Notes on Spain - Study Material for EFLU 2021 and JNUEE Preparation

  Spain - Study Material for EFLU 2021 and JNUEE Preparation

Spain is the fourth largest country in Europe (After Russia, Ukraine and France), located southwestern in the Iberian peninsula. 

  Spanish Culture roots in Celtiberian, Latin,        

 Semitic, other European countries and Roman Catholicism. Mediterranean and Atlantic environments have played a strong role in shaping its culture.   

1. Official name       - The kingdom of Spain.
2. Capital                   - Madrid
3. Official language      - Spanish
4. Government type     - Unitary constitution republic
5. Population                   - 47.1 million
6. Currency.                     - Euro
7. Time zone.                  - 2
8. Legislature.                - Cortes Generales
9. Upper house.             - Senate
10. Lower House.          - Congress of deputies
11. National anthem.    -'Marcha Real' by   Francisco  Grau Vegara.
12. Highest point.          - Pico de Teide (Tenerife)
13. Regions.                    - Spain is made up of 17 autonomous regions.
14. Religion.                   - 90% Population are Catholic
15. Script.                       - Latin
16. Language family.   - Indo-European
17. Total province.       - 50
18. Motto                       - plus ultra
19. Driving side.          - Right
20. calling code            - +34
21. Total size.               - 505,992 sqkm
22. Monarch.                - Felipe VI
23. Prime minister.     - Pedro Sanchez
24. President of Senate. - Manuel Cruz Rodriguez
25.President of the lower house. - Meritxell Batet
26. President of Supreme court - Carlos lesmes serrano
27. National animal - Bull
28. National flower. - Red carnation
29. National bird.     - Imperial eagle
30. National game.   - Bullfighting
32. National Dance.  - Flamenco.
33. Ethnic groups.     - 89.67% Spaniards

Description of flag:- 

• The flag was adopted on Dec6, 1978.
• The flag is called ' La Rojigualda.'
• Red, Yellow and Red colour in horizontal.    

BORDERING SHARING

• Spain-Portugal shares a border with the name of La Raya.
• Spain-France border separates two countries from Hendaye & irun in the West, running through the Pyrenees to celebrate and Portbou on the Mediterranean sea.
• Spain-Gibraltar shares a border with the name of La verja de Gibraltar.
• Andorra lies along the Spain-France border & shared land border with Spain of 39.58 miles.
• Spain also shares a land border to Morocco with 11.8 miles.

     

HISTORY.

• Spanish revolution took place in 1868.
• The first Spanish republic took place between  11 Feb 1873- 29 Dec 1874.
• A Parliamentary proclaimation was signed on 11 feb 1873.
• Monarchy was established on 29 Dec 1974 and existed till 14 April 1931 in Spain.
• Second Spanish republic took place between 14 feb 1931 to 1 April 1939.
• Again, Monarchy was established in 1947 by General Franco.
• The current constitution was enforced on 31 oct, 1978.
• During the age of Exploration, Spain become the most powerful country in europe.
• Spanish-American war took place in 1898.
• During a limited span of time between 1936 and 1975, Francisco Franco was the dictator of Spain under the name Caudillo.
• Spain remained neutral during both world wars, but endured a damaging civil war from 1936 to 1939.
• From 711 to 1492 Islamic Moors ruled over Spain.

GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE.

• Spain lies in southern Europe.
• Spain is the only European country that borders Africa. It is separated by Africa by the Straits of Gibraltar.
• Spain borders the Mediterranean sea in the South and East. 
• The largest glacial lake in the Iberian peninsula is 'Sanabria lake.'
• Spain temperature is Moderate, Hot summers in interior, partly cloudy and cool against the coast.

NOBLE PRIZE WINNER:

Sl.No     Name                          Date          Field

1.            Jose Echegaray         1904        Literature

2.            Santiago Ramon      1906        Medicine

3.            Jacinto Benavente   1922        Literature

4.            De cervantees          1615        Literature

5.            Camilo jise Cela        1989        Literature 

           

SPANISH DANCE: 

1.  Flamenco

2.  Bolero

3.  Zambra

4.  Fandango

FAMOUS MONUMENTS:

1. Puente Romano, Merida.

• It is a Roman bridge over the Guadiana River.
• length of this bridge is 790m.

                                 

2.  Alcantara Bridge.

• It is a Roman bridge over the Tagus River.
• length of this bridge is 181.7m

3.  Alhambra palace.

• It is located in Granada.
• It is a mixture of Islamic Architecture and European influences.

4. Cordoba mosque      

• It is the biggest closed mosque in the world.
• It is located in Cordoba.

5. Church of Corpus Christi in Segovia.

6. Church of Santa Maria Ka Blanca in Toledo.

7. La Giralda is the minaret in Sevilla.

8. Altamira is a famous cave.

9. Alejandro de la Sota was one of the early proponents of modern architecture in Spain.

10 The Guggenheim museum of Bilbao was the most famous example of contemporary architecture.

INDIA - SPAIN RELATION:

• India - Spain relation refers to interstate relation between India and Spain from 1978.
• In 1956, the Spanish embassy in New Delhi established diplomatic relations between India and Spain.
• During the 1960s, Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II was appointed as the first Indian ambassador to Spain.
• In 1992, PM P.V Narsimha Rao and in 2017, PM Narendra Damodar das Modi visit Spain for           Bilateral relations.

IMPORTANT PORT IN SPAIN:

1. Algeciras:  

• The largest port in Spain.
• It is the third-largest in the Mediterranean sea.

2. Valencia:   

• It is the second busiest port in Spain.

3. Barcelona:  

• The third-largest port in Spain.

4. Bilbao:  

• It is also called an exterior port, Abra bay, Atlantic Ocean.

FOOD:

Traditionally, Spanish cuisine has been influenced by Jewish and Muslim traditions.

1. Patatas Bravas:   Fried potato served with sauce.
2. Gazpacho:   cold soup made of raw, blended vegetables.
3. Migas:   It is a breakfast dish made up of bread and tortas.
4. Arroz con leches is a type of Dessert.
5. Paella is a type of seafood.
6. Cocido is a food made up of beans and meat.

TRADITIONAL CLOTH

1. Manila is a long lace or veil worn by women.
2. Traje Corto is a short jacket with a high waist a band is worn with a white shirt by males
3. Flamenco is a traditional outfit.

NATIONAL HOLIDAY:

. 28th FEBRUARY     -   Andalusian National Day

. 1st March                -   Balearic National Day

 

. 17th May                 -   Galician literature Day

. 30th May                 -   Day of Canary islands

. 6th December        -   Constitution Day

FESTIVALS OF SPAIN.

1. La Tomatina
2. Barcelona beer festival
3. Las Fallas de Valencia
4. Semana Santa
5. Feria del Caballo
6. Cordoba Patios fesatival
7. Boloencierro
8. Sonar Brcelona
9. Saint John's eve
10. Haro wine festival
11. Benicassin festival
12. San Fermin
13. The Semana Grande
14. Festa Major de Gracia

FAMOUS PAINTERS

 1. Juan Gris (1887-1927)

• Portrait of Pablo Picasso
• Still life with Flowers
• Violin and Glass

2. Joan Miro (1893-1983)

• The farm
• The Harlequin's Carnival
• Blue II

3. Francisco Goya (1746-1828)

• The Third of May 1808 
• The Nude Maja
• Saturn Devouring his Son

4. Salvador Dali (1904-1989)

• The persistence of Memory
• Swans Reflecting Elephants
• Soft Construction with Boiled

5. Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)

• Guernica
• Les Demoiselles d'Avignon
• The Weeping Woman

FAMOUS AUTHORS AND BOOKS:

1. Gabriel Garcia Marquez.(1927-2014)

• One Hundred Years of Solitude
• The Autumn of the Patriarch
• Love in the Time of Cholera

2. Camilo Jose Cela. (1916-2002)

• The Family of Paschal Duarte
• The Hive

MAJOR RIVERS OF SPAIN:

River Name                                   Length(km)

1, Tajo (Tagus)                                     1,007 

NOTE: Tagus river is the longest river in the Iberian peninsula.

2. Ebro.                                                 910                                          

3. Duero.                                              895                                                 

4. Guadiana.                                       657

5.Guadalquivir.                                 578

 

WATER BODIES:-

• The Bay of Biscay
• Lake Sanabria
• Tagus River
• Canales Reservoir
• Atlantic ocean
• Balearic sea
• Mediterranean sea
• Strait of Gibraltar

BEACHES IN SPAIN:-

• Ibiza
• Fuerteventura
• Mallorca

MOUNTAINS IN SPAIN.

1. The Pyrenees (3404m)

2. Sierra Nevada (4421m)

3. Picos de Europa (2650m)

FAMOUS PERSONALITIES:

1. Miguel de Cervantes.    -   Author

2. Hernan Cortes.               -   Explorer

3. Penelope Cruz.               -   Actress

4. Salvador Dali.                 -   Artist

5. Juan Ponce de Leon.       -  Explorer

6. Hernando de Soto.         -  Explorer

7. Ferdinand II.                   -  King of Aragon

8. Francisco Franco.          -  Dictator

9. Pau Gasol.                        -  Basketball player

10 Rita Hayworth.              -  Actress

11. Julio Iglesias.                 -  Singer

12. Rafael Nadal.                -   Tennis player 

13. Andres Iniesta.             -   Soccer player

SPANISH WORDS:

1. Hello            -   ¡Hola!

2.  Bye Bye               -     adiós