The History of Spain: Land on a Crossroad

The origins of human settlement on the Iberian Peninsula; learning how the rich spiritual life of early hunters in Spain is reflected in the cave paintings; studying the geography of the peninsula; discovering the extraordinary megalithic tombs.

Tracing the impact of the Celts and the technology they bring to the region; learning about the Phoenicians and their legacy of trade and engineering; the singular influence of the Greeks, who shape the history and culture of the peninsula.

Tracking the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage; observing how Rome joins the Iberian provinces together and creates thriving cities; learning about the marvels of Roman engineering, infrastructure, and mining, through which Spain grew rich.

Learning about early Christian communities in Spain; charting the role of Spanish churchmen in the establishment of the Roman Catholic Church; how pagan practices are transformed into Christian ones; how Spain becomes a bulwark of church orthodoxy.

Germanic and Iranian tribal groups besiege Spanish territories; taking the measure of these people and the new innovations they bring; observing how they partition and rule; how their culture keeps them separate from Spain's Roman population.

Learning how the Goths penetrate Roman territories; studying the structure of Visigoth society, which gave rise to influential legal codes and monasticism; Toledo as a center of learning; the diffusion of Visigothic scholarship and culture.

The founding of Islam by Muhammad (PBUH); its five tenets; how the new religion spreads with astonishing speed; witnessing the Muslim invasion that conquers most of Spain; observing how the invaders rule, coexisting with Jews and Christians.

Internal divisions in the Muslim world shape Islamic rule of Spain; investigating issues concerning the larger governance of Islam that leads to enmity between Muslim Spain and the Caliphate in Baghdad; the founding of the Caliphate of Cordoba.

The capital city of Córdoba emerges as a center of learning, art and beauty; agricultural advancements and artisanal industries that underlie Córdoba's prosperity; developments in music, intellectual life and architecture that make al-Andalus famous.

Charting the process by which Christians reclaim the lands of Islamic Spain; learning how the pilgrimage to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela becomes a catalyst for the Christian cause; exploring four critical events in the Reconquista.

Knowing how the melding of Spanish Islamic culture and medieval Christian ideas produce dazzling masterpieces of architecture; traveling to the times of king Alfonso the Wise; learning about the flourishing of trade; the wool and textile industry.

The changing fortunes of the Jewish people on Spanish soil; beginning with how they arrive in Spain; how they prosper under Roman rule; Tracing repression of Jews under the Visigoths; witnessing the trials of Jews under subsequent Christian rule.

Gypsy immigrants to Spain leave an imprint on Spanish culture; uncovering the origins of gypsy people, their itinerant nature; noting how they are welcomed by Spanish nobles; studying subsequent oppression of gypsies; and the iconic flamenco music.

Grasping how Spain is brought into the conflict of the Protestant Reformation; the Catholic Counter-Reformation seeks to connect the faithful more directly to God; learning how the Council of Trent leads to the horrors of the Inquisition.

European contact with the isolated Americas changes the world; the self-education of Columbus.

Spain extends both its empire and its Catholicism into the New World; the exploits of Hernán Cortés; Francisco Pizarro's subjugation of the Incas; Catholic missionaries converting native souls; Spanish empire building is undergirded by slavery.

Spain's empire in the New World spawns a commercial revolution; learning about Spanish silver mining in South America and agricultural riches; the transport of Spanish goods; pirates and government-sanctioned privateers prey treasure-laden ships.

Encountering Spain's king Philip II's strategic moving of the royal capital to Madrid; his creation of architectural works such as the fabulous El Escorial; learning how Philip and his sons foster an artistic heritage emblemized by visionaries.

The Ottoman incursions against Christian lands and shipping that results in the naval battle of Lepanto; clash with Protestants involves Spain in religious bloodshed in the Netherlands; the assault of the Spanish Armada; Habsburg Dynasty's downfall.

The French House of Bourbon assumes the Spanish throne and transforms Habsburg Spain; reviewing the reforms instituted by Carlos III; his architectural and urban planning achievements; tracing the effects of the French Revolution on Spain.

Following Napoleon's crusade to impose a new French dynasty on Spain; cultural backlash of Romanticism; the emergence of Spanish nationalism; the ensuing deep political strife regarding how to govern the country; the spread of nationalist ideologies.

Following World War I, Spain emerges at the forefront of a revolution in the European arts; grasping the extraordinary innovations of the renowned painters, architects and musical masters; the disintegration of Spain's constitutional monarchy.

Studying the political antagonisms within Spain which lead to the outbreak of civil war in 1936; the unfolding of the war, leading to the ascension to power of the dictator Francisco Franco; he strives to create a national identity for Spain.

Looking into the restoration of the Spanish monarchy; Spain's contemporary links with Latin America; separatist movements within the country; its new secularism and religious freedoms; knowing why this great land stands on a crossroads of the future.