This is the largest category in the Collection, covering eighty-five cities from AlcalÁ to Zaragoza. There are materials on the provinces as well as on larger areas such as AndaluÍ. Historical, biographicl, geographical, and cultural aspects are included.
This is a particularly well-represented subject, as a study of an island economy and culture developing in its own way, somewhat aside from the current of mainland Spain - almost a separate kingdom (which it was for a short time). The Mallorcans have their own literature and even their own form of the Catalan language (Mallorquin), as well as their own dances and songs, books, art, and costumes. Once they had a university. Although Mallorca , with its large city of Palma, is the center of this culture, there are significant variations to be found on Minorca and Ibiza. In spite of their current reputation of peace, these islands have a great recorded history, which is well covered in these volumes.
Frequently thought to be remnants of the original Iberians, these people of the Pyrenees, with their conservative traditions and ancient mysetrious language, have long intrigued scholars, Here are books describing their country, people, language, and history, in addition to works on their homes, graves, and music. Other books record them as a great martime people - travelers, explorers, and settlers in many parts of the New World.
What remained of the Spanish-controlled peninsula after the Arab conquest was in the mountainous North. From thence emerged a number of small kingdoms which eventually merged, forming the two dominant powers, besides Portugal, of Castille and Catalonia. Today Catalonia is a state within a state, with its own distinctive culture and language, much like Quebec in Canada. These works encompass many aspects of this culture - the language, literature, art, history, cities, and people. Numerous are works particularly on Barcelona, the business capital of Spain, and in many ways the cultural rival of Madrid.
 | Spain, in the time of Augustus, was divided in three provinces: Baeticia, Lusitania, and Tarraconensis.
Tarragona, as it is known today, was one the centers of Roman art, religion, and architecture in Spain. Monumental remains of the Roman occupation can be seen today, of which some of the most remarkable are the city walls and aqueducts of Tarragona. Juan Eduardo Cirlot begins this fine volume with a chapter entitled "The Footsteps of Rome." In it, he discusses the wall, temple of Jupiter and Augustus, circus, amphitheater, forum, aqueduct and theater, together with the sculptures of Flora/Pomona, Baco, satyrs, a head a hercules, and a sarcophagus of the Muses.
Author: Cirlot, Juan Eduardo. |
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Created on September 8th, 1997. Updated on August 16th, 2001.