Spain has played a unique and pivotal role in Western civilization. In this course, you'll learn its epic history, from its rule under Rome and the breathtaking drama of Islamic Spain to its emergence into the modern world, as well as its phenomenal contributions to art, architecture, literature, music, and learning. Travel with us to this remarkable culture, and savor the great human drama of the story of Spain.
The History of Spain: Land on a Crossroad
Join a seasoned expert on Spain and witness the dazzling history of the Spanish culture and its unique role in the West.
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Ally from
Excellent course covering a long period of time.
The instructor is fantastic; she conveys a great deal of history, while highlighting the many facets of Spain. Informative and enjoyable!
Date published: 2023-08-08
Rated 5 out of
5
by
RebeccaAR from
Bought this to go with Learning Spanish 1 and 2
Professor speaks clearly and with great enthusiasm. There are many maps and photos of the material being discussed, all clearly labeled.
Date published: 2023-06-21
Rated 4 out of
5
by
JPM54 from
Comprehensive historical account
The broad scope of this course was, for me, a strength as well as a weakness. I found myself highly engaged with some of the lectures but quite disengaged from others. Hence my overall appraisal of "good".
Date published: 2023-06-13
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Uriah Heep from
Bias hurt the presentation
It was a pleasant overview of Spanish history and its rich cultural heritage. The lecturer's enthusiasm for the subject material shone through to make much of the information exciting and alive. Unfortunately, her ugly biases shone, incorrectly, through just as clearly. The best example I can give is what I just gave. Very often she would decide, somewhat arbitrarily, which were the correct historical decision and which were not, despite ample evidence to the contrary of her obvious opinion. Most of the course was impressively thorough given the length of time covered, if tainted
Date published: 2023-05-24
Rated 5 out of
5
by
ANFC from
The History of Spain: Land on a Crossroad
What a great way to learn such a complex long history on a very well summarized course.
I found the structure of the course to be excellent, allowing a smooth transition from one lesson to the other. I think it was very interesting to see how different religions / cultures impacted the region’s development. I know there is much more to learn about Spain, I find this course an excellent beginning!
Date published: 2023-04-10
Rated 5 out of
5
by
ALMAKAH from
An Excellent Survey Course
My wife and I viewed this prior to upcoming travel in Spain.
I am unfamiliar with much of Spanish history, other than the colonial history.
We found the lectures interesting, well-delivered. The only problem for my wife was the fact that a number of the subtitles or captions were scrambled.
I thought the treatment of the al-Andalous and Muslim kingdoms was well done, as she pointed out the positives and negatives for various groups as well as the fact that it was not some homogenous area. Good and bad Muslim rulers were presented, which, as far as I can tell (coming from a study of Moroccan history) is an accurate representation.
Again, a great survey course. I will explore the other courses that deal with this subject in the future and hope to see more from Professor Salisbury.
Date published: 2023-03-30
Rated 5 out of
5
by
1glo from
Love of Subject
Joyce E Salisbury begins her lectures with the comment that she loves Spain, and this is clear throughout her progression of historical development beginning with prehistory at the caves of Altamira. This course gives a broad scale of knowledge covering centuries. Since it is a survey course, some of the information may be repetition, but much is not. I am truly enjoying the time I spend with Dr Salisbury.
Date published: 2023-01-09
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Raymond 24 from
Good brief survey
Many subjects in Spanish history are dealt with only lightly, or not at all, but that’s to be expected in a course of only 12 hours on the history of Spain. I have read about Spain in conjunction with reading about the history of other places, such as France, Germany, Britain, Mexico and the U.S. But I had never had a course focused on Spain, and that’s why I bought this. It was a good brief survey of many centuries, even millennia, of Spanish history. For my tastes, Professor Salisbury spends too much time on such things as art or architecture, and not enough on civil, political and military developments and events, but that’s a matter of personal preference. I deduct one star for the presentation. While Professor Salisbury was engaging, she often had trouble reading what I presume was her own script. She occasionally stumbled or seemed unsure as to what she was saying. That was distracting and detracted from the course.
Date published: 2023-01-03
Overview
About
Joyce E. Salisbury is Professor Emerita of Humanistic Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where she taught history and served as associate dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences and director of International Education. She earned her Ph.D. in Medieval History at Rutgers University, specializing in religious and social history.
Professor Salisbury began her career performing research in Spain, and she has continued to travel there to conduct further research, lecture, and guide students and other travelers. She is currently working on a book about the history of early Christian martyrdom.
In addition to receiving the University of Wisconsin's Outstanding Teaching award, she was named Professor of the Year in 1991 by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. She has taught three times on Semester at Sea, a study-abroad program on a ship that circumnavigates the world with more than 500 students for a full semester.
Professor Salisbury is a prolific author whose books include the award-winning Perpetua's Passion: Death and Memory of a Young Roman Woman; The Beast Within: Animals in the Middle Ages; Rome's Christian Empress: Galla Placidia Rules at the Twilight of the Empire; and the widely used textbook The West in the World. She has been interviewed many times on National Public Radio on topics from religion to the books she has written, and she appeared on the PBS special The Road from Christ to Constantine.
Trailer
01: From Stones to Bronze: Prehistoric Spain
Begin by exploring the origins of human settlement on the Iberian Peninsula. Learn how the rich spiritual life of early hunter/gatherers in Spain is reflected in magnificent cave paintings. Study the geography of the peninsula, and how it drew peoples from Africa and the Middle East. Finally, discover the extraordinary megalithic tombs of early Copper and Bronze Age builders....
31 min
02: Celtic, Phoenician, and Greek Colonists
Follow three remarkable immigrant groups who left their mark on Spanish culture. First, trace the impact of the Celts and the technology they brought to the region. Learn about the Phoenicians, famous as mariners, and their legacy of trade and engineering. Continue with the singular influence of the Greeks, who shaped the history and culture of the peninsula for future immigrants....
29 min
03: Rome Conquers the Iberian Peninsula
Roman conquest changed the peninsula in ways that endure today. Track the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage, through which Iberia became part of the Roman Empire. Observe how Rome joined the Iberian provinces together, created thriving cities, and developed commerce. Learn about the marvels of Roman engineering, infrastructure, and mining, through which Spain grew rich....
30 min
04: Christianity Comes to Hispania
Witness the events through which Christianity took root on Spanish soil. Learn about early Christian communities in Spain, and the factors that led to persecution and martyrdom of Christians. Chart the role of Spanish churchmen in the establishment of the Roman Catholic Church, how pagan practices were transformed into Christian ones, and how Spain became a bulwark of church orthodoxy.
32 min
05: Barbarian Tribes Divide the Peninsula
As Rome's empire waned, Germanic and Iranian tribal groups besieged Spanish territories. Take the measure of these peoples, and the new agricultural technology, clothing, and other innovations they brought with them. Observe how they partitioned and ruled different areas of the peninsula, and how their culture and religion kept them separate from Spain's Roman population....
30 min
06: The Visigoths Unite Spain
As a prelude to the three-century rule of the Visigoths, learn how the Goths penetrated Roman territories, and how they came to dominate Spain. Study the structure of Visigoth society, which gave rise to influential legal codes, monasticism, and great scholars such as Isidore of Seville. Take account of Toledo as a center of learning, and the diffusion of Visigothic scholarship and culture....
29 min
07: Islam: The New Religion
Islam was to play a critical role in Spanish history. As background, delve into the founding of Islam by Muhammad, its five tenets or "pillars", and how the new religion spread with astonishing speed. Witness the Muslim invasion that conquered most of Spain, and observe how the invaders ruled, coexisting effectively with Jews and Christians....
30 min
08: Conflict within Islam
Internal divisions in the Muslim world shaped Islamic rule of Spain. Investigate issues concerning the larger governance of Islam that led to enmity between Muslim Spain and the Caliphate in Bagdad. Study the role of the Frankish king Charlemagne in these conflicts, and trace conspiracies and rebellions within Muslim Spain that culminated in the establishment of the Caliphate of Córdoba....
31 min
09: The Moors and the Glory of al-Andalus
Relive the golden age of Islamic Spain, as the capital city of Córdoba emerged as a center of learning, art, and beauty. First, take account of the agricultural advancements and artisanal industries that underlay Córdoba's prosperity. Then, follow developments in music, poetry, intellectual life, science, engineering, and architecture that made al-Andalus famous throughout the world....
31 min
10: The Christian Reconquista
This lecture charts the centuries-long process by which Christians gradually reclaimed the lands of Islamic Spain. Learn how pilgrimage to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela became a catalyst for the Christian cause. Explore four critical events in the Reconquista: the conquest of Toledo, the taking of Valencia by "El Cid", the creation of Portugal, and the final conquest of Granada....
28 min
11: Medieval Spanish Culture
Discover how the melding of Spanish Islamic culture and medieval Christian ideas produced dazzling masterpieces of architecture. Travel to the times of king Alfonso the Wise, whose rich court life fostered scholarship and medicine, as well as courtly entertainments such as music, sports, and bullfighting. Learn about the flourishing of trade, highlighting the complex wool and textile industry....
30 min
12: The Sephardim: Iberian Judaism
Follow the changing fortunes of the Jewish people on Spanish soil, beginning with how they arrived in Spain, and how they prospered under Roman rule. Trace repression of Jews under the Visigoths, and how Jewish scholarship and poetic art thrived in Muslim Spain. Then witness the trials of Jews under subsequent Christian rule, leading to the 15th century exodus of many Jews from Spain....
29 min
13: Gypsy Influences on Spain
Gypsy immigrants to Spain left a far-reaching imprint on Spanish culture. Here, uncover the origins of gypsy peoples, their itinerant nature, and note how they were originally welcomed by Spanish kings and nobles. Study subsequent oppression of gypsies, the nature of gypsy culture, and the iconic flamenco music and dance that is deeply linked with Spanish gypsies....
31 min
14: The Growth of Catholic Religious Passion
Grasp how Spain was brought into the conflict of the Protestant Reformation. Assess the Catholic Counter-Reformation, as it sought to connect the faithful more directly to God through reinvigorated spirituality and mysticism. Learn how the Council of Trent, codifying Catholic doctrine, led to the horrors of the Inquisition, and how Catholic theology was expressed in glorious Baroque art....
31 min
15: Columbus and the New World
European contact with the isolated Americas dramatically changed the world. Begin by delving into the self-education of Columbus, and the lead-up to his legendary voyages. Follow Columbus's travels, and the impact of his "opening" of the New World. Finally, track further European ventures into the Americas, the Columbian Exchange of foodstuffs, and the devastation wrought by European diseases....
30 min
16: Conquistadors and Missionaries
Spain now extended both its empire and its Catholicism into the New World. Witness the exploits of Hernán Cortés, who battled the Aztec Empire in the quest for gold, and of Francisco Pizarro and his brutal subjugation of the Incas. Then, take account of the Catholic missionaries who followed, intent on converting native souls, and how Spanish empire building was undergirded by slaver...
28 min
17: The Spanish Main: Trade Convoys and Piracy
Spain's empire in the New World spawned a vast commercial revolution. Learn about Spanish silver mining in South America, and agricultural riches from giant haciendas producing sugar and tobacco. Follow the transport of Spanish goods in armed convoys, and the resulting golden age of piracy, as both pirates and government-sanctioned privateers preyed on treasure-laden ships....
30 min
18: The Golden Age of the Spanish Habsburgs
Here, encounter Spain's king Philip II, architect of a magnificent era. Observe his strategic moving of the royal capital to Madrid, and his creation of architectural works such as the fabulous El Escorial. Learn how Philip and his sons fostered an artistic heritage emblemized by visionaries such as the painter Velasquez, composers de Victoria and Guererro, and writers Lope de Vega and Cervantes....
30 min
19: Religious Wars on Muslims and Protestants
Now witness the Ottoman incursions against Christian lands and shipping that resulted in the massive naval battle of Lepanto. Then, see how the clash with Protestants involved Spain in religious bloodshed in the Netherlands, the assault on Britain of the Spanish Armada, and the Thirty Years War. Note how the ruinous costs of these wars prefigured the downfall of the Habsburg Dynasty....
30 min
20: The 18th-Century Bourbon Kings of Spain
Learn how the French House of Bourbon assumed the Spanish throne, and how they transformed Habsburg Spain. In particular, review the reforms instituted by Carlos III, highlighting his architectural and urban planning achievements, and his reforms of education, industry, banking, and religion. Then trace the effects on Spain of the French Revolution and the ascension of Napoleon....
32 min
21: Spain Loses Its Empire
Follow Napoleon's crusade to impose a new French dynasty on Spain, and the cultural backlash of Romanticism that rejected the "universal" principles of the Enlightenment. Witness the emergence of Spanish nationalism, the ensuing deep political strife regarding how to govern the country, and see how the spread of nationalist ideologies culminated in the independence of Spain's colonies....
31 min
22: 20th-Century Spanish Modernism
Following World War I, Spain emerged at the forefront of a revolution in the European arts. Grasp the extraordinary innovations of the painters Picasso, Miró and Dalí, the architect Antoni Gaudí, and the contributions of musical masters Segovia and Casals. Also, delve into the political factors that led to the disintegration of Spain's constitutional monarchy....
30 min
23: The Spanish Civil War and Franco's Reign
Study the political antagonisms within Spain which led to the outbreak of civil war in 1936. Track the unfolding of the war, leading to the ascension to power of the dictator Francisco Franco. Then take account of Franco's lengthy, authoritarian regime, and how he strove to create a national identity for Spain through the mediums of the church, language, and Spanish culture....
29 min
24: Modern Spain: Still on a Crossroad
Conclude with reflections on Spain's recent history. Look into such subjects as the restoration of the Spanish monarchy, Spain's contemporary links with Latin America, separatist movements within the country, its new secularism and religious freedoms, its popularity as a travel destination, and its diverse economy. Contemplate why this great land stands on a crossroads of the future.
34 min
