The military phase is generally considered to have lasted through Most often it is the case that women involved in war are overlooked. Although the revolution is attributed to men, it is important to note the dedication and participation women contributed, just as much as their male counterparts. Poor mestiza and indigenous women had a strong presence in the revolutionary conflict becoming camp followers often referred to in Mexico as soldaderas. Most often, these women followed the army when a male relative joined and provided essential services such as food preparation, tending to the wounded, mending clothing, burying the dead, and retrieval of items from the battlefield.
There were also many cases of women who fought in the revolution disguised as men, however most returned to female identities once the conflict had ended. The revolution promised reforms and greater rights for women to one extent or another, but failed to live up to its promises.
Thousands of women fought in the battles and provided necessary services to the armies, however their contributions have largely been forgotten and viewed as merely supportive. There had been agitation for women's suffrage in Mexico in the late nineteenth century, and both Francisco Madero and Venustiano Carranza were sympathetic to women's issues, both having female private secretaries who influenced their thinking on the matter.
She was known as the "Mexican Joan of Arc" and was a woman represented in U. Carranza made changes in family and marital law with long-lasting consequences. In December , he issued a decree that allowed for divorce under certain circumstances. His initial decree was then expanded when he became president in , which in addition to divorce "gave women the right to alimony and to the management of property, and other similar rights.
As of , Mexico has the 16th highest rate of homicides committed against women in the world. According to the Human Rights Watch, many women do not seek out legal redress after being victims of domestic violence and sexual assault because "the severity of punishments for some sexual offenses are contingent on the "chastity" of the victim and "those who do report them are generally met with suspicion, apathy, and disrespect.
According to a study by Kaja Finkler, domestic abuse "is embedded in gender and marital relations fostered in Mexican women's dependence on their spouses for subsistence and for self-esteem, sustained by ideologies of romantic love, by family structure and residential arrangements. Mexican women are at risk for HIV infection because they often are unable to negotiate condom use. According to published research by Olivarrieta and Sotelo and others, the prevalence of domestic violence against women in Mexican marital relationships varies at between 30 and 60 percent of relationships.
In this context, requesting condom use with a stable partner is perceived as a sign of infidelity and asking to use a condom can result in domestic violence. In Mexico City, the area of Iztapalapa has the highest rates of rape , violence against women , and domestic violence in the capital. Gender violence is more prevalent in regions along the Mexico-US border and in areas of high drug trading activity and drug violence. As of February , the number of murdered women in Ciudad Juarez since is estimated to be more than Even as late as the s, the use of contraceptives was prohibited by civil law, but there were private clinics where elite women could access care.
Surging birthrates in Mexico in the s and 70s became a political issue, particularly as agriculture was less productive and Mexico was no longer self-sufficient in food. As Mexico became more urban and industrialized, the government formulated and implemented family planning policies in the s and 80s that aimed at educating Mexicans about the advantages of controlling fertility. Mexico pioneered the use of soap operas to shape public attitudes on sensitive issues in a format both accessible and enjoyable to a wide range of viewers.
Contraception is still a big issue for Mexican women with a population of million. It is the second most populated nation in Latin America. The population trend is even expected to grow in size in a little over thirty years. With a population that keeps increasing it was the first nation in to establish a family planning program. In spite of these promising numbers contraceptive use in rural areas is still far lower than that of urban areas.
There are still persisting inequalities between levels of sexual experience between females and males.
La mujer perfecta - Wikipedia
This shared cultural belief stems from the traditional teachings of the Catholic Church which has had great influence over Latin American cultures. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Women in Mexico A Mexican saleswoman. Women in Maya Society. Women in Aztec civilization. Soldaderas and Women's suffrage. Gender inequality in Mexico.
Violence against women in Mexico. Retrieved 3 January Retrieved April 20, , from http: Inequality in capabilities between men and women in Mexico. A context of structural and generalized violence" PDF. Retrieved 12 March The women of colonial Latin America. Colonial Patterns, Prehispanic Influences. Human ethology, culture, and the birth of Mexico. Greenwood Press, Westwood, Conn. Daily life in colonial Mexico: The journey of Friar Ilarione da Bergamo, University of Oklahoma Press, p Limpieza de sangre, religion, and gender in colonial Mexico.
Mothers Making Latin America. Morton, Woman Suffrage in Mexico. University of Florida Press , p. Retrieved 6 April Mexico" Archived at the Wayback Machine.. Accessed September 7, This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Retrieved March 3, Gendered Violence on the Mexico-U. Justice fails in Ciudad Juarez and the city of Chihuahua". Archived from the original on 3 March Retrieved 19 March Women not only supplied much of the labour for working the machines; they also contributed with handmade embellishments, making the final product a combination of handmade and machine-made processes Halls One such example includes a large floral design, a fashionable choice for Blonde veils.
It doubles as part of the leafy vegetation pattern. The pattern includes bold flowers and delicate leaves with curving stems connecting the flora. This design is made using silk floss, which is complemented by a translucent net lace for the background. The flowers and leaves are also delineated by outlines to emphasize their form. That is, as women gained greater access to political and social spheres e. Elite women especially could model their donning of mantillas as a nod to past noble women as part of continuing this sartorial tradition but in an updated fashion.
Spanish women produce and wear Blonde mantillas, making them agents in their own identity fashioning. The garment itself also played a significant part in the crafting of an image of Spanish femininity to curb excess consumption, particularly of foreign clothing and objects. The prime minister, who, having received M. The council disapproved it. The men to whom she refers were called petimetres. They exemplified the anti-male model, characters who indulged in narcissistic practices and weakened the country.
Thus, that the Treatise for a national dress code was directly solely at women struck a chord for many women who did not see themselves as the only gender consuming luxury objects and garments. The text specified a detailed dress code based on social rank, with distinct outfits for different occasions. The women in each group would have three separate outfits, one for special occasions, one for less formal events, and one for the street, while each of the women would carry an insignia to identify her social status.
He places each of the models in a full-length format with little background in order to highlight the outfits. The clothing is made to look appealing and contemporary, while the artist limits the use of jewellery to emphasize restraint. How could the garments remain current by responding to fashion changes and simultaneously keep the same design? Would new models be generated each year, and, if so, how would this curb elite enthusiasm for stylish products? Ximeno may have opted to showcase their French design in part because France had set the tone for fashion beginning with Louis XIV , making the ensembles seemingly more appealing even in their fairly restrained styles.
The proposal not only promoted the mantilla to symbolize decorous Spanish femininity, but also specified nationally produced lace as its emblematic material. With the limitation in visualizing the different outfits based on social class, Ximeno ultimately failed to produce the imagery necessary for encouraging women to wear the national dress code. He visualizes the maja Fig.
She sports a white mantilla with a lace band that accentuates her face. Underneath the veil, the woman wears a bow, which provides additional stature and embellishment. As a sartorial staple in visual imagery of the maja, who was associated with the artisanal or labouring class, the mantilla endows the working woman with dignity as a model of Spanish femininity.
Her overall tidy appearance and pleasing garments make her a presentable example. In the combined Carolina Dress For All, and Dress a la Borbonesa , he shows the model surrounded by children who resemble their mother in dress although they do not wear veils , crafting a harmonious vision of maternal femininity. This detail ties dress to behaviour: In his examples, the use of recognizable Spanish items, like the mantilla, grants authenticity to the proposal and provides a better visual justification for the standardization of female clothing, since veils and other customary garments were already viewed, especially by foreigners, as the prevailing clothing items for all Spanish women.
By striking a balance between fashionable moderation and traditional assertions, Cruz Cano creates a model who takes pride in her Spanishness. His Carolina Dress in many ways exemplifies the complex negotiation between Spanish garments and women of different social status and places of origin in Spain.
That the council voted against the proposal suggests that the women viewed fashion as a vehicle to express individuality. The inventory sometimes indicates the location or origin of the mantillas, some foreign and others local, which would be typical of courtly consumption. The black lace mantilla cascades down her back, frames her face, and delicately touches her arms. Peeking beneath the mantilla, scalloped white lace discreetly covers her cleavage.
Such sumptuous garments craft an image of Spanish femininity appropriate for elite women that distinguishes them from their European counterparts. As queen, she sets a decorous example by displaying customary garments that illustrate her support for traditional clothing. She apparently loved to show off her arms and so does not wear a short jacket or gloves.
In this regard, she expresses personal taste by opting for a variation of the traditional dress. At the same time, she participates in a collective appreciation for such accessories. While the wearing of black has typically been associated with mourning, its use in Spain has a different historic significance. The Renaissance author Baldasare Castiglione praised the Spanish preference for black as a courtly example to emulate. It was the queen and elite women who epitomized the former grandeur of the Spanish past by recalling Hapsburg styles through the adaptation of maja dress.
Thus, the queen stands in the portrait in order to promote the royal union with the populace. The lace mantilla became a standard garment in portraits for fashioning a modern image of Spanish femininity. One such example, Portrait of a Lady with a Fan ca. Small floral motifs almost fleur-de-lys in appearance are spaced throughout the net lace mantilla, while the edges showcase leaf designs. The botanical patterns are made using the floss featured in either Blonde lace or embroidery, but most likely it is a Blonde mantilla since the motifs emphasize the matte sheen typical of Blonde lace.
The images were later placed in a complete volume that includes four additional prints that make up Madrid Fashions from , favouring the Spanish capital as the central location for new fashions. Madrid was also the hub of domestic commerce. The shops of Calle Mayor in central Madrid served as sites of distribution and commercial activity where national and foreign items like laces and silks were sold Haidt The inclusion of regional outfits fosters a relationship between traditional and modern garments, especially when they are combined to form new styles in many of the prints.
In his Collection , several women wear mantillas or other kinds of shawls or veils. The mantillas featured show a vast assortment in textiles, styles and embellishment—from net lace to fringed borders. The captions at the bottom of each print often contain valuable information about the fashions exhibited, including the types of mantillas worn. The petimetra was more directly associated with current fashions and was the source of satire as one that falsified a high social status and feigned cosmopolitan airs. In one example without a description of the clothing, Yo Petimetra!
The woman wears the diaphanous veil crossed over her torso and gestures with elbow-length gloves and a fan. She is the height of elegance and fashion. The beguiling potential of the mantilla is seen vividly in another print of a petimetra Fig. Although the sheer component of the lace allows the viewer to discern the woman underneath, her identity is somewhat obscured, making the mantilla an alluring garment and the woman mysteriously intriguing.
The mantilla-clad women offer a modern vision of Spanish femininity as multifarious—tied to tradition via the link to the maja and tied to contemporary fashion via the link to the petimetra. The connection to current trends is made explicit in the fashion plates in which women model myriad mantillas that come in a vast number of materials, sizes and shapes. In both portraits and in fashion plates, the mantilla grants the sitter or model a distinct Spanishness outside of the customary circumstances in which it was typically worn.
Instead, the women depicted utilize the mantilla for its modern, fashionable potential, and artists, in turn, showcase the veils as part of the construction of an updated, urban image of Spanish femininity that lauded female labour and native lace production. The fauna presents a wide diversity that is due in large part to the geographical position of the Iberian peninsula between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean and between Africa and Eurasia , and the great diversity of habitats and biotopes , the result of a considerable variety of climates and well differentiated regions.
The vegetation of Spain is varied due to several factors including the diversity of the relief, the climate and latitude. Spain includes different phytogeographic regions, each with its own floristic characteristics resulting largely from the interaction of climate, topography, soil type and fire, biotic factors. The Spanish Constitution of is the culmination of the Spanish transition to democracy. The constitutional history of Spain dates back to the constitution of As a result, Spain is now composed of 17 autonomous communities and two autonomous cities with varying degrees of autonomy thanks to its Constitution, which nevertheless explicitly states the indivisible unity of the Spanish nation.
The constitution also specifies that Spain has no state religion and that all are free to practice and believe as they wish.
The Spanish Legion declares war on obesity
The Spanish administration approved the Gender Equality Act in aimed at furthering equality between genders in Spanish political and economic life. Spain is a constitutional monarchy , with a hereditary monarch and a bicameral parliament , the Cortes Generales General Courts. By political custom established by King Juan Carlos since the ratification of the Constitution, the king's nominees have all been from parties who maintain a plurality of seats in the Congress.
The legislative branch is made up of the Congress of Deputies Congreso de los Diputados with members, elected by popular vote on block lists by proportional representation to serve four-year terms, and a Senate Senado with seats of which are directly elected by popular vote, using a limited voting method, and the other 51 appointed by the regional legislatures to also serve four-year terms. Health and education systems among others are managed by the Spanish communities, and in addition, the Basque Country and Navarre also manage their own public finances based on foral provisions.
The Spanish Constitution of "protect all Spaniards and all the peoples of Spain in the exercise of human rights, their cultures and traditions, languages and institutions". According to Amnesty International AI , government investigations of alleged police abuses are often lengthy and punishments were light. Spain provides one of the highest degrees of liberty in the world for its LGBT community. The Spanish State is integrated by 17 autonomous communities and 2 autonomous cities, both groups being the highest or first-order administrative division in the country. Autonomous communities are integrated by provinces, of which there are 50 in total, and in turn, provinces are integrated by municipalities.
In Catalonia, two additional divisions exist, the comarques sing. The concept of a comarca exists in all autonomous communities, however, unlike Catalonia, these are merely historical or geographical subdivisions. Spain's autonomous communities are the first level administrative divisions of the country. They were created after the current constitution came into effect in in recognition of the right to self-government of the " nationalities and regions of Spain ". This territorial organisation, based on devolution , is literally known in Spain as the "State of Autonomies".
The basic institutional law of each autonomous community is the Statute of Autonomy. The Statutes of Autonomy establish the name of the community according to its historical and contemporary identity, the limits of its territories, the name and organisation of the institutions of government and the rights they enjoy according to the constitution.
Catalonia, Galicia and the Basque Country, which identified themselves as nationalities , were granted self-government through a rapid process. Andalusia also took that denomination in its first Statute of Autonomy, even though it followed the longer process stipulated in the constitution for the rest of the country. Progressively, other communities in revisions to their Statutes of Autonomy have also taken that denomination in accordance to their historical and modern identities, such as the Valencian Community, [] the Canary Islands, [] the Balearic Islands, [] and Aragon.
The autonomous communities have wide legislative and executive autonomy, with their own parliaments and regional governments. The distribution of powers may be different for every community, as laid out in their Statutes of Autonomy, since devolution was intended to be asymmetrical. Only two communities—the Basque Country and Navarre—have full fiscal autonomy. Aside of fiscal autonomy, the nationalities —Andalusia, the Basque Country, Catalonia, and Galicia—were devolved more powers than the rest of the communities, among them the ability of the regional president to dissolve the parliament and call for elections at any time.
In addition, the Basque Country, Catalonia and Navarre have police corps of their own: Nonetheless, recent amendments to existing Statutes of Autonomy or the promulgation of new Statutes altogether, have reduced the asymmetry between the powers originally granted to the nationalities and the rest of the regions.
Finally, along with the 17 autonomous communities, two autonomous cities are also part of the State of Autonomies and are first-order territorial divisions: These are two exclaves located in the northern African coast. Autonomous communities are subdivided into provinces , which served as their territorial building blocks. In turn, provinces are integrated by municipalities.
The existence of both the provinces and the municipalities is guaranteed and protected by the constitution, not necessarily by the Statutes of Autonomy themselves. Municipalities are granted autonomy to manage their internal affairs, and provinces are the territorial divisions designed to carry out the activities of the State.
The current provincial division structure is based—with minor changes—on the territorial division by Javier de Burgos , and in all, the Spanish territory is divided into 50 provinces. The communities of Asturias, Cantabria, La Rioja, the Balearic Islands, Madrid, Murcia and Navarre are the only communities that are integrated by a single province, which is coextensive with the community itself.
In these cases, the administrative institutions of the province are replaced by the governmental institutions of the community. After the return of democracy following the death of Franco in , Spain's foreign policy priorities were to break out of the diplomatic isolation of the Franco years and expand diplomatic relations , enter the European Community , and define security relations with the West. As a member of NATO since , Spain has established itself as a participant in multilateral international security activities. Spain's EU membership represents an important part of its foreign policy.
Citas en línea
Even on many international issues beyond western Europe, Spain prefers to co-ordinate its efforts with its EU partners through the European political co-operation mechanisms. Spain has maintained its special relations with Hispanic America and the Philippines. Its policy emphasises the concept of an Ibero-American community, essentially the renewal of the concept of " Hispanidad " or " Hispanismo " , [ citation needed ] as it is often referred to in English, which has sought to link the Iberian Peninsula with Hispanic America through language, commerce, history and culture.
Spain claims Gibraltar , a 6-square-kilometre 2. Then a Spanish town, it was conquered by an Anglo-Dutch force in during the War of the Spanish Succession on behalf of Archduke Charles , pretender to the Spanish throne. The legal situation concerning Gibraltar was settled in by the Treaty of Utrecht , in which Spain ceded the territory in perpetuity to the British Crown [] stating that, should the British abandon this post, it would be offered to Spain first.
Since the s Spain has called for the return of Gibraltar. The overwhelming majority of Gibraltarians strongly oppose this, along with any proposal of shared sovereignty. The Spanish claim makes a distinction between the isthmus that connects the Rock to the Spanish mainland on the one hand, and the Rock and city of Gibraltar on the other. While the Rock and city were ceded by the Treaty of Utrecht, Spain asserts that the "occupation of the isthmus is illegal and against the principles of International Law ".
Another claim by Spain is about the Savage Islands , a claim not recognised by Portugal. Spain claims that they are rocks rather than islands, therefore claiming that there is no Portuguese territorial waters around the disputed islands. On 5 July , Spain sent a letter to the UN expressing these views. Spain claims the sovereignty over the Perejil Island , a small, uninhabited rocky islet located in the South shore of the Strait of Gibraltar.
Its sovereignty is disputed between Spain and Morocco. It was the subject of an armed incident between the two countries in The incident ended when both countries agreed to return to the status quo ante which existed prior to the Moroccan occupation of the island. The islet is now deserted and without any sign of sovereignty. Besides the Perejil Island, the Spanish-held territories claimed by other countries are two: Portugal stance has been the territory being de iure Portuguese territory and de facto Spanish.
The Spanish Armed Forces are divided into three branches: Since , CO2 emissions have risen notably, not reaching the reduction emissions promised in the Kyoto Protocol for fighting climate change. In the period more than half of the years have been qualified as dry or very dry.
Spain is the country in Europe more exposed to climate change effects, according to Al Gore. Electricity from renewable sources in Spain represented The country has a very large wind power capability built up over many years and is one of the world leaders in wind power generation. Spain also positioned itself as a European leader in Solar power, by the country was second only to Germany in installed capacity. Spain's capitalist mixed economy is the 14th largest worldwide and the 5th largest in the European Union , as well as the Eurozone 's 4th largest.
Unemployment stood at By the mids the economy had recommenced the growth that had been disrupted by the global recession of the early s. The strong economic growth helped the government to reduce the government debt as a percentage of GDP and Spain's high unemployment rate began to steadily decline. With the government budget in balance and inflation under control Spain was admitted into the Eurozone in Since the s some Spanish companies have gained multinational status, often expanding their activities in culturally close Latin America.
Spain is the second biggest foreign investor there, after the United States. Spanish companies have also expanded into Asia, especially China and India. The reason for this early expansion is the booming interest towards Spanish language and culture in Asia and Africa and a corporate culture that learned to take risks in unstable markets. In the Economist Intelligence Unit 's quality of life survey placed Spain among the top 10 in the world. Crop areas were farmed in two highly diverse manners. They included the humid regions of the north and the northwest, as well as vast arid zones that had not been irrigated.
More than half of the irrigated area was planted in corn , fruit trees , and vegetables. Other agricultural products that benefited from irrigation included grapes, cotton, sugar beets , potatoes, legumes , olive trees , mangos, strawberries , tomatoes, and fodder grasses. Citrus fruits , vegetables, cereal grains , olive oil , and wine—Spain's traditional agricultural products—continued to be important in the s.
Because of the changed diet of an increasingly affluent population, there was a notable increase in the consumption of livestock, poultry, and dairy products. Increased attention to livestock was the reason that Spain became a net importer of grains. Ideal growing conditions, combined with proximity to important north European markets, made citrus fruits Spain's leading export. Fresh vegetables and fruits produced through intensive irrigation farming also became important export commodities, as did sunflower seed oil that was produced to compete with the more expensive olive oils in oversupply throughout the Mediterranean countries of the European Community.
In , Spain was the second most visited country in the world, recording 82 million tourists which marked the fifth consecutive year of record-beating numbers. Spain's geographic location, popular coastlines, diverse landscapes, historical legacy, vibrant culture, and excellent infrastructure has made the country's international tourist industry among the largest in the world. Castile and Leon is the Spanish leader in rural tourism linked to its environmental and architectural heritage.
Spain is one of the world's leading countries in the development and production of renewable energy. Non-renewable energy sources used in Spain are nuclear 8 operative reactors , gas , coal , and oil. Spain has the most extensive high-speed rail network in Europe, and the second-most extensive in the world after China. On average, the Spanish high-speed train is the fastest one in the world, followed by the Japanese bullet train and the French TGV. There are 47 public airports in Spain. Also, more than 30 airports with the number of passengers below 4 million.
In the 19th and 20th centuries science in Spain was held back by severe political instability and consequent economic underdevelopment. Despite the conditions, some important scientists and engineers emerged. Since the Mobile World Congress has taken place in Barcelona. With the exception of the region surrounding the capital, Madrid , the most populated areas lie around the coast. In , Spain granted citizenship to 84, persons, mostly to people from Ecuador, Colombia and Morocco. They reside primarily on the Mediterranean coast and the Balearic islands, where many choose to live their retirement or telecommute.
Substantial populations descended from Spanish colonists and immigrants exist in other parts of the world, most notably in Latin America. Beginning in the late 15th century, large numbers of Iberian colonists settled in what became Latin America and at present most white Latin Americans who make up about one-third of Latin America's population are of Spanish or Portuguese origin.
Around , Spaniards emigrated in the 16th century, mostly to Peru and Mexico. During the same period perhaps , went to Latin America. The Spanish Constitution of , in its second article, recognises several contemporary entities — nationalities — [m] and regions, within the context of the Spanish nation. Spain is de facto a plurinational state. In some cases some of the territorial identities may conflict with the dominant Spanish culture. Distinct traditional identities within Spain include the Basques , Catalans , Galicians , Andalusians and Valencians , [] although to some extent all of the 17 autonomous communities may claim a distinct local identity.
It is this last feature of "shared identity" between the more local level or autonomous community and the Spanish level which makes the identity question in Spain complex and far from univocal. Spain has a number of descendants of populations from former colonies, especially Latin America and North Africa. Smaller numbers of immigrants from several Sub-Saharan countries have recently been settling in Spain. There are also sizeable numbers of Asian immigrants, most of whom are of Middle Eastern, South Asian and Chinese origin.
Spanish Lace: History, Production and Gender
The single largest group of immigrants are European; represented by large numbers of Romanians, Britons, Germans , French and others. The arrival of the gitanos , a Romani people , began in the 16th century; estimates of the Spanish Roma population range from , to over one million. Their origin is unclear. Historically, Sephardi Jews and Moriscos are the main minority groups originated in Spain and with a contribution to Spanish culture. According to the Spanish government there were 5. According to residence permit data for , more than , were Romanian, about , were Moroccan , approximately , were British, and , were Ecuadorian.
This sudden and ongoing inflow of immigrants, particularly those arriving illegally by sea, has caused noticeable social tension. Within the EU, Spain had the 2nd highest immigration rate in percentage terms after Cyprus , but by a great margin, the highest in absolute numbers, up to Another statistically significant factor is the large number of residents of EU origin typically retiring to Spain's Mediterranean coast.
In fact, Spain was Europe's largest absorber of migrants from to , with its immigrant population more than doubling as 2. In , the government instituted a "Plan of Voluntary Return" which encouraged unemployed immigrants from outside the EU to return to their home countries and receive several incentives, including the right to keep their unemployment benefits and transfer whatever they contributed to the Spanish Social Security. In alone, more than half a million people left Spain.
Spain is legally multilingual, [] and the constitution establishes that the nation will protect "all Spaniards and the peoples of Spain in the exercise of human rights, their cultures and traditions, languages and institutions. The constitution also establishes that "all other Spanish languages"—that is, all other languages of Spain—will also be official in their respective autonomous communities in accordance to their Statutes , their organic regional legislations, and that the "richness of the distinct linguistic modalities of Spain represents a patrimony which will be the object of special respect and protection.
Occitan is spoken by less than 5, people, only in the small region of Val d'Aran. In the North African Spanish autonomous city of Melilla , Riff Berber is spoken by a significant part of the population. In the tourist areas of the Mediterranean coast and the islands, English and German are widely spoken by tourists, foreign residents, and tourism workers.
State education in Spain is free and compulsory from the age of six to sixteen. The institute was inspired by the philosophy of Krausism. The health care system of Spain Spanish National Health System is considered one of the best in the world, in 7th position in the ranking elaborated by the World Health Organization. Roman Catholicism , which has a long history in Spain, remains the dominant religion. Although it no longer has official status by law, in all public schools in Spain students have to choose either a religion or ethics class.
Catholicism is the religion most commonly taught, although the teaching of Islam, [] Judaism, [] and evangelical Christianity [] is also recognised in law. Most Spaniards do not participate regularly in religious services. The Spanish constitution enshrines secularism in governance, as well as freedom of religion or belief for all, saying that no religion should have a "state character," while allowing for the state to "cooperate" with religious groups.
However, significant anomalies remain, including the presence of a blasphemy law in statute, which theoretically criminalises criticism of religion. A blasphemy prosecution in Spain has happened as recently as There have been four Spanish Popes. Later, they became Doctors of the Church. The Society of Jesus was co-founded by Ignatius of Loyola , whose Spiritual Exercises and movement led to the establishment of hundreds of colleges and universities in the world, including 28 in the United States alone. Protestant churches have about 1,, members. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has approximately 46, adherents in congregations in all regions of the country and has a temple in the Moratalaz District of Madrid.
The vast majority was composed of immigrants and descendants originating from Morocco and other African countries. The recent waves of immigration have also led to an increasing number of Hindus , Buddhists , Sikhs and Muslims. After the Reconquista in , Muslims did not live in Spain for centuries. Late 19th-century colonial expansion in northwestern Africa gave a number of residents in Spanish Morocco and Western Sahara full citizenship. Their ranks have since been bolstered by recent immigration, especially from Morocco and Algeria. Judaism was practically non-existent in Spain from the expulsion until the 19th century, when Jews were again permitted to enter the country.
Currently there are around 62, Jews in Spain, or 0. Most are arrivals in the past century, while some are descendants of earlier Spanish Jews. Approximately 80, Jews are thought to have lived in Spain prior to its expulsion. Other sources suggest , converts mostly after the pogroms of and upwards of , expelled.
The descendants of these Sephardic Jews expelled in are given the Spanish nationality if they request so. Culturally, Spain is a Western country. Almost every aspect of Spanish life is permeated by its Roman heritage, making Spain one of the major Latin countries of Europe. Spanish culture is marked by strong historic ties to Catholicism, which played a pivotal role in the country's formation and subsequent identity.
Spanish art, architecture, cuisine, and music has been shaped by successive waves of foreign invaders, as well as by the country's Mediterranean climate and geography. The centuries-long colonial era globalised Spanish language and culture, with Spain also absorbing the cultural and commercial products of its diverse empire. The earliest recorded examples of vernacular Romance-based literature date from the same time and location, the rich mix of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian cultures in Muslim Spain, in which Maimonides, Averroes, and others worked, the Kharjas Jarchas.
During the Reconquista , the epic poem Cantar de Mio Cid was written about a real man—his battles, conquests, and daily life. It is also remarkable the Valencian chivalric romance Tirant lo Blanch written in Valencian. The Baroque is the most important period for Spanish culture.
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We are in the times of the Spanish Empire. Other writers from the period are: Realism offered depictions of contemporary life and society 'as they were'. In the spirit of general "Realism", Realist authors opted for depictions of everyday and banal activities and experiences, instead of romanticised or stylised presentations. The group that has become known as the Generation of was marked by the destruction of Spain's fleet in Cuba by US gunboats in , which provoked a cultural crisis in Spain. The "Disaster" of led established writers to seek practical political, economic, and social solutions in essays grouped under the literary heading of Regeneracionismo.
The Generation of or Novecentismo. The next supposed "generation" of Spanish writers following those of '98 already calls into question the value of such terminology. While still driven by the national and existential questions that obsessed the writers of '98, they approached these topics with a greater sense of distance and objectivity. Salvador de Madariaga , another prominent intellectual and writer, was one of the founders of the College of Europe and the composer of the constitutive manifest of the Liberal International.
All were scholars of their national literary heritage, again evidence of the impact of the calls of regeneracionistas and the Generation of for Spanish intelligence to turn at least partially inwards. Spain is one of the countries with the most number of laureates with the Nobel Prize in Literature , and with Latin American laureates they made the Spanish language literature one of the most laureates of all.
The Spanish writers are: Saramago was also well known by his Iberist ideas. The Generation of '50 are also known as the children of the civil war. Seneca was a philosopher during the time of the Roman Empire. That is the case of Ibn Arabi , Averroes or Maimonides. Humanist Luis Vives during the Renaissance. Enlightenment in Spain arrived later and less strong as in other European countries, but during the XIX century liberal ideas arrived into Spanish society.
At the end of the century, socialist and libertarian ideas also flourished particularly strong at the intellectual level, with thinkers as Francisco Pi i Margall , Ricardo Mella or Francisco Ferrer Guardia. Most contemporary philosophers include Fernando Savater and Adela Cortina , creator of the term aporophobia. Artists from Spain have been highly influential in the development of various European and American artistic movements.
Due to historical, geographical and generational diversity, Spanish art has known a great number of influences. The Mediterranean heritage with Greco-Roman and some Moorish and influences in Spain, especially in Andalusia is still evident today. There are many other autochthonous styles such as the Pre-Romanesque art and architecture , Herrerian architecture or the Isabelline Gothic.
Francisco Goya painted during a historical period that includes the Spanish Independence War , the fights between liberals and absolutists, and the raise of contemporary state-nations. The Plateresque style extended from beginnings of the 16th century until the last third of the century and its stylistic influence pervaded the works of all great Spanish artists of the time. There were two Schools of special flair and talent: Spanish cinema has achieved major international success including Oscars for recent films such as Pan's Labyrinth and Volver.
Due to its historical and geographical diversity, Spanish architecture has drawn from a host of influences. Simultaneously, the Christian kingdoms gradually emerged and developed their own styles; developing a pre-Romanesque style when for a while isolated from contemporary mainstream European architectural influences during the earlier Middle Ages, they later integrated the Romanesque and Gothic streams. There was then an extraordinary flowering of the Gothic style that resulted in numerous instances being built throughout the entire territory.
The arrival of Modernism in the academic arena produced much of the architecture of the 20th century. Spain is currently experiencing a revolution in contemporary architecture and Spanish architects like Rafael Moneo , Santiago Calatrava , Ricardo Bofill as well as many others have gained worldwide renown. Spanish music is often considered abroad to be synonymous with flamenco , a West Andalusian musical genre, which, contrary to popular belief, is not widespread outside that region.
Pop, rock, hip hop and heavy metal are also popular. Vitoria-Gasteiz jazz festival is one of the main ones on its genre. The most popular traditional musical instrument , the guitar, originated in Spain. Cibeles Madrid Fashion Week is one of the most important fashion weeks in Europe. Spanish cuisine consists of a great variety of dishes which stem from differences in geography, culture and climate.
It is heavily influenced by seafood available from the waters that surround the country, and reflects the country's deep Mediterranean roots. Spain's extensive history with many cultural influences has led to a unique cuisine. In particular, three main divisions are easily identified:. Food is traditionally conserved by salting, like Spanish ham , or immersed in olive oil , like Manchego cheese.
Atlantic Spain — the whole Northern coast, including Asturian , Basque , Cantabrian and Galician cuisine — vegetable and fish-based stews like caldo gallego and marmitako. While varieties of football had been played in Spain as far back as Roman times, sport in Spain has been dominated by football since the early 20th century. Basketball , tennis , cycling, handball , futsal , motorcycling and, lately, Formula One are also important due to the presence of Spanish champions in all these disciplines.
Today, Spain is a major world sports powerhouse, especially since the Summer Olympics that were hosted in Barcelona , which stimulated a great deal of interest in sports in the country. The tourism industry has led to an improvement in sports infrastructure, especially for water sports , golf and skiing. The most outstanding athletes figure: Rafael Nadal is the leading Spanish tennis player and has won seventeen Grand Slam titles second in most [] and hold the record with the most number of ATP World Tour Masters singles titles.
In their respective regions, the games of Basque pelota and Valencian pilota are populars. Public holidays celebrated in Spain include a mix of religious Roman Catholic , national and regional observances. Each municipality is allowed to declare a maximum of 14 public holidays per year; up to nine of these are chosen by the national government and at least two are chosen locally.
There are many festivals and festivities in Spain. Some of them are known worldwide, and every year millions of people from all over the world go to Spain to experience one of these festivals. While its most famous event is the encierro , or the running of the bulls , which happens at 8: Its events were central to the plot of The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway , which brought it to the general attention of English-speaking people. As a result, it has become one of the most internationally renowned fiestas in Spain, with over 1,, people attending every year.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. This article is about the country. For other uses, see Spain disambiguation. Country in Southwest Europe. Show map of Europe. Hispania and Visigothic Kingdom. Spanish transition to democracy and Spanish society after the democratic transition. List of islands of Spain. Spanish Constitution of