Study Abroad Program

Here is a highly detailed guide to Madrid and the surrounding areas - loaded with maps, photos, and all the information you need about restaurants, hotels, what to see and what to do. This is an excerpt from their 670-page Spain Adventure Guide and it includes an extensive Introduction on Spain as a whole. The book is equivalent to about 150 pages in print.

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Medina Mayrit, the Origins of Madrid explores the evolution of Madrid from the pre-Roman era to its Christian conquest of the late 11th century. Particular emphasis is placed upon Madrid's Moorish foundations dating to its days as a modest fortress with a small military population during the 9th and 10th centuries, as well as the Moreria of the early Christian era. The author highlights colorful personalities and shows how, throughout al-Andalus or Moorish Spain, Mayrit was a leader in pottery techniques, agricultural methods, and hydraulic engineering. She also notes existing landmarks and sites of archaeological, architectural, and geographical interest. A chapter is dedicated to the nearby city of Toledo, as Mayrit was founded by the Moors to protect this important kingdom against Christian incursions from the north. The author closes with etymological theories relating to terms and place-names appearing throughout the book, and provides historical and geographical background.

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When J. H. Elliott published Spain and Its World, 1500–1700 some twenty years ago, one of many enthusiasts declared, “For anyone interested in the history of empire, of Europe and of Spain, here is a book to keep within reach, to read, to study and to enjoy'(Times Literary Supplement). Since then Elliott has continued to explore the history of Spain and the Hispanic world with originality and insight, producing some of the most influential work in the field. In this new volume he gathers writings that reflect his recent research and thinking on politics, art, culture, and ideas in Europe and the colonial worlds between 1500 and 1800. The volume includes fourteen essays, lectures, and articles of remarkable breadth and freshness, written with Elliott's characteristic brio. It includes an unpublished lecture in honor of the late Hugh Trevor-Roper. Organized around three themes—early modern Europe, European overseas expansion, and the works and historical context of El Greco, Velázquez, Rubens, and Van Dyck—the book offers a rich survey of the themes at the heart of Elliott's interests throughout a career distinguished by excellence and innovation.

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From bloodthirsty conquest to exotic romance, stereotypes of Spain abound. This new volume by distinguished historian Stanley G. Payne draws on his half-century of experience to offer a balanced, broadly chronological survey of Spanish history from the Visigoths to the present. Who were the first “Spaniards”? Is Spain a fully Western country? Was Spanish liberalism a failure? Examining Spain's unique role in the larger history of Western Europe, Payne reinterprets key aspects of the country's history. Topics include Muslim culture in the peninsula, the Spanish monarchy, the empire, and the relationship between Spain and Portugal. Turning to the twentieth century, Payne discusses the Second Republic and the Spanish Civil War. The book's final chapters focus on the Franco regime, the nature of Spanish fascism, and the special role of the military. Analyzing the figure of Franco himself, Payne seeks to explain why some Spaniards still regard him with respect, while many others view the late dictator with profound loathing. Framed by reflections on the author's own formation as a Hispanist and his evaluation of the controversy about “historical memory” in contemporary Spain, this volume offers deeply informed insights into both the history and the historiography of a unique country.

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Need to know it all? Our all-inclusive culture report for Spain will get up to speed on all aspects of culture in Spain, including lifecycle, religion, women, superstitions & folklore, sports, holidays & festivals, and etiquette.

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A guide to understanding the Spanish people, their culture, and how to avoid cultural misunderstandings. Highly recommended to armchair and onsite world travelers alike.