Basque Culture and Language

Course Description

**PLEASE NOTE: THIS COURSE IS TAUGHT IN SPANISH.**

DESCRIPTION AND GOALS
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.

PREREQUISITES
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.

CONTENT 

Introduction to the course and the Basque Country.
1.-Geographical and human space
- Geography
- Population
2.-Euskera: the Basque language
- History of the language: origins and development
- Introduction to the langue: linguistic characteristics
and vocabulary
- Current sociolinguistic situation
3.- The Basque Country throughout history
- Pre-history
- Middle Ages
- The old laws (“fueros”)
- The rural world
- Basque symbols, legends and myths
- Carlist Wars
- Industrialization in the Basque Country -
The First Basque Government
- The Civil War
- The Franco era and the way to
democracy - The Basque conflict
4.-The Basque Country today
- Government and Parliament: Current political
institutions - Basque economy: Basic figures
- The Guggenheim effect
5.-The literature
- Introduction to Basque literature
- Two writers: Gabriel Aresti and Bernardo Atxaga
6.-The music
- Traditional instruments
- Popular music
- Punk movement in the Basque
7.-(Rural) Basque sports
- Rural sports
- Soccer: Athletic de Bilbao

ASSESSMENT
The final grade will be calculated according to the following percentages:
- Participation: 10%
- Written assignments:
30% - Oral presentations:
10% - Midterm exam: 20%
- 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.