Basque History Of The World"They are a mythical people, almost an imagined people," writes Mark Kurlansky. Settled in a corner of France and Spain in a land marked on no maps except their own, the Basques are a nation without a country, whose ancient and dramatic story illuminates Europe's own saga. Where did they come from? Signs of their civilization exist well before the arrival of the Romans in 218 B.C., and their culture appears to predate all others in Europe. Their mysterious and forbidden tongue, Euskera, is related to no other language on Earth. The Basques have stubbornly defended their unique culture against the Celts, the Romans, the Visigoths and Moors, the kings of Spain and France, Napoleon, Franco, the modern Spanish state, and the European Union. Yet as much as their origins are obscure, the Basques' contributions to world history have been clear and remarkable. Early explorers, they made fortunes whaling before the year 1000 and became the premier cod fishermen in Europe after discovering Canada's Grand Banks. Juan Sebastian de Elcano, a Basque, was the first man to circumnavigate the globe in 1522. Their influence has also been felt in religion as founders of the Jesuits in 1534, and in business, as leaders of the Industrial Revolution in southern Europe. Mark Kurlanky's passion for the Basque people, and his exuberant eye for detail, shine throughout this fascinating history. Like his acclaimed Cod, it blends human, economic, political, literary and culinary history into a rich and heroic tale. |
Contents
Maps | |
The Island and the World | |
Part OneTHE SURVIVAL OF EUSKAL HERRIA | |
The Basque Cake | |
The Basque Myth | |
The Basque Problem | |
The Basque Whale | |
The Basque Saint | |
Gernika | |
The Potato Time | |
Speaking Christian | |
Eventually Night Falls | |
Part ThreeEUSKADI ASKATUTA | |
Slippery Maketos | |
The Great Opportunity | |
Checks and Balances | |
The Basque Billy Goat | |
The Wealth of NonNations | |
Part TwoTHE DAWN OF EUSKADI | |
The Basque Onomatopoeia | |
The Basque Beret | |
The Basque Ear | |
Surviving Democracy | |
The Nation | |
The Death of a Basque Pig | |
The Basque Thank You | |
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Aguirre Alava America angulas arrested Arzalluz attack autonomy Basque government Basque history Basque language Basque nationalism Basque Nationalist Party Basque provinces Basse Navarre Bayonne beans became began beret Bilbao border called Carlist Carlos Castile Castilian Catalans chocolate Christian Church commander cooked culture Ebro elvers etxea Europe European Euskadi Euskera Fascist Ferdinand fight fish fishermen Franco French Basqueland French Basques Fueros garlic Germans González Guardia Civil Guernica Guipúzcoa Hendaye Herri Batasuna Iberia ikurriña industry Iñigo Ituren Jesuits José Joseba Juan killed king known Labourd Liberals Madrid María military Monzón mountain Muslims Navarra Navarrese never nineteenth century Pamplona peppers percent pil pil police political popular port prisoners Pyrenees recipe refugees region river Roman Roncesvalles rural Sabino Arana salt cod San Sebastián ships Spain Spanish government speak St.-Jean-de-Luz Telesforo de Monzón Tolosa torture town traditional Unamuno village Vizcaya wanted whale witches word wrote