember Eulalia today and honor her sacrifice. -After centuries of persecution, the Roman Emperor Constantine (312 AD), himself a converted Christian, allows Christianity to flourish in the Empire. The new faith's foundation in Spain is solid, and the religion will be able to resist the arrival of a new and militant belief (Islam) in the eight century A.D.
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What is the most important and longest lasting heritage of Roman Spain
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Rome was the most important ancient culture to occupy Spain. Fully 60% of the vocabulary and framework of the modern Spanish language have roots in spoken Latin. In addition, Roman law (written down) has influenced Spain for centuries, and as was stated, Christianity arrived to Spain during Roman rule.
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How did the Roman rule end in Hispania?
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By the 5th century AD the economic and political structure of the Roman Empire was on the decline. Various Germanic peoples, including the Vandals, the Alani, and the Suevi swarmed across Rome's northern borders and entered parts of the Empire, including Spain. The Vandals were especially violent and destroyed everything in their path (the word "vandalism" comes to us from this people). The city of Rome itself was sacked in 410 AD.
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What German Tribe ended up dominating the Iberian Peninsula after the Romans and until the arrival of the Moors in 711
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One German people dominated the new arrivals to the Iberian Peninsula—the Visigoths. The Visigoths, characterized by a weak monarchy and internal strife, occupied Spain until the arrival of the Moors in 711 AD.
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What is Islam?
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the religion of the Muslims, a monotheistic faith regarded as revealed through Muhammad as the Prophet of Allah.
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What are the central beliefs of Islam?
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Later, the central beliefs of Islam became summarized in five key areas: affirming that there is only one God (Allah) and that Mohammed is his prophet); praying 5 times daily (sunrise, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, evening); giving alms to the poor, especially widows and orphans; fasting during the holy month of Ramadan; and a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in the life of the believer, if possible
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Who is Muhammad?
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The Prophet Mohammed (570 - 632) lived and worked in the Arabian desert, near the town of Mecca. He was a religious man and respected by all for his honesty and integrity. One day, as Mohammed was meditating on a nearby mountain, God (Allah) began speaking to him through the angel Gabriel. Mohammed renounced the tribal gods of his people and instead worshiped Allah, the same God revered by Jews and Christians. Later, Allah's words as revealed to Mohammed were written down by others in the Koran, the holy book of Islam.
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Who were the Moors? When did they come to Spain?
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Islamic fighters, called the Moors, arrived in Spain in 711 and within 10 years overran most of the Iberian Peninsula, ending the weak Visigothic rule. A legend has come to us from this time concerning the "loss of Spain." This unconfirmed account maintains that Rodrigo, the last king of the Visigoths, fell madly in love with Florinda La Cava, the beautiful daughter of Count Julián. One day, the king, unable to control himself, raped the young woman. To punish the king for his abuse, Count Julián asked his Islamic friends in Africa to invade Spain and kill the ruler. They did kill Rodrigo but remained to rule the land. "-Moor" is really a cover term referring to different peoples who, united by the faith of Islam, fought to advance the new religion. Starting in 711, these fighters came to Spain from the Berber tribes of northern Africa, from Syria, Egypt, Palestine and the Arabian Peninsula.
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Did the Moors arrive with their families?
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Moorish warriors arrived in Spain without any women. They immediately began marrying, and converting to Islam, the Visigothic women that they encountered throughout the Iberian Peninsula after 711.
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What unique perspective did the Moors in Spain bring to the treatment of Women?
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Following traditional beliefs, Islamic female members of the family were not generally allowed to participate in public life. In fact, many Moors believed that the honor of the family depended on the sexual behavior of all its female members, and thus any sexual conduct outside the confines of marriage would bring disgrace.
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How did the Moors modify the concept of "Honor"
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honor being based on the sexual conduct of the female members of the family, especially the wife's, continues well beyond the time of the Moors. In Spain's Golden Age, the seventeenth-century playwright CalderĂłn de la Barca bases many of his plays on this aspect of honor.
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Who was Pelayo?
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The Moors occupied most of the Iberian Peninsula, but some Christian soldiers under King Pelayo took refuge in the northern part of Spain (an area called Asturias, in the Cantabrian Mountains).
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What is Al-Andalus?
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Yet the culture of the Moors lives well beyond 1492; Cervantes reports that Arabic was still spoken as late as 1600; many vocabulary words in Spanish date from the Arabic (ojalá que = would that Allah grant; barrio = word from the Arabic barrĂ, meaning someone who lives at the edge of a city). Also, the concept of honor and the limited role of women in public life continues past 1492.
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What are some of the typical architectural features of Islamic structures in Spain? (Consider the Great Mosque of Cordoba and the Alhambra)
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The mosques and plaza's. Another trait of Islamic architecture in Spain is the absence of carved human figures, even of the Prophet Mohammed. The Koran prohibits the presence of such statues, requiring that only God (Allah) be worshipped.
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What is the Reconquista?
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Eventually the descendents of these soldiers gained strength and begin to reconquer land belonging to the Moors to the south, thus beginning a period called the "Reconquest" (la Reconquista)
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What products did the moors introduce to the Iberian Peninsula?
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The Moors also bring new products and technology to Spain, including rice, oranges and lemons, sugarcane, cotton, fine Arabian horses, paper, intricate irrigation systems, the concept of zero, and Arabic numbers. Another great exchange of products and technology will occur when the Spanish encounter the indigenous peoples of the Americas in 1492 and afterwards.
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When did the Jews arrive in the Peninsula?
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-Jews have had a special connection with the Iberian Peninsular for thousands of years. Some Jews may have landed in ancient Spain as travelers and traders during the times of the powerful King Solomon, son of Israel's King David (around 1000 B.C.) -Other Jewish families may have arrived in ancient Spain as early as the reign of the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 B.C.), shortly after this monarch's destruction of Jerusalem. -The first verifiable large migration of Jewish families to the Iberian Peninsula occurred during the reign of the Roman emperor Hadrian (117-138 A.D.), himself born in Spain. Perhaps many Jews fled to Spain because of the Roman destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
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Describe the relationship of the Jews with the Romans, Visigoths, Moors, and Christians?
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-The Treatment of the Jews by Islam The Jews suffered much persecution at the hands of the German invaders, especially the Visigoths, after 400 AD in Spain. The arrival of the Moors in 711, however, was a welcome change of circumstance for many Jewish families. In other parts of the Islamic world, the new religion generally respected and tolerated Judaism because of a common ancestor—Abraham. Both Jews and Moors prospered in the great city of Córdoba in the 10th century. -As the Reconquest continued, leading to the defeat of the Moors in 1492, more and more Jews came under control of the Christian kingdoms of the north. While many Christian monarchs included Jews in their courts as advisors, physicians, and bankers, Jews outside the protection of the kings often were at the mercy of angry mobs who were ready to blame the Jewish community for setbacks in the wars against the Moors or plagues.
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What caused increasing Christian intolerance of the Jews in the Thirteenth century?
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In the mid fourteenth century, the Black Plague struck Europe and Spain (the plague was caused by infected fleas and rats). Across Europe from 25% to 50% of any given area perished from this disease. Jews and other minorities were blamed for this scourge and were attacked and even burned at the stake.
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When were the Jews who refused to convert to Christianity expelled from Spain?
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Nevertheless, in the same year that Granada fell to the Christians (1492), the reigning monarchs—Isabella and Ferdinand—decided to expel all Jews who did not convert to Christianity. This was a tragic decision that forced some 30,000 - 40,000 Jewish families to leave a homeland that their ancestors claimed as their own for thousands of years.
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Who are the Sephardic Jews?
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Exiled Spanish Jews moved to northern Africa, Turkey, Italy, Greece and other Mediterranean lands. They become known as Sephardic Jews (Sefarad = Hebrew name for Spain). Today families with Sephardic roots live in the U.S. and in Southern California. Some traditional Sephardic families may even maintain an oral Spanish called ladino, which mirrors the archaic Spanish of fifteenth-century Spain.
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Who was King Alfonso the Wise? (Alfonso el Sabio)
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Yet there were moments of tolerance among the three great cultures of medieval Spain (Christian, Jew, and Moslem). One such period was during the reign of Alfonso X The Wise (El Sabio) in 13th century Toledo. There, in addition to all three groups being present and working for the King, at least one building served as mosque, synagogue, and church.
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What is the period called the Renaissance?
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The Renaissance was an important period of western civilization that began in 14th century Italy and soon spread to other European countries. Meaning "rebirth," this cultural trend thrived on renewed interest in the classic Greeks and Romans, in their literature and philosophy, in their art and architecture.
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Who are the important rulers during this period in Spain?
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Isabella and Ferdinand - In Spain, the Renaissance begin to flourish in the 15th century, especially during the reign of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand. Isabella (of Castile) and Ferdinand (of AragĂłn) married in 1469, thus uniting most of the Spanish peninsula under one rule and creating the first modern nation of Western Europe. -Charles V was the grandson of Isabella and Ferdinand (their son, Juan, had died in 1497). Charles' Father, Phillip, was a Hapsburg, and thus the young Charles inherited not only Spain but also the extensive possessions of the royal family of Austria. In addition to these European possessions (see the map on the next slide), Charles V also governed Spanish territory in the Americas and the Philippines. It was said that the sun never set on the Spanish empire, larger than the old Roman Empire. -Philip II was the son of Charles V, and governed his father's lands from 1556-1598. Whereas Charles spent little time in Spain, Philip ruled from his native country. Both father and son squandered much of the gold and silver of the Americas in countless wars against rebellious subjects, above all Protestants. Especially troublesome were the "low countries" (modern Belgium, Luxembourg, and Holland). In all, the dogmatic world view of the Spanish Counter Reformation was unable to respond to the needs of the diverse peoples under the Spanish Hapsburgs.
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List the important events of 1492
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As we have seen, in that year both the Moors were defeated at Granada and the Jews (who refused conversion to Christianity) were expelled from Spain. In addition, the monarchs sponsored a risky venture of exploration of the western seas and the lands there by financing Christopher Columbus. A fourth event concerned the publication of an important text. -Conquest of Granada (Moors) -Expulsion of the Jews -Columbus -First Spanish Grammar (Antonio de Nebrija)
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What is the Golden Age of Spain? Why was Spain on the decline during this period?
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Spain's Golden Age of Culture - With the death of Philip II and the arrival of the 17th century, Spain's political, economic, and military collapse was close at hand. A century of wars, the extravagant spending by the aristocracy, the squandering of the gold and silver from the Americas—all these factors began to humble the once mighty Spanish. The Golden Age in Spain (continued from Class 5) - The Golden Age in Spain refers to an appearance of a number of great painters, novelists, poets, and dramatists roughly between the years 1550 - 1700.
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Who were some of the important artists and writers from this time in Spain?
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-In 1492, Antonio de Nebrija, a University of Salamanca professor, wrote the first grammar book of a Romance language (Spanish) and personally gave a copy to Isabella (Gramática castellana). Asked by the Queen what the book was for, Nebrija responded that "siempre la lengua fue compañera del imperio" (language has always been the companion of empire). This occurred in January of 1492, long before Columbus would return from his first voyage (October), but Nebrija and others sensed that Spain was at a moment of expansion and would need to teach others the Spanish language. -Curiously, though, as the "hardening of the arteries" and national decadence took root, there was a magnificent flowering of the arts, a true Golden Age of literature and culture for Spain. Writers (Cervantes, Lope de Vega, MarĂa de Zayas), painters (Velázquez, El Greco), poets (GĂłngora, Quevedo), dramatists (Lope de Vega, Tirso de Molina, CalderĂłn de la Barca), and others created what was to become the nation's greatest cultural moment (which ended around 1700 and the last Hapsburg King, Charles II).
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What is the Escorial
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The Escorial - Philip II built one of Spain's most famous buildings between 1575-1581. Called El Escorial, the enormous structure was at once a palace, monastery, center for government, school, and royal cemetery. The stately and sober Escorial reflected well the cautious monarch who built the palace. Its straight lines and gray walls of stone, perhaps reminiscent of the Kremlin during the times of the old Soviet Union, was a fortress for a king who tried, without success, to maintain the large and unwieldy Spanish empire.
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What are some of the characteristics of the typical Don Juan?
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Tirso de Molina's "Don Juan Tenorio" is the first play about a charismatic womanizer that will soon be copied by others and which will create a type that lives even today in modern culture. Don Juan has had many faces over the centuries, but Tirso gives the rake his most famous characterization: a man of action, brave, intelligent, with almost total control over the women he chooses to seduce, without much concern over the abuse and abandonment of his victims. Don Juan's techniques center on his communication skills -- compliments, flattery, and even lies. For example, he promises Aminta that he will become her husband ( 65) and that she will become a "royal" bride (she is a commoner). Don Juan makes up a story about a previous seduction of Aminta so that her bridegroom Batricio will abandon her (61). Don Juan is resourceful -- when Batricio gives the noble his ring unexpectedly ( 63), Don Juan uses the ring to "prove" Batricio's consent to enter Aminta's bed (64). Why do these intelligent women fall for Don Juan (there are 3 other women in the play)? Perhaps Don Juan success lies partly in the fact that he can take advantage of the hopes and dreams of his victims and their desire for social mobility, sexual pleasure, an escape from a domineering husband or father, or a secret desire for adventure in a dull life.
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Who is Miguel de Cervantes?
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a Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright. wrote Don Quixote.
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What us Lazarillo de Tormes about?
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"Lazarillo de Tormes" establishes the format for the picaresque novel, in which a young boy experiences several masters during his growing years. Along the way, social criticism is combined with fiction that, under the pen of a experienced writer, could be highly entertaining. Such was the case with "Lazarillo de Tormes" a best-seller of the Spanish sixteenth-century. Lazarillo was also a banned text; that is to say, its reading and publication was officially prohibited by the Church because of material deemed to be inappropriate for a Christian public (however, as often happens in such cases, many obtained and read the novel -- even priests). This is one reason why the author's name remains unknown: he (or she) probably would have been punished as a heretic by the Spanish Inquisition (the police force of the Church and the monarchy).
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Define these names: Spanish America, Hispanic America, Iberoamerica, Latin America
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-For example, Spanish America or Hispanic America refers to those countries whose primary language is Spanish - Iberoamerica includes all Spanish-speaking countries as well as Brazil (where Portuguese is spoken). - Latin America nowadays is a general term that usually refers to all countries south of the U.S. border, and for some writers or publications may include such non-Hispanic countries as Haiti and Jamaica.
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What are the three great rivers and major mountain chain of South America?
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In South America, the continent is dominated by three great rivers—the Amazon, RĂo de la Plata, and the Orinoco—as well as the the Andes mountains. The Andes run along the "spine" of the continent for over 4,000 miles, making it the longest mountain range in the world.
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What is the largest Country of South America
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Brazil
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What is the largest Spanish-Speaking Country of Latin America
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Mexico
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Where did the people who make Latin America come from?
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Many different communities make up the contemporary population of the Americas. To begin with, there are over 15,000,000 indigenous (native) Americans who can trace their ancestry to families living in North and South America before the European encounter (1492). Some families may trace their roots to both European and indigenous ancestors; they are the mestizos, daughters and sons of two distinct cultures. Other families may ultimately look to Africa as a source of pride of their past, their distant relatives having been forcibly transported to the Americas a slaves beginning shortly after 1492. Other families past and present are from all parts of the globe, including Europe and Asia.
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What major plants and animals were native to North/South America prior to the Encounter and what major plants and animals came to the Americas from Europe?
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Flora and Fauna of the region - Many important plants are native to the Americas and were not know outside the region until the Encounter (1492). Their eventual cultivation in other parts of the world significantly increased the world's food supply, especially in the case of the potato (from the Andean region) and corn (found in both North and South America). Other native plants only grown in the Americas included tobacco, cacao (chocolate), peanuts, tapioca, sunflower seeds, pineapples, tomatoes, and rubber. Not known in the Americas prior to 1492 were rice, wheat, oats, barley, rye, sugar cane, coffee, olives, grapes, oranges, and lemons. Many of these crops now thrive in the Americas after their introduction by Europeans and others. - Before 1492, there were few domesticated animals in the Americas. The largest domesticated animal was the Andean llama and alpaca. Also domesticated were the turkey, several varieties of dogs, ducks, and guinea pigs (cuy). Unknown at the time of the Encounter in the Americas were horses, cattle, pigs, mules, sheep, goats, and chickens. These animals, once introduced, flourished in the New World. Also brought by the Spanish was the humble house cat.
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What is a mestizo?
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Some families may trace their roots to both European and indigenous ancestors; they are the mestizos, daughters and sons of two distinct cultures. Other families may ultimately look to Africa as a source of pride of their past, their distant relatives having been forcibly transported to the Americas a slaves beginning shortly after 1492.
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What is the location of the Maya civilization
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Building on the achievements of previous regional cultures, such as the Olmecs, the Maya culture began to expand in the Yucatán Peninsula around 600 B.C., an area about the size of the state of New Mexico.
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Describe some Maya Views?
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As we will see in the reading listed for this section (from the Maya Popol Vuh), the gods of the Maya were believed to be capricious, unpredictable, and even hostile to the aspirations of humankind. One way to insure the good will of the supernatural was to offer human blood. On sacred occasions, the king might pierce the foreskin of his penis and allow blood to drip on thin pieces of bark that were later burned; the queen would pierce her tongue with a small cord to produce the blood that would please the gods. Enemy soldiers and even captured kings from other cities were offered up to the great Maya divinities.
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Why was human sacrifice so important?
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the gods of the Maya were believed to be capricious, unpredictable, and even hostile to the aspirations of humankind. One way to insure the good will of the supernatural was to offer human blood.
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Why were mathematics and calenders so important?
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During the productive classic period, the Maya achieved the most complex civilization in North America up to that time. Especially noteworthy were the development of a writing system of nearly 400 different symbols; and advanced mathematics which included the concept of zero. Precise calendars, astronomical calculations, and monumental architecture are also hallmarks of the Maya culture.
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Where is Tikal and why is it an important city?
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Tikal (tee-KAL) is a ruined Maya city located in the northern Petén province of Guatemala. During the heyday of the Maya Empire, Tikal was a very important and influential city, controlling vast stretches of territory and dominating smaller city-states. Like the rest of the great Mayan cities Tikal fell into decline around 900 A.D. or so and was eventually abandoned. It is currently an important archaeological and tourism site.
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Where did the Aztecs live?
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In the years just prior to the Spanish invasion of the Americas (1492), two great empires flourished: the Inca empire in South America and the Aztec empire of North America. "Aztec" is a general cover term which refers to a groups of peoples who settled around Lake Texcoco, the site of modern-day Mexico City. The most important community of the Aztecs were the Mexica, a powerful tribe that came to dominate the area of central Mexico.
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What is Tenochtitlan?
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The Aztecs arrive in the area of Lake Texcoco around 1325, having traveled several years from an area in the north called Aztlan. According to legend, the Aztecs were instructed by their principal war deity Huitzilopochtli to establish a city were they see an eagle perched on a cactus devouring a snake. The eagle, cactus, and snake were sighted on an island of the lake, and the Aztecs settled there and named their city Tenochtitlan. Today, the eagle, cactus, and snake appear on the Mexican flag as well as other national symbols.
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What was Quetzalcoatl?
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In addition to the powerful war god Huitzilopochtli, the Aztecs worshipped another major deity, Quetzalcoatl. This divine being was most often pictured as a feather serpent (quetzal = bird; coatl = serpent). However, the god also was remembered as taking the form a man. According to Mexica myth, Quetzalcoatl created humankind. Because of disputes with other gods, Quetzalcoatl was forced to flee, but was expected to return some day. When Hernán Cortés appeared off the coast of Mexico in 1519, many Aztecs believed that he could be the returning god Quetzalcoatl.
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Describe the Aztec Stone?
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-One of the greatest artifacts of Aztec culture is the famous Aztec Calendar or Sun Stone. It weighs 25 tons and measures 12 feet across. It was originally located in a temple in the center of Tenochtitlan; the stone was placed in a horizontal position and human sacrifice took place on its surface. It is a calendar that represents 260 days of the Aztec year (another calendar, used concurrently, stood for 365 days).
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What is Nahuatl
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The language of the Aztecs, Nahuatl, is still spoken today in many parts of Mexico.
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What is the 5th Sun?
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- The present world is the fifth sun, and the Aztec saw themselves as "the People of the Sun," whose divine duty was to wage cosmic war in order to provide the sun with his tlaxcaltiliztli ("nourishment"). Without it, the sun would disappear from the heavens. Thus the welfare and the very survival of the universe depended upon the offerings of blood and hearts to the sun
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Where did the Incas Live?
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While the Aztecs were expanding in central and southern Mexico in the 16th century, in South America, the Inca had created the largest, most extensive empire in the Americas -Inca lands included parts of modern-day Colombia, Ecuador, PerĂş, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile.
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What is Quechua? What are Quipus?
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As in the case of the Aztecs, military expansion and conquest increased the size of Inca influence and spread their language (also still spoken today), Quechua. -The Incas did not have a writing system, yet were yet able to hold together the largest empire in the Americas. One record-keeping device that did help the Incas in their imperial tasks was the quipu. The quipu consisted of a series of strings and knots, of different lengths and colors. Based on a decimal system (as our own, with the concept of zero), the quipus allowed Inca rulers to keep track of population counts, numbers of llamas, the amount of corn and potatoes in storage, and other records. Tens of thousands of quipus existed at the time of the Spanish invasion, but the Spaniards destroyed most of the quipus they found and only about 600 remain today. Runners, called chasquis, carried the quipus and their information over the long distances of the empire. -Recent research on the quipus shows that even more information may be locked up in its knots and cords. Gary Urton of Harvard University has studied the way the knots are tied and other characteristics of the quipus; he contends that a lost language system could be present which recorded the history, myths, and poetry of the Incas. Additional study of the quipus will be needed to verify this interesting new theory.
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Why was the Llama/Alpaca/Vicuna important for the Inca
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-The only large domesticated animal in the Americas was the llama and her cousin the alpaca (vicuña is another variety of llama but are not domesticated). These animals were considered sacred by the Inca and sacrificed to the gods. In addition, the sturdy llama could carry up to 80 pounds, provide meat, leather for sandals, and dung for fertilizer. The Incas had herds of llama said to be over 50,000.
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What type of government does Spain have? What is the role of the King? Prime Minister? Cortes?
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parliamentary monarchy, The King of Spain nominates a candidate for the presidency who stands before the Congress of Deputies of Spain, the lower house of the Cortes Generales (parliament), for a vote of confidence in a process known as a parliamentarian investiture, effectively an indirect election of the head of government by the elected Congress of Deputies. In practice, the Prime Minister is almost always the leader of the largest party in the Congress. Since current constitutional practice in Spain calls for the King to act on the advice of his ministers, the Prime Minister is effectively the country's chief executive.
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What s the #1 Sport of Spain?
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Soccer
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711 A.D
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First of all, the event that took place in 711A.D was that Islam and the Moors arrive in Spain. Not only did they arrive but they became the political force until the fall of their last city, Granada, in 1492. Moors was the name given to those who fought for Islam. All the Moors came from Berber tribes of Northern Africa, Syria, Egypt, Palestine and the Arabian Peninsula. If you are not familiar with Islam then here is a brief description. (Feel free to reply if there are any discrepancies or something that you would like to add.) Prophet Mohammed lived and worked near the Mecca. He was well respected by others for his integrity and honesty. One day when he was meditating on a mountain, Allah; or God, began speaking to him through the angel Gabriel. After this, Mohammed stopped believing in his tribal gods and placed his faith in Allah. Later, the words that were revealed to him by the angel were written in the Koran, the holy book of Islam. While the Moors were in Spain, the city of Cordoba was the most richest and sophisticated city in Western Europe. Paris and London were mere villages. Aside from this accomplishment, Islamic Spain had many different languages including, Arabic, Hebrew, Latin, and the newly developing language, Spanish. A huge contribution that the Moors made to Spain was they brought new products and technology with them. Some of those things were rice, oranges, lemons, sugarcanes, cotton, horses, paper, irrigation system, concept of zero, and Arabic numbers. The way I look at it is that the Moors had a major impact in Europe. They introduced many new things to Europe that eventually made their way to present day America. I also had no idea that the Spanish language was developing while the Moors were in Spain. I find it very interesting. What are your thoughts on the items that the Moors brought to Spain?
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What does Al-Andalus refer to?
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- also known as Muslim Spain or Islamic Iberia, was a medieval Muslim cultural domain and territory occupying at its peak most of what are today Spain and Portugal. The name more generally describes parts of the Iberian Peninsula governed by Muslims (given the generic name of Moors) at various times between 711 and 1492, though the boundaries changed constantly as the Reconquista progressed
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What does "Sephardic" refer to?
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- Sephardic Jews are the Jews of Spain, Portugal, North Africa and the Middle East and their descendants.
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What was the Jews most valuable service to the Christains kings? For the nobility and military orders?
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- The most valued Jewish service to the Christian nobility of Medieval Spain was finances. The kings did not have a formal form of income and instead relied on Jews to do tax farming, which is how taxes would be collected from the public for the king.
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Besides financial dealings what other forms of social contact were there between Jews and Christains?
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- It became custom that Christians take part in witnessing Jewish practices such as circumcisions and marriages, as well as Jews taking part in Christian practices such as baptisms and even being granted the sacred title of godfathers to their children. The Christians and Jews were able to form bonds and relationships that even led to intermarriages between the two, usually in the wealthier families.
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The three most important events of 1492
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The 1400s were perhaps the years I which many important events took place. Many of these events actually shaped the future, or today. However in 1492 there were three great events that took place. The events that took place were the conquest of Granada, the expulsion of the Jews, Columbus arrives in North America, and the first Spanish grammar is developed. The conquest of Granada was what would be considered as "mission impossible," if you will, which was started by Isabella and Ferdinand. Isabella and Ferdinand were called. Isabella and Ferdinand, the Catholic Monarchs. Granada was the only area that had resisted the Reconquista. The Reconquista was the campaign in which the Arabs were forced out of Spain. This event was very important because after this conquest Isabella and Ferdinand would rule most of the Iberian Peninsula. Together Isabella and Ferdinand acquired so much land because Isabella was the heiress of the kingdom of Castile, and Fernando would someday inherit the kingdom of Aragon. Along with the conquest of Granada came the expulsion of the Jews. They were expelled from Spain because they refused to convert to Christianity. If the Jews were gone then Spain would be complete converted to Christianity. The person responsible for beginning the expulsion was Father Tomas de Torquemada. This father believed that if the Jews remained in Spain, they would influence the Jews who had already converted to Christianity to continue practicing Judaism instead. The father did not count on Isabella's and Ferdinand's support until January of 1492 when Granada was conquered. Another significant event that took place in 1492 was that after conquering Granada, Isabella and Ferdinand finally agreed to support Christopher Columbus' voyage to the new world. Most of us if not all of us are very familiar with the events that took place when Columbus thought he was in the Indies; and he was really in North America. The rest is history. However this event is of much and great importance because this lead to other events and the creation of what would eventually be the United States of America. Last, in the same year, Antonio de Nibraja wrote the first grammar book. Nibraja was a professor at University of Salamanca. He developed this Romance Language, or Spanish grammar book in January well before Columbus returned from his voyage. Nibraja gave a copy to Isabella it is also important to point out that Nibraja actually dedicated the book to Isabella. This last event that occurred in 1492 is important because Spain was expanding and they would need to teach others the Spanish language.
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Diego Velasquez
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Was a Spanish painter who was the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV and one of the most important painters of the Spanish Golden Age. He was an individualistic artist of the contemporary Baroque period, important as a portrait artist. In addition to numerous renditions of scenes of historical and cultural significance, he painted scores of portraits of the Spanish royal family, other notable European figures, and commoners, culminating in the production of his masterpiece Las Meninas
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Jose de Ribera
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Was a Spanish painter. He is known primarily for his religious paintings depicting monks, nuns, and martyrs, and for his still-lifes Zurbarán gained the nickname Spanish Caravaggio, owing to the forceful, realistic use of chiaroscuro in which he excelled.
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Define Quipus, Chasquis
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Quipus:The Incas did not have a writing system, yet were yet able to hold together the largest empire in the Americas. One record-keeping device that did help the Incas in their imperial tasks was the quipu. The quipu consisted of a series of strings and knots, of different lengths and colors. Based on a decimal system (as our own, with the concept of zero), the quipus allowed Inca rulers to keep track of population counts, numbers of llamas, the amount of corn and potatoes in storage, and other records. Tens of thousands of quipus existed at the time of the Spanish invasion, but the Spaniards destroyed most of the quipus they found and only about 600 remain today. Chasquis: Runners carried the quipus and their information over the long distances of the empire.
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Summarize some of the reasons Seneca lists to why slaves should be treated well by their masters.
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Seneca, the Stoic philosopher, was opposed some the practices Romans followed in regards to the worth of human life. He was a model for future humanitarians today by means of addressing issues that are still being challenged today. Seneca was opposed to slavery, and due to the government policies he could not state I publicly, but this did not keep him from sharing his thoughts on slavery in his letters he wrote to other Roman citizens. Seneca's main recommendation is for his fellow Roman citizens to treat slaves like they are just another Roman citizen, like they are of equal status to Roman citizens. Masters should not see themselves as socially superior to their slaves because they are all human and deserve to be treated fairly and humanely. In his 47th letter to a young man named Lucilius, Seneca states that there is a proper way to treat slaves and that their masters should treat them like any other human being. Seneca says to be "kind and courteous" (11) towards slaves and in doing so the slaves will be loyal towards their masters and not betray them when the opportunity arises. Seneca knows that if the slaves are mistreated they will feel no need to continue to be loyal towards their masters if another mater like figure is threating their master, or if they don't have to. Seneca believes that the slaves are humans just like him and every other Roman and that there is no reason to treat them badly, if they are treated badly the slaves may betray their masters and their family which should then harm the family and lead to misfortune. Masters should treat their slaves like family, and treat them the way they want their slaves to treat them, in doing so everyone is happy and treated the way they should be treated. Seneca mentions that it was once practiced by the maters on a special day to eat with their slaves (12); however this tradition and many others have stopped being practiced but Seneca believes that this tradition needs to be practices to make the slaves feel equally superior which will help lead to better treatment of them. Seneca states that masters, "[Speak] with them [slaves] daily, and incorporating them into family life; communication with slaves by masters insures that they won't gossip or betray the family outside of the home (11)." By treating the slaves this way the slaves will be happier with their masters and work harder for them without the masters having to worry about disobedience from their slaves. Seneca's writings do not call for an end of slavery but for an end to the mistreatment of slaves. Masters once saw their slaves as humans and Seneca knows that this needs to be practiced once again. Seneca sees that all life is important and deserves proper treatment, regardless of class or status.
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On taking of ones own life, according to Seneca when is it appropriate for one to take his/her own life?
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In regards to Seneca's, "On the Taking of One's Own Life," the two circumstances that he approved the taking of one's own life was because of health and honor. The 15 year old boy, Tullius, had a disease that he felt was worse than death; therefore due to the situation he organized his own death. The other boy was a 16 year old Spartan that had been taken as a slave after having been a trainer and felt such dishonor and I would say embarrassment, cracked his own skull against a wall and died from the injury. It makes you wonder if Seneca used these incidences to justify his own reasoning when he was considering suicide for himself. Is honor more valuable than life? What are we sacrificing when we sacrifice ourselves? However, if life is being lived in enslavement there are probably times that one would feel like their life had no value or meaning. Did the culture of the Spartans hold such high regard to honor that without it life no longer mattered? I think there are cultures and beliefs today that may hold honor as such a significant part of who a person is that they would be lost without it. Such as if you dishonor your family you may be exiled or removed as a member, part of who you are would be gone with it. The effects of the dishonor would have an impact on the rest of your life. Therefore, is there a justification for not wanting to continue life without honor? How about the justification of a disease for not continuing life, because it feels like it's already killing you? I have a family member who is losing the mobility of his body, and his fear is that he will be a slave to his disease. Is there a point when the disease causes justification for an end or is suffering just a part of life? Can a miracle or cure take place if you take away its chance? This topic is serious and comes doown to one's beliefs.
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Why did Sparta boy kill himself?
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The other boy was a 16 year old Spartan that had been taken as a slave after having been a trainer and felt such dishonor and I would say embarrassment, cracked his own skull against a wall and died from the injury.
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Who are some of the figures here that also appear in the old and new testament (Christian Bible)(Mary)
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In "Mary" from the Koran, Mary is met by a full grown man who informs her that she will bear a son. Mary questions the man stating that she is a virgin and has never been touched by a man. God answers that He can do anything, and she conceives Jesus, who in the eyes of the Quran is a Holy messenger of God, rather than the son of God. After giving birth to Jesus, Mary takes him to her people where he himself informs them that he is a messenger of God and has brought blessings and a Holy Book. The New Testament story differs from the story told in the Quran. In the New Testament Jesus is born of Joseph and Mary in the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea. After Jesus was born they wrap him in a blanket and lay him in a manger because there were no guest rooms available. God sends angels to shepherds and informs them that the Son of God, Jesus had been born to Mary and Joseph and lies in a manger. The major difference between these two similar stories of Jesus, is the Muslim idea of Jesus as a messenger of God, or a holy prophet, opposed to the New Testament's idea of Jesus as the Son of God. This may be due to the Muslim strict adherence to monotheism as opposed to the Christian Holy Trinity. In the Quran Jesus is a sign of God's power and is created without a father, Joseph is not a part of the story of Jesus's birth. Another Difference between the Quran and the New Testament, is immediately after birth Jesus tells the people of Mary that he shall be blessed on the day of his birth and on the day of his death. Christians believe in the crucifying of Christ that saved them from their sin and ensured Heaven for those who accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, while Muslims believe that Jesus was not crucified but died of natural causes. Muslims do not believe that Christ was the son of God who was crucified to save their souls, but that he was a prophet who brought the word of God from the Angel Gabriel.
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How does Sem Tob Gently remind his Chirstian audience that the Jews can also provide worthwhile advice?
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COLLAPSE Sem Tob was a rabbi in a Castilian town during the fourteenth century. There were many people who attacked what he had to say because of is religion. Sem Tob wrote "Moral Proverbs" in order to enlighten Christians of how the Jewish people can give good advice that is worth listening to. Right from the beginning, Sem Tob expresses how Jewish people are seen, and how it is the wrong way to see them. "Growing out of thorns a rose is still beautiful; a humble shoot can produce a fine grape," (Page 27). This is basically saying that even something that is seen as bad or not particularly good as a whole can still have beauty or knowledge within. He is a great writer in the fact that he gets straight to the point telling the Christians that there is more than meets the eye in the Jewish community. Sem Tob also remarks on how important knowledge and wisdom are. He basically tells Christians that wisdom is the most important thing in life. In order to acquire more wisdom it needs to be obtained through multiple sources, even from the least likely of places. Another important fact that Sem Tob discussed was how one group being considered better than another does not necessarily make it true. "It's a truth that can't be denied: both the houseguest and fish begin to smell after the third day," (page 28). I took this to mean that the group that is considered better than the other will eventually start to show similarities to the inferior group. This means that after a while, the differences don't matter and people need to realize that. One of the final verses said, "If the wise are silent, knowledge will be lost; if they do not teach, there will be no students," (page 28). This was smart to include at the end of this passage because it reinforces the idea that Christians should listen to the Jewish people. If the Jewish people are kept silent then nobody will benefit, that knowledge will be lost and have gone to waste. Sem Tob made many good points as to why his Christian audience can accept worthwhile advice from the Jews.
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Describe some other kinds of advice that Sem Tob develops in these proverbs?
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COLLAPSE Sem Tob calls the attention of the Christian people to give them advice to take into consideration that the Jewish people can be providers of Christ too. He doesn't noticeably come out and say what he wants, but rather through proverbs in order to pay attention to the meaning behind it. It allows them to consider the connotations and read into the subtext of his work. In his second proverb, "I dyed my gray hairs...to look like a young man...I was afraid if others saw my grey hairs, they would expect to see a wise old man and wouldn't find him."(Pg. 27) There is a lot to learn in life. Not everyone is wise and wise isn't everything. He explains that people assume if you're old you're wise. Just because you are old doesn't mean you know everything. They have to take into consideration that Jewish people are followers of Christ and they know things, too. They also carry words of wisdom that can assist in spreding Christ's meaning and help Christians. In his fourth proverb, "Stars do not shine...it is their duty to glorify God." (Pg.27) Every action is done for God, and his people live for him. Christians fail to realize that they all live for God, and not themselves. They are following the same leader of the Castile, so it shouldn't matter if they are Jewish. Their duty is to their God, as Tob puts in his proverb. Tob puts moral and meaning behind his work that captures the attention of the reader. It allows them to reevaluate life. His work allowed Christians to think about their actions and if it's really in the favor of God, or themselves. Tob emphasizes on knowledge, learning, and wisdom. You must capture and learn from everything and everyone, despite their differences. He wanted Christians to consider the Jewish community as an opportunity to gain wisdom and learn from their ways.
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How does Lazarillo's new master define the Concept of honor? Think of what the squire says/does
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Lazarillo's master discusses his idea of honor in many places of the story. He also carries himself in such a way that reflects his idea of honor and what it means to be a gentleman. Lazarillo begins to describe his master's demeanor; he describes how he walks with a "strut" and air as if he isn't dirt broke and starving. The master tells Lazarillo of how he is of high birth, and he claims to have estates and lands as well as a pigeon coupe that would yield two hundred pigeons a year. He claims that he is worth sixty thousand pennies, and he tells Lazarillo that he has pride such that he will not let anyone disrespect him. The Master demands that people treat him with respect and address him as sir, he claims to have left his hometown because a night refused to address him in a manner that he saw fit. The main point about honor that he makes is "a Gentlemen is obliged to nobody except God and the king". The master has so much pride that it actually makes Lazarillo feel sorry for him, because he will go without food sometimes just because he is unwilling to beg or take food from his servant at first. The master portrays a wealthy, well-fed man of high birth, and does not let on to the fact that he has no possessions in his home, nor any food to eat. Lazarillo is forced to go beg for food for himself and his master, while the master struts off around the town everyday pretending as if he isn't being fed solely on the scraps that his servant brings home for him. There is a part in the story where the master is flirting with some women, whom Lazarillo knows to exchange their company for lunch, and once the master realizes this he starts making excuses that the ladies are well aware of and they leave him immediately. I think this eludes to the masters pride even though it is obvious that he lacks the means to back it up. Although the master claims high birth and estate in his hometown, the landlord comes to collect rent from him and he basically skips town. Leaving behind his debt and servant, anyone could see this is the furthest thing from honor that the master so vehemently claims to have.
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In this act of the play, what are some of the techniques that Don Juan utilizes to seduce Aminta?
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Don Juan Tenorio is a Moor who has come to Spain and finds himself wildly attracted to Aminta, a woman engaged to another man. At the wedding itself, he befriends the bridegroom and during a game of cards, the groom is distracted and Don Juan takes his chance to talk to Aminta alone. At first he makes a bet with her, saying if he can make her blush with a single word, then she must give herself to him completely. She resists, of course, saying she has made a vow to her new husband and cannot take the chance of ruining that. However, when he does move in to whisper to her, her face errupts in redness and he finds he has won. Still, she refuses to go to bed with him. Next, he tries offering her the role od Duchess, saying she will be the royal bride to a great prince if she agrees to marry him. Instead of waiting for her to decline this time, he leaves her to continue the party. That night he confronts her groom and spins a tale that paints Aminta as a harlot, a "used bride," and convinces the man to leave her, leaving with him the ring he was going to give her that night. Once the groom is gone, Don Juan swoops in and tells Aminta that her almost-husband was a louse, and that she needs a "nobler body" to please her for life. Aminta, repeating that she has made an oath to her husband to only love him with intimacy, is shown the ring and Don Juan says that he is her true husband since he is the only one who can love her correctly. This is the only loophole in her plan, if she made a vow to her husband, and Don Juan is officially her husband, then her vow is to him. He tells her that the ring is a symbol of his vow to her, finally tying the ribbon on top of his plan, and convincing her that the right choice is to give herself to him. Therefore she conceids, and reminds herself that she's not only "still a bride, but more: a royal one."
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Describe Abend's Spanish boyfriend, Juan Antonio, and his concept of dating in her essay about studying in Spain(dance of the Sevillanas)
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Lisa Anne Abend wrote "A Seminar in Passion, Spanish style" about her experience in college with learning the flamenco dance, this particular type of flamenco dance being called sevillanas. Lisa Anne met her boyfriend, Juan Antonio, at a bar when he asked her to dance. She did not know how to dance this particular way, but tried anyway. Immediately after failing at this dance she signed up to take classes. Lisa Anne compares this dance to bull-fighters, "somewhere near the middle of the evening the music would change, and the dancers would suddenly pair off, pulling themselves into the stylized posture of bull-fighters." It was aggressive and sexual at the same time. Lisa Anne describes this dance with a story containing four different steps. First, the man and woman meet, second, comes the passion and enchantment, third, is the breakup, and fourth, is the reunification of the couple. Juan Antonio is comparable to the sevillanas because he believes that letting everything go will bring out the love in a relationship. He believes there needs to just be that trust in the relationship to lead to love, just like the trust in the dance steps leads to the reunification and everything working out. Their relationship started out with them noticing each other and then led to them spending their time together and Lisa Anne being showered with flowers and serenaded. Then they got to the point where their differences appeared and they broke up. Juan Antonio believed in their relationship and believed it was love, but Lisa Anne refused to reunite with him. He believed her to be strong headed and cold and that was the reason they could not be together. It seems that Juan Antonio thought that if she had only been aggressive and sexual like in the dance, everything would have fallen into place.
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What is the difference between what a husband expects from a wife and what the lord expects from a woman who is a nun? (Selections)
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To say that Santa Teresa de Jesus is both a Catholic Saint and a Feminist(?) is indeed a paradox. However, this was the impression that was put upon reading one of her selections. When comparing the behaviors of a typical husband versus the lord, it is very stark that she is comparing a companion of earthly frivolousness versus divine virtue. When speaking of the behaviors of a frivolous husband and how his wife would act, the wife is subjective and subordinate to how the husband feels. For instance, when the husband is happy, so should the wife. If the husband is sad, so should the wife. This interaction represents an earthly kind of relationship, one that is shallow and may seem to have no higher meaning. In fact, she speaks to her nuns how fortunate of the "subjection [they] have been freed from..." and not having to rely on a husband for emotional and mental stability. In comparison to the behaviors of the Lord, the Lord experiences Christ-like servitude to women, which is not surprising at all considering that Teresa is Catholic. However, what is definitely contrasting is that when a woman devotes herself to the Lord, the divine Lord would love her back, thus giving women a higher position of power. In other words, by commiting herself to God, "He is the one who submits and He wants you to be the lady with authority to rule; He submits to your will." Teresa goes on further that the souls of fellow nuns are "castles" in which the Lord "finds his delight" in. Teresa argues that women (nuns especially) would become more powerful and have more authority if they commit themselves to Holy virtue and the divinity of God. Again, this contrasts with the earthly temptations of having a husband and tethering herself to a relationship that is subjective and subordinate to the male counterpart.
