I teach Spanish in the UK, normally focussing on grammar and literature. However, I've been asked to provide a crash course on Spanish history for an American student. Her grounding in Latin American history is already good for a student at her level, however her knowledge of Spanish and European history is less well-grounded. She is also new to the idea of Spain as a nation containing many distinct regions.
In short, I would be grateful for any advice on how to structure "the history of Spain" for a seventeen-year-old (whose Spanish language skills are already quite good).
Many thanks in advance for any assistance provided.
/u/JavatheCaveman
How much time to you expect to spend on this course? The best answer depends on whether you have 30 minutes, an hour, a full day, a full week's worth of instructions, or a full semester's worth.
If you only have 30 minutes to half a day, then consider a recent post I made on the rise and decline of Spain, and cover additional topics as necessary.
For that level of coverage, it is very possible to give a coherent narrative and not have to focus on one particular region, because Castile effectively over-powered all other regions due to the realities of Spain as a composite monarchy, and and outcome of the Revolt of the Comuneros that subjugated it to the monarchs.
Rather than focus on specific regions, I think that it is better to instead focus on how early modern states are run, using Charles V's burgeoning as an example. Historically, it set the template that was used even into the modern era, even if the exact letters were changed.
If you include the above, then your coverage of other European nations at the time will be much easier. Otherwise it is difficult to really understand how Charles V's empire was the way it was, and how Philip II's empire turned out differently in some sense, and how the Austrian Habsburgs evolved in history.
If instead you have an entire semester, you can do far worse than to read through Elliott's Imperial Spain, Lynch's Bourbon Spain, and then move on to Spain in the 19th-20th century.
But first things first, please specify exactly how "time is limited". Without knowing this, as they say in Spain, poner una pica a Flandes.
How much time exactly? For instance I do think that for example you need to talk a little of Europe at early XVI century to understand better the reign of Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire and I of Spain. You would really need to talk about the relationship existing between Castile and Aragon during the years between the end of the Reconquista and the arrival of Charles. Spain became in the XVI century a global power so it's the best to explain the Reform movement and how did it affected to Charles relation with the german princes. The 1520 Comuneros revolt affected the relationship between the crown and the noble power so it would be best to see it. In Phillip II reign it would be best to explore how Spain became a center of wealth and power, talking about victories like the one in Lepanto or the relationship between Britain, as well as what was the importance of the 1580 portugese succesion crisis. And of course the rebellion of the Netherlands. In the XVII century it's necesary to explore the importance of royal favorites in government like Count Duque de Olivares and his relationship with Phillip IV.The 80 years war with Holland, the victories of Spain at the Thirty Years war and of course how the Treaty of the Pyrenees was part of the economical and military decline Spain was having. Then of course, the spanish succession war. In this case, it's necesary to understand how regions like Catalonia decided to support the Habsburgs and how the country's region took sides in the war. The impact it had on Spain the loss of power through the Treaty of Utrecht. I think that for example in this case, it's also necesary to understand what was the importance Spain had for France. Ilustration during Charles III reign, relationship with Britain and the borbonic reforms at the colonies. Then the relationship between France and Spain during the first years of the Napoleonic wars, as well as the battle of Trafalgar. This is important to understand later the occupation of Spain, the war of independence against the french and a major historical event: The 1812 constitution. The borbonic restauration and the absolutist reaction to liberals, the Trienio Liberal in which Rafael Riego forced the monarch to accept a liberal constituion until a foreign army from France came to help him, the derogation of the Salic Law by the Courts and the reaction by the Carlists Factions. This is a important moment in Spain's history, considering Carlists played a key role in the history of the country during the XIX century. The glorious revolution of 1868 and the subsequent fall of the Borbons. The reign of Amadeo of Saboy and the proclamation of the First Republic which due to instability it ended thanks to the Announcement at Sagunto. The governments of the Restoration in which both liberals and conservatives will exchange the power. The end of the empire after the Spanish-American war of 1898. The Melilla war that would cause the crisis of the system and that would lead to the instauration of the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, supported by the king. The fall of Primo and the proclamation of the Second Republic. The years of the Republic and the political division present. At here, it's really important to talk about Catalonia's government and why it infuriated the conservatives of the country. Then the civil war, talking about both the nationalist and republican side. Spain's neutrality during the Second World War and it's importance. The Autarky years, from 1945 to 1959. The appearance of ETA in the early 60's and it's war against the Francoist regime. The later years of Franco and of course the transition. In this case, there are three important moments. The arrival of Adolfo Suarez as president, the first elections in 1977 and the constitituion in 1978. THe 1981 failed coup d'etat and how it strengtened Spain's democracy. ETA's role in the early democracy years, the Socialist government and the European Union. Then the 11/m attacks and later the economical crisis. The best way to structure Spain's history would be the Habsburg age from the arrival of Charles at 1516 to the the death of Charles in 1700. The first borbons until the invasion of France to 1808. The War of Independence from 1808 to 1814. The absolutist reaction from 1814 to 1823, the Trienio Liberal from 1820 to 1823, the Carlist faction appearance from 1823 to 1833, from 1833 to 1868 the reign of queen Isabela. The 1868 to 1873 crisis. From 1873 to 1898 the golden age of the Restoration. From 1898 to 1923 the crisis. From 1923 to 1931 the dictatorship of Primo. From 1931 to 1939 (including the civil war from 1936 to 1939) the Second republic. From 1939 to 1975 the francoist regime. From 1975 to 1981 the transition. And from 1981 onwards Contemporary Spain.