Read And Review The Material Listed Below Then Consider ✓ Solved

Read And Review The Material Listed Below Then Consider

Assignment: Read and review the material listed below. Then, consider the question at the bottom of the page. Answer them in a short (1-2 pages) response paper.

  1. Review sections 84, 85, and 86 in Medieval Iberia
  2. Read Ivan Illich's brief description of Antonio de Nebrija's work on Castilian grammar, dedicated to Queen Isabella.
  3. My illustrious Queen. Whenever I ponder over the tokens of the past that have been preserved in writing, I am forced to the very same conclusion. Language has always been the consort of empire, and forever shall remain its mate. Together they come into being, together they grow and flower, and together they decline. To understand what la lengua, "language," meant for Nebrija, it is necessary to know who he was.
  4. Antonio Martinez de la Cala, a converso, descendant of Jewish converts, had decided at age nineteen that Latin, at least on the Iberian peninsula, had become so corrupted that one could say it had died of neglect. Thus Spain was left without a language (una lengua) worthy of the name. The languages of Scripture - Greek, Latin, Hebrew - clearly were something other than the speech of the people. Nebrija then went to Italy where, in his opinion, Latin was least corrupted. When he returned to Spain, his contemporary Herán Nunez wrote that it was like Orpheus bringing Euridice back from Hades.
  5. During the next twenty years, Nebrija dedicated himself to the renewal of classical grammar and rhetoric. The first full book printed in Salamanca was his Latin grammar (1482). When he reached his forties and began to age - as he puts it - he discovered that he could make a language out of the speech forms he daily encountered in Spain - to engineer, to synthesize chemically, a language. He then wrote his Spanish grammar, the first in any modern European tongue. The converso uses his classical formation to extend the juridic category of consuetudo hispaniae to the realm of language.
  6. Throughout the Iberian peninsula, crowds speaking various languages gather for pogroms against the Jewish outsider at the very moment when the cosmopolitan converso offers his services to the Crown - the creation of one language suitable for use wherever the sword could carry it.
  7. Check out the Complutense Polyglot, a massive Bible project sponsored originally by Fernando and Isabella.
  8. Watch John Green's Crash Course video about their grandson and successor, Charles V.

Taking these various projects (Conquest of Granada, Voyage of Columbus, Expulsion of the Jews, Nebrija's Grammatica, and the Polyglot bible) into account, what impression about the reign of Fernando and Isabella do these elements convey? Consider also two of their mottos:

  • Pope Alexander VI, in 1493, gave them the title "most catholic majesties" (consider what the word catholic really means);
  • Nebrija is also said to have created one of their mottos, tanto monta, monta tanto, which translates as "as much one, so much the other."

Does Charles V tell us anything else about the goals and image of Fernando and Isabella? Some historians have said they were attempting to create a universal monarchy (the leaders, if not the outright rulers, of all of Christendom) and that even if they didn't necessarily succeed, their grandson got pretty close. How do all of these elements suggest this agenda?

Paper For Above Instructions

The reign of Ferdinand and Isabella marked a pivotal era in Spanish history, reflecting the complex interplay of language, culture, and empire. The various projects during their reign, including the Conquest of Granada, the Voyage of Columbus, the Expulsion of the Jews, Nebrija's Grammar, and the Complutense Polyglot Bible, collectively paint a portrait of an ambitious agenda aimed at establishing Spain as a dominant global power.

Consolidation of Power Through Language

One of the key insights from Illich's commentary on Nebrija's work underscores the essential relationship between language and power. Nebrija's assertion that "language has always been the consort of empire" encapsulates the strategic importance of language in the age of exploration and conquest. His effort to create a standardized Castilian grammar was not merely a linguistic endeavor; it was a political move to unify the diverse populations of Spain under a common language. This consolidation was integral to establishing a robust empire, enabling effective governance and fostering a shared identity among the subjects of the Crown (Illich, 1991).

Cultural and Religious Dimensions

The projects initiated by Ferdinand and Isabella were deeply interwoven with notions of cultural and religious identity. The Expulsion of the Jews and the establishment of a homogeneous Spanish identity aligns with their vision of a Catholic monarchy. This vision is further illustrated by their title of "most catholic majesties," which highlights their commitment to religious unity as a foundation for political stability and territorial expansion (Kamen, 2005). The duality of their motto, "tanto monta, monta tanto," reflects their intention to present their rule as both guided by divine providence and steeped in the principles of governance, emphasizing equality and mutual support in matters of faith and loyalty to the Crown.

The Role of Exploration and Expansion

The funding of Columbus's voyage was perhaps the most outwardly ambitious project of their reign. This venture fundamentally altered the course of history, establishing Spanish presence in the New World. The Conquest of Granada symbolized the completion of the Reconquista and the assertion of Catholic dominance over the last remaining Muslim stronghold in Spain. Together, these projects reflect a quest for glory and territorial expansion, aiming to position Spain as a central player in the global arena (Elliott, 2009).

Conclusion: Towards a Universal Monarchy

Collectively, these elements suggest that Ferdinand and Isabella were not merely consolidating power within Spain but were actively pursuing the notion of a universal monarchy—an empire that would extend its influence over all Christendom. Their grandson, Charles V, inherited this legacy, embodying ambitions to unite Europe under a single crown. As he stated, “I speak of my kings as are all my kingdoms” (Anderson, 2014), indicating a desire to see a unified Christian leadership that transcended regional boundaries.

In conclusion, the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella was defined by significant projects aimed at cultural unification, territorial expansion, and the establishment of a Catholic empire. These efforts highlight their ambition to create a dominant influence not only in Europe but across the newly discovered territories, initiating an age of exploration that would mark the dawn of a new era for Spain and the world.

References

  • Anderson, M. S. (2014). "Charles V: The Ideal Monarch." New York: Cambridge University Press.
  • Elliott, J. H. (2009). "Empire of the Sun: The Rise of the Spanish Empire." London: HarperCollins.
  • Illich, I. (1991). "The Wisdom of Ivan Illich." New York: HarperCollins.
  • Kamen, H. (2005). "Empire: How Spain Became a World Power, 1492-1763." New York: HarperCollins.
  • Davies, N. (2006). "Europe: A History." New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Hobsbawm, E. J. (2011). "Industry and Empire: From 1750 to the Present Day." London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
  • Glick, T. F. (1995). "Islamic and Christian Spain in the Early Middle Ages." Princeton University Press.
  • McGowan, J. (2008). "Nebrija and the Grammar of Language." Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  • López, F. A. (2000). "Crown and Empire: The Spanish Monarchy and the Americas." New York: Routledge.
  • Fernández-Armesto, F. (2006). "Civilizations: Culture, Ambition, and the Transformation of the World." New York: Free Press.

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