Overview

During this course, you will be introduced to the history of Galicia, from its pre-history through to the creation of the autonomous community that it is today. While attention is paid to Galicia’s pre-history (in connection with the concept of Celtic roots and its evolution and manipulation for Galicia’s historical identity) and the Middle Ages, the module will concentrate largely on the history of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries with particular focus on the emergence of the idea of nationhood, political activism, and cultural production in Galicia. Key historical texts will be analysed for each period covered.

Books: De la Granja, José Luis; Beramendi, Justo; Anguera, Pere, La España de los nacionalismos y las autonomías (Madrid: Editorial Síntesis, 2001). Gemie, Sharif, Galicia, A Concise History (Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 2006). King, Stewart, Beyond the periphery : narratives of identity in the Basque country, Catalonia and Galicia = Más allá de la periferia : narrativas de identidad en Cataluña, Galicia y el País Vasco. (Australia : Antípodas, 2007). Miguélez-Carballeira, Helena, Galicia, a Sentimental Nation: Gender, Culture, Politics (Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 2013). Romero, Eugenia R., Contemporary Galician culture in a global context: movable identities (Lanham, Md.: Lexington Books, 2012). Villares, Ramón, Historia de Galicia (Madrid: Alianza Editorial, 2004).

Webpages: The research project ‘Voces e nomes’: http://www.nomesevoces.net/

Articles: Lourenzo Prieto, Lourenzo, ‘Interpreting Galician History: The Recent Construction of an Unknown Past’ in Contemporary Galician Cultural Studies: Between the Local and the Global, ed. by Hooper & Puga (New York: MLA, 2011). Cazorla-Sánchez, Antonio, ‘At Peace with the Past: Explaining the Spanish Civil War in the Basque Country, Catalonia, and Galicia’, in Teaching Representations of the Spanish Civil War, ed. by Valis (New York: Modern Language Association, 2007). Rίos Bergantiños, Noa, ‘Contemporary Galizan Politics: The End of a Cycle?’, in A Companion to Galician Culture, ed. by Miguélez-Carballeira. (Woodbridge: Tamesis, 2014).

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -D- - D+: For the award to credit, students should demonstrate a satisfactory comprehension of the various topics studied, with some understanding of the correlations and interrelations highlighted.

-good -C- - B+: For the award of higher grades, students should demonstrate a solid comprehension of the various topics studied, with clear understanding of the correlations and interrelations highlighted, having also analysed and evaluated key sources.

-excellent -A- - A*: For the award of the highest grade, students should demonstrate a detailed comprehension of the various topics studied, with a nuanced understanding of the correlations and interrelations highlighted, having also analysed and evaluated key sources thoroughly.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate a mastery of basic study skills, such as the ability to make effective use of notes and secondary sources, and benefit from class discussions.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the main historical events shaping Galicia and particularly its language and culture.

• Demonstrate familiarity with key historical texts and an ability to produce critical historical commentary on them.

• Present arguments in essays and presentations, supported with cultural and historical evidence.