Spain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Spain - Essay ExampleSpains cultural melting pot became much richer during the Middle Ages in part because of the large and influential Jewish population there. aft(prenominal) the defeat of the Muslims and Jews during the Christian Re-conquest period in the four hundred eld following 1000, Spain became more intolerant and very Catholic, although it still rewarded exploration and sought to be given its power through oerseas colonies. It is important to remember that the person who discovered the new land was Christopher Columbus, a Spaniard being funded by the King and Queen of Spain.Spains history in the 20th century was somewhat unhappy. There was a terrible civil war in the 1930s and for more than 30 years afterwards, the fascist dictator Franco ruled, oppressing people and refusing to permit the economy to grow in the way that it could have. But by the end of the 20th century, Spain was free again and erst again a cultural world leader. It is now a member of the EU and NATO and is a strong democracy.The thing that stands out most about Spain over the last five hundred years are probably its artists. Perhaps more than any other country, Spanish artists had redefined the way we think about paint but it can also be said they inspired and ushered in modernism. Artists like Velasquez, Goya, and Picasso were all far ahead of their time and all had untraditional views of the world they depicted in their work. They inspired thousands of other artists and taught the world to see through a very particular lens. They lived through tumultuous historical times and do sure to show the world these times without pulling any punches. Thats why they represent Spains greatest