Basque Culture and Language

The history of the Basque Country has come a long way from the ancient times before the Roman conquest of the Peninsula to the present day. What we can see nowadays is a highly modernized European country which is going through a promising time.
The course will help students become familiar with Basque geography, history and economy, as well as with the Basque culture, traditions and language (euskera, an ancient language of unknown origin). These topics, whose aim is to offer a global vision on the Basque Country, will be dealt with by means of group activities and discussions.
SYLLABUS
Introduction to the course and the Basque Country.
Geographical and human space
Geography
Population
The Basque Country throughout history
Pre-history
Middle Ages
The old laws ("fueros")
Carlist Wars
The First Basque Government
The Civil War
The Franco era and the way to democracy
The Basque conflict
Government and Parliament: Current political institutions
Economy
The rural world
Basque economy: Basic figures
The Guggenheim effect
Euskera: the Basque language
History of the language: origins and development
Introduction to the langue: linguistic characteristics and vocabulary
Current sociolinguistic situation
Basque symbols, legends and myths
The literature
Introduction to Basque literature
Two writers: Gabriel Aresti and Bernardo Atxaga
The music
Traditional instruments
Popular music.
Punk movement in the Basque Country 13
(Rural) Basque sports
Rural sports
Soccer: Athletic of Bilbao
ASSESSMENT
The final grade will be calculated according to the following percentages:
- Participation: 10%
- Homework: 35 %
- Midterm exam: 25 %
- Final exam: 30%
BIBLIOGRAPHY
-CARO BAROJA, J. Los vascos, Istmo, Madrid, 1975.
-DOUGLASS, W. A.: Basque cultural studies, University of Nevada (Reno). Basque Studies
Program, 1999.
-GARCÍA DE CORTÁZAR, F.: Historia del País Vasco, Txertoa, San Sebastián, 1998.
-INTXAUSTI, J.: El euskera, la lengua de los vascos, ELKAR, Donostia, 1992.
-KORTAZAR, J. Literatura vasca. Siglo XX, Etor, San Sebastián, 1990.
-KURLANSKY, M.: The Basque History of the World, Vintage, London, 2000 .
-LARREA, M. Y MIEG, R: Introducción a la Historia del País Vasco, Bizkaiko Batzar
Nagusiak.
-MICHELENA, L.: Historia de la literatura vasca, Minotauro, Madrid, 1960.
-QUESADA, S.: España siglo XXI, Edelsa, Madrid, 2005.
-XAMAR: Orhipean. El país del euskera, Pamiela, Pamplona, 2005.
NOTES:
1. The absence of an asterisk indicates that this course is open to students of all levels of Spanish. Therefore, the course will be taught in Spanish, but the instructor will resort to the English language occasionally to make the integration of the students enrolled in Spanish I easier.
2. Class attendance is essential in all courses. Therefore, it will be checked daily. Missing classes will negatively affect the student's final grade.