The Cultural State
Spanish culture has always held a unique importance in Spain's growth. Spain has many deeply rooted ways of living that are different from other parts in the world and these cultural elements helped and hurt the Spanish state. Religiously Spain in the modern era has been Roman-Catholic. In 1492 the Jewish people unwilling to convert to Christianity were expelled. Persecution of non-Christians helped unify the Spanish and also helped ally them with other nations sharing the faith. Within the many subcultures of Spain the power the clergy and church should hold is debated greatly. Convivencia was the living together of Jews, Muslims, and Christians in medieval times, which made Spain eventually not view ethnic diversity and mainly only see religious differences. The people of Spain mainly lived in an urban area or they lived where there was some kind of clustered feeling. Farmers and people living in the countryside are pitied by the urban dwellers. The urban lifestyle is ingrained in the Spanish and this helped draw people to the cities where commerce flourished for Spain. Architecturally many cultures, older buildings from Rome and the Islamic Empire help support regional identities influence Spain. Patios play a large part in housing, they create a social environment to talk with neighbors, unlike the generally privacy driven homes. The government generally runs public areas tightly. This order keeps down some separatist, but also enrages people. The very public nature of outdoor space heightens the concern with the separation of domestic from public space and the maintenance of domestic privacy. Food and drink are the main pastimes of Spanish families. Education in Spain's culture is highly coveted leading to the government creating regulations for the many religious schools. The education of Spain helped create an intelligent populace. Religious festivals and secular traditions in Spain are often fused together. This helps make a good balance of secular and religious beliefs. Providing room for both non-religious beliefs and religious beliefs was important in providing freedom for religious seriousness throughout the variety of Spanish subcultures. The arts of Spain were largely revolutionary causing the government and individuals to seek them. Spanish literature was especially coveted for its radical ideas, however it also helped unite all of Spain's separate cultures through writing.
The Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain