Welcome to SPN 3500: Civilization of Spain I (Middle Ages & Golden Age). In this course we will cover the history and culture of Spain from Prehistory to the year 1700, with a special emphasis on the Middle Ages (711-1492) and the Golden Age (16th and 17th centuries). Some of the topics we will discuss include the prehistoric inhabitants of Spain, the different ethnic tribes before the Romans, the Phoenicians and other Mediterranean peoples, the Roman Empire, the Jewish and Arabic culture in Medieval Spain (Sepharad and al-Andalus), the Spanish Empire, and many other aspects of Medieval and Renaissance culture. For this purpose, apart from class lectures, we will read texts from Christian, Arabic, and Jewish Spain, and we will explore the coexistence of these three cultures in the Middle Ages. We will also watch movie clips and listen to songs, ballads, popular lyrics, etc., and analyze important works of art and documents in the history of Spain (such as fueros, cartas puebla, wills and testaments, royal edicts, etc.) Class lectures, readings, materials, and discussions are in Spanish, and in this course the language is not an end, but a means to get to know the culture of a country with such a rich historical and cultural legacy as Spain.
While I will try to make every class as enjoyable as possible, and delight you (I hope) with PowerPoints, movies, songs, and works of art from Spanish history, there are many things you must do on your own. The first one, of course, is come to class prepared, having read the assigned readings, and with your written responses (if any) completed in a suitable manner. Apart from that you need to speak up (participate in class), and be ready to read and write (and by this I mean read and write critically). Remember that your participation in class is essential, so you must always come prepared. If you are willing to put in some time, I promise the course will be worth the effort.
ALL texts and materials for the course can be found in this site. Please make sure that you print the assigned readings and materials, as you will need them in the classroom.
Written responses / Short Essays 30% Exams 30% Participation / Class discussion 15% Oral Presentation 25%
Written Responses / Short Essays. A large part of the class implies written responses of many kinds. These range from answers to the book’s questions (shortest) to analysis of historical documents (medium) to short papers on relevant historical topics (longest). Depending on the historical period or topic we are studying I will ask you to write a shorter or longer response, or that you focus on different themes, so pay attention in class because each written response will be different in topic, length and (increasing) difficulty!
Exams. Similarly to the written responses, we will have (essay-type) exams that will vary in difficulty and focus, depending on the historical period under study.
Participation / Class Discussion. It goes without saying that participation is a crucial element in this course. Remember that participation does not mean getting things right or answering correctly. I don’t care about that, nor should you. Participation means trying, and I will give you exactly the same grade if you answer right all the time or if you don’t, as long as you speak up! As a reminder, participation grade (15%) is given at the end of the semester, and it really makes a difference in your grade.
Final Oral Presentation. Students, in groups of 2-4 people, will choose a topic related to Spanish literature in the Middle Ages and the Golden Age and give an oral presentation to the class at the end of the semester. I will give you a list of topics as a guide, but you can choose anything of your liking, as long as it is related to the course.