Hispanic Culture
Spanish is the language of the Hispanic civilization, one of the greatest cultural groups in the world. Originating in northern Spain after the fall of the Roman Empire, the Spanish or Castilian language rapidly spread through the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. Spanish imperial expansion in the 16th and 17th centuries caused the Spanish language to spread even further; to Northern and Western parts of Africa, the Caribbean, Central and South America, vast areas of North America, and the Philippines. The first book completely written in Spanish dated from around the year 1140, “the Cantar de Mio Cid”.
However, the first written text that uses Spanish language is dated on the 13th June 964, the so called “Codex 46″.
Together with its influence in international politics and trade and commerce, the growing prestige of Spanish in the cultural terrain makes it a highly desired language. Spain is the fifth world book producer in titles.
Ten Spanish-language authors have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. It is the language of reputed Latin American writers such as Gabriel García Márquez, the author more quoted after Shakespeare and Descartes, Mario Vargas Llosa, Isabel Allende, Jorge Luis Borges and Carlos Fuentes. Furthermore, it is the mother tongue of Oscar-winning Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar; of unique painters Frida Kahlo and Pablo Picasso, the muralists of Mexico, the Nueva Troba Cubana. Spanish is the language of Liberation Theology and Spanish Mysticism; the language of passion and soccer; of Carlos Gardel and Astor Piazolla, of tango, the Peruvian cajón, flamenco and the Spanish guitar.
In May 1606 Pedro Fernández de Quirós (1565-1614), leading an expedition that departed from Peru, reached the Vanuatu archipelago and landed on a large island which he took to be part of the southern continent. He named it La Austrialia del Espiritu
Santo (The Southern Land of the Holy Spirit). The island is still called Espiritu Santo. In the 19th century some Australian Catholics claimed that Quirós had in fact discovered Australia, in advance of the Protestants Abel Tasman and James Cook. The
Archbishop of Sydney from 1884 to 1911, Francis Cardinal Moran, asserted this to be a fact, and it was taught in Catholic schools for many years.
Source: Discoverers Web
Students find Hispanic cultural icons very appealing because of their seamless integration with popular American culture. Pop music singers such as Jennifer Lopez or Ricky Martin are recognised worldwide. For many, Latino music and dance, Mexican food, Spanish tapas, and soccer are good entry points to the Hispanic culture. Getting to know and experience the many flavours of this vibrant culture is what drives many students to seek exchange opportunities and spend a few months in a Spanish-speaking country.
Most Brits are familiar with a myriad names, event and institutions related to the cultures of Spain and Latin America:
Painters: Goya, Velázquez, Picasso, Dalí, Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Michelena, Botero, Guayasamín…
Writers : Lorca, Cervantes, Gabriel García Márquez, Pablo Neruda, Mario Vargas Llosa, Jorge Luis Borges, Isabel Allende, Laura Esquivel, José Enrique Rodó, Juan Zorrilla, Onetti, Benedetti, César Vallejo, Andrés Bello…
Singers and Musicians : Jennifer López, Ricky Martin, Gloria Stefan, Julio y Enrique Iglesias, Carlos Gardel, Cristina Aguilera, Jorge Drexler. Joaquín Rodrigo, Isaac
Albéniz Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Juan Diego Florez, Miguel Fleta…
Public buildings: Sagrada Familia Barcelona cathedral, Pre-Columbian Inca and Azteca religious buildings, Macchu Pichu, Teotihuacan, Bilbao Guggenheim Museum…
The movies: Buñuel, Almodóvar, Antonio Banderas, Penélope Cruz, Pilar Miró, Amenábar, Gael García Bernal, Salma Hayek,…
Popular culture: Bullfighting, Mexican mariachis, Spanish flamenco, Catalan human towers,Rioplatense tango, Colombian salsa, San Fermines, Tomatina, carnaval, Mexican Hat Dance, La Bamba, Candombe uruguayo, Señor de los Milagros procesión, …
Sports: Maradona, Rafael Nadal, Raúl, Sergio García, Severiano Ballesteros, Daniel Pedrosa,Distéfano, Guillermo Vilas, Alex Crivillé, Fernando Alonso…
Food: Paella, tortilla, tacos, ron, tequila, chile con carne, frijoles, sangría, tapas, guacamole, Cebiche…
Fashion Designers: Balenciaga, Adolfo Domínguez, Roberto Verino, Vittorio y Lucchino, Amaya Arzuaga, Carolina Herrera.
Others: Chupa-chups, Lladró, …
World Heritage sites Spain
Here is a list of the properties as recorded on the World Heritage Spain:
Cultural
- Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada (1984)
- Altamira Cave (1985)
- Aranjuez Cultural Landscape (2001)
- Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida (1993)
- Archaeological Ensemble of Tarraco (2000)
- Archaeological Site of Atapuerca (2000)
- Burgos Cathedral (1984)
- Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí (2000)
- Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville (1987) Historic Centre of Cordoba (1984)
- Historic City of Toledo (1986)
- Historic Walled Town of Cuenca (1996)
- La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia (1996)
- Las Médulas, León (1997)
- Monastery and Site of the Escorial, Madrid (1984)
- Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias (1985) Mudejar Architecture of Aragon (1986)
- Old City of Salamanca (1988)
- Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches (1985)
- Old Town of Cáceres (1986)
- Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct (1985)
- Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona (1997) Palmeral of Elche (2000)
- Poblet Monastery (1991)
- Renaissance Monumental Ensembles of Úbeda and Baeza (2003) Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula (1998) Roman Walls of Lugo (2000)
- Route of Santiago de Compostela (1993)
- Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe (1993)
- San Cristóbal de La Laguna (1999)
- San Millán Yuso and Suso Monasteries (1997)
- Santiago de Compostela (Old Town) (1985)
- University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares (1998)
- Works of Antoni Gaudí (1984)
Mixed
- Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture (1999)
- Pyrénées – Mont Perdu (1997)
Natural
- Doñana National Park (1994)
- Garajonay National Park (1986)
Nobel Prize Laureates from Spanish-language countries
Argentina
- Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, Peace, 1980
- Bernardo Houssay, Physiology or Medicine, 1947
- Carlos Saavedra Lamas, Peace, 1936
- Luis Federico Leloir, Chemistry, 1970
- César Milstein, Physiology or Medicine, 1984
Chile
- Gabriela Mistral, Literature 1945
- Pablo Neruda, Literature, 1971
Colombia
- Gabriel García Márquez, Literature, 1982
Costa Rica
- Oscar Arias Sánchez, Peace, 1987
Guatemala
- Miguel Ángel Asturias, Literature, 1967
- Rigoberta Menchú, Peace, 1992
Mexico
- Mario J. Molina, Chemistry, 1995
- Octavio Paz, Literature, 1990
- Alfonso García Robles, Peace, 198
Spain
- Vicente Aleixandre, Literature, 1977
- Jacinto Benavente, Literature, 1922
- Camilo José Cela, Literature, 1989
- José Echegaray, Literature, 1904
- Severo Ochoa, Physiology or Medicine, 1959
- Juan Ramón Jiménez, Literature, 1956
- Santiago Ramón y Cajal, Physiology or Medicine, 1906
Venezuela
- Baruj Benacerraf, Physiology or Medicine, 1980
More info:
- Spanish Multilinguism
- Spanish for Personal development
- Spanish for business and career oportunities
- Hispanic Culture
- Spanish is the language for travel and hospitality
