'Spain is different' was for a long time the explanation proffered by historians when they sought to explain the course of the nation's exceptionally rich and varied history. Spain was the only region in the medieval West (along with Sicily) to experience Islamic conquest; the first nation to lay claim to a global empire and the first to lose it; and the country in which the extreme forces of the Left and the Right were to act out one of the bloodiest confrontations Europe has known. Today, however, as Spain has become firmly integrated into the political and economic structures of the European Union, the long-held notion that the country is a nation apart no longer seems valid. Simon Barton probes the extent to which Spain should be regarded as an exceptional case and provides a highly-readable, lucid and balanced account of its vibrant and colourful history, from its origins to the present day.
This second edition of a highly successful text has been revised and expanded in the light of new scholarship, and now features additional maps and figures. Barton brings the story right up to date with coverage of recent events, such as the 2004 Madrid bombings and the general election of 2008.
'Clear, comprehensive, up-to-date - Barton's text is an incisive and accessible introduction for students and others interested in Spanish history'
-James W. Brodman, University of Central Arkansas, USA
'This leading synthesis of Spanish history now analyzes events since 2004. Students and teachers will also welcome a number of new quotations, maps and figures'
-Bethany Aram, Professor of Spanish History, International College of Seville, Spain
List of Maps and Figures
Preface to the First Edition
Preface to the Second Edition
Introduction
Origins: From Prehistory to the Visigoths
The Muslim Conquest
The Ascendancy of Christian Iberia, AD 1000-1474
The Universal Monarchy, 1474-1700
The Enlightened Despots, 1700-1833
Liberalism and Reaction, 1833-1931
The Modern Era, 1931-2008
Glossary
Chronology
Selected Further Reading
Index
SIMON BARTON is Professor of Spanish History at the University of Exeter, UK.
Description
'Spain is different' was for a long time the explanation proffered by historians when they sought to explain the course of the nation's exceptionally rich and varied history. Spain was the only region in the medieval West (along with Sicily) to experience Islamic conquest; the first nation to lay claim to a global empire and the first to lose it; and the country in which the extreme forces of the Left and the Right were to act out one of the bloodiest confrontations Europe has known. Today, however, as Spain has become firmly integrated into the political and economic structures of the European Union, the long-held notion that the country is a nation apart no longer seems valid. Simon Barton probes the extent to which Spain should be regarded as an exceptional case and provides a highly-readable, lucid and balanced account of its vibrant and colourful history, from its origins to the present day.
This second edition of a highly successful text has been revised and expanded in the light of new scholarship, and now features additional maps and figures. Barton brings the story right up to date with coverage of recent events, such as the 2004 Madrid bombings and the general election of 2008.
Reviews
'Clear, comprehensive, up-to-date - Barton's text is an incisive and accessible introduction for students and others interested in Spanish history'
-James W. Brodman, University of Central Arkansas, USA
'This leading synthesis of Spanish history now analyzes events since 2004. Students and teachers will also welcome a number of new quotations, maps and figures'
-Bethany Aram, Professor of Spanish History, International College of Seville, Spain
Contents
List of Maps and Figures
Preface to the First Edition
Preface to the Second Edition
Introduction
Origins: From Prehistory to the Visigoths
The Muslim Conquest
The Ascendancy of Christian Iberia, AD 1000-1474
The Universal Monarchy, 1474-1700
The Enlightened Despots, 1700-1833
Liberalism and Reaction, 1833-1931
The Modern Era, 1931-2008
Glossary
Chronology
Selected Further Reading
Index
Authors
SIMON BARTON is Professor of Spanish History at the University of Exeter, UK.
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