The Kingdom of Spain, mostly known as Spain, is located in the South – Western part of Europe, bordering with France, Portugal, and Andorra (The Columbia Encyclopedia).The territory of Spain is in Iberian Peninsula, including the Balearic and Canary islands (ibid.). The Kingdom of Spain, administratively, is subdivided into 17 autonomous regions and 2 autonomous enclave cities - Ceuta and Melilla, with Madrid being the capital and the largest city of the country (ibid.). The biggest part of land is flat with several mountain regions called sierras, the most notable being Pyrenees (Philip’s World Factbook 2008-2009). The Kingdom’s climate is the most volatile within Europe since northern part of the country is humid while the rest of the country is arid (ibid.). As a result, Spain experiences periodic droughts, occasional flooding, and natural hazard in the form of volcanic activity (The World Factbook). The Kingdom of Spain is a constitutional monarchy governed by the constitution approved in 1978 (The World Factbook). The executive branch of the state consists of a monarch and the Prime Minister (ibid.). The head of the state is a hereditary monarch, currently King Juan Carlos, who has right to approve laws, dissolve the legislative branch of government, propose a candidate for the post of the prime minister, and is also a head of military force (The Columbia Encyclopedia, The World Factbook). Nevertheless, the King and royal family do not govern the state but rather act as official figureheads (Issues in Context Online Collection). The prime minister is the head of government, currently Mariano Rajoy (ibid.). Spain is one of the bicameral legislative states, that is, the National Assembly is subdivided into the Congress of Deput... ... middle of paper ... ... the United Nations Development Program. Also, despite sluggish economic growth in recent years due to financial crisis and substantial unemployment rate Spain’s GDP per capita is high. Works Cited "Spain." Global Issues in Context Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2014. Global Issues In Context. Web. 22 Jan. 2014. “Spain.” Philip’s World Factbook 2008-2009. London: Philip’s, 2008. Credo Reference. Web. 21 Jan. 2014. “Spain.” The Columbia Encyclopedia. New York: Columbia University Press. 2013. Credo Reference. Web. 21 Jan. 2014. “Spain.” The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 21 Jan. 2014. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sp.html The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World. Human Development Report 2013. UNDP. Web. 21 Jan. 2014. http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/reports/14/hdr2013_en_complete.pdf
Berdichevsky, Norman. “Spain’s Language Diversity.” Contemporary Review. 278: May 2001. 276 –82. Web. 15 April 2015.
Díaz del Castillo, Bernal. "The True History of the Conquest of New Spain." In Sources of Making of the West, by Katarine J. Lualdi, 269-273. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2009.
Bartolomé de Las Casas begins by providing a vivid description of each land being invaded by the Europeans and the type of peopl...
...anny, yet the many regions who were not in a support were forced to gradually accepted it. He additionally argues that theInquisitional repression of the limited Protestant incursion into Spain portrayed an “outdated image of an iron curtain descending on the country and cutting it off from the rest of the world, has no relation to reality” (Kamen, 102) though he failed to elaborate on the absence of a Spanish Reformation. Though Kamen fails to execute all of his arguments with effectively, he propagates many new and interesting perspectives on contemporary events, and constructs his narrative with a clear tone, utilizing detailed description and vivid imagery to accommodate any readers hoping to better understand this facet of Spanish history.
'Spain: 1501', Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 1: 1485-1509 (1862), pp. 253-265. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=93406 Date accessed: 02 December 2011.
Messenger, A, David.. “Spain during World War II.” Canadian Journal of History 3(2007):530. eLibrary. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.
The Basque "nation" --for lack of a better word-- is composed of seven different "provinces" --for the lack of a better word-- four are located within the borders of Spain and three within those of France in the triangle formed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Garonne and Ebro rivers, as shown in the map below.
Quesada, Miguel. Miguel Quesada, “Spain 1492: Social values and structures,” Stuart Schwartz, ed. Implicit Understandings, Cambridge University Press.
In order to understand the effects of the Spanish Civil War, the atmosphere of Spain prior to 1936 needs to be understood as well. Spain, unlike major European powers, never experienced a bourgeois revolution and was therefore still dominated by a significant aristocracy. However, Spain had gone through several civil wars and revolutions making violence one of the most common devices for change. It, also, had undergone several cycles of reform, reaction from the opposition, and reversal by military uprising led by a dictator before 1936 (Preston 18).
Compared to other countries, France’s economy is the fourth largest in the world. France is a very industrialized nation, yet it has kept some of the cultural characteristics that contribute to its old-world charm. The economy is “exceptionally diversified” (“Economic Structure”, 1). It produces everything from aircrafts to pharmaceuticals.
Venezuela was one of the richest countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Ecuador). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Current concerns include: a polarized political environment, a politicized military, drug-related violence along the Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.
Spain, the third largest country in Europe, has a strong history and diverse culture dating back to when the Iberians first inhabited the land. The country lies between the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean and the land ranges from mountains to meadows. Over hundreds of centuries, many different civilizations have inhabited the land influencing the people there today. From the Visigoths and Celts to the Romans of the Middle Ages, Spain has received a rich history and background. One of the strongest of its cultures is the food. All of these cultures brought a particular type of food and combined and blended with the food that exists there today. Spain is very popular for olives, vineyards, and citrus fruit. Another well-liked food is garlic, including varieties of peppers and spices. Once spice specifically—golden saffron—is essential in many recipes, including the Spanish Paella. There are many distinguished Spanish foods that encompass the daily life and culture of the country.
England’s government also has a few similarities with ours. Even though there government is a monarchy and ours is a republic. Their current leader is Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen of England is more of a symbol than a ruler. The actual ruler is a cabinet of people. The head of the cabinet is the Prime Minister. England also has a law making body, which passes all the laws. They are like our congress. The capital of England is London and the government buildings are located in a region of London call Westminster.