Catalonia: The turn of the events (section 1 )

Cataluña: El giro de los acontecimientos.    

Catalunya: El gir dels esdeveniments

“Barcelona; the popularised, cultural Capital City of Catalonia, is now documented as a Global City due to its internal importance in Finance, Media, Entertainment, Arts, Education, Tourism and, for accommodating famous events; such as the Olympics of 1992”

CONTENTS:

Section 1:

• Phoenicians
• Roman Empire
• Visigoths
• The Events between Visigoths and the Independence of Catalan

Section 2:

• Ildefons Cerda and the 1888 World Fair Trade onwards
• Arc de Tricmf
• Catalan Modernisme

Section 3:

• The Lead up to Guell Parc
• Location of Parc Guell
• The Square (Parc Guell)
• The Hipostila Hall (Parc Guell
• The Infamous Stairwell (Parc Guell)
• The Infamous Pavilions (Parc Guell)
• The Austria Gardens (Parc Guell)
• How did Guell’s vision of a Residential Estate,
• for the wealthy end up as Parc Guell?
• Parc Guell’s Fees
• Overall

PHOENICIANS:

The most notorious dates in the History of Catalonia, which stem way before C.300BC, are coordinated into a purpose-filled Timeline. A Timeline is an accessible document that allows us to pinpoint certain events that have happened in the past, presenting us with more knowledge of that era. A Timeline does not consist of separation between the Good and Bad times of society events, it allocates memorable interventions-an interruption to normality or, at least, disrupting a world that has being shaped by our own independence. Catalonia’s History is quite…extensive? Throughout my (ongoing) research on Catalonia, I noticed in between specific dates there wasn’t a time when things were just…stable? There was always something happening, igniting further destruction through Emperors, War, Diseases, Independence and Loss of Independence and so forth. My Historical excursion begins in the Phoenicians era and ends mid 20^th century.

Based on many Historians and visual evidence-such as the archaeological remains, it is believed the Phoenicians-originating from Southern Lebanon, and whom founded the city of Gadir-now known to be Cadiz-were amongst many tribes who took advantage of their protective neighbours, the Assyrians (between 1,500-600 B.C.), to pursue an expanded excursion throughout the Mediterranean and beyond, to extract organic materials, aswell as metal, to trade with the Middle East Market. Their collective destinations were never too far out for them to postpone, even voyaging their way to Cornwall (Southern England). Their most rewarding location was in Southern Spain, after coming across a sufficient supply of Gold, Silver, and Copper and Iron-through the intentional pursuit of Tin. In the conditions, supplied by the Assyrians, Phoenicians were expected to provide Silver, and lots of it. (Silver was particularly important to the Assyrians, given the fact it was towards their currency.) Phoenicians became aware of large deposits of Silver held in the inner core of Rio Tinto; a well-known mining area; north of Huelva. Excavations have allowed archaeologists to analyse the relics and make a definitive evaluation resulting the following information as regards to dates and era. Excavations not only proved the mining in north of Huelva goes back to the early Bronze Age, but also possess enough evidence that on the remains of the Phoenicians settlements, there was a lack of possible weapons; suggesting a peaceful co-existence between themselves and the native tribes.

Phoenicians, using their liable intelligence, introduced Iron to those in the central area; resulting in a valuable commodity for not only sword making, but for agricultural tools, implying substantial help to manual hands. Not only were they manually keen in Iron and fine Metals, they are also responsible for generating Ceramic Art, eventually resulting in the first Potter Wheel-around 700BC.

Due to their extensive work and trade amongst many areas the Phoenicians discovered large consumptions of: Tuna, Mackerel and Sturgeon, which were greeted with eagerly anticipating hands, belonging to the Market Trade(s) of the Eastern Mediterranean.

During their fishing days the Phoenicians came across purple dye that had being subjected from Molluscs-possibly in the moment of attack.

Due to current biological analyses it is now known Molluscs/Snails, in the Eastern Mediterranean, use their secretion for predatory purposes. When the snail comes in to contact with a predator or physically held-antagonised by humans, for example: prodding, then the snail’s instinct is to release the purple dye. It wasn’t long before the idea of “milking” the snails came about, but then it was time consuming, without much result. So, the idea of collecting a large amount of the snails and crushing them completely was a messy combination with the purple dye and the shattered pieces of the snail, however it was more appropriate than milking. Measurements provided evidence in evaluating how much of the dye could be collected, the results were poor. It is said, “Twelve thousand snails of Murex Brandaris yield no more than 1.4g of pure dye, enough to colour only the trim of a single garment.”

So, in overall of their existence the Phoenicians were trading to markets: Purple Dye, Tuna, Mackerel, Sturgeon, Iron, Copper, Silver and, on the basis of finding traces of Phoenician Amphorae, it is a given clue to them also supplying Olive Oil and Wine.

Communications between the Phoenicians and the Assyrians was interrupted when Assyrians lost authority to the Babylonians in 612 BC. However, their influence remained on the grounds of the Carthaginians-whose Capital City-Carthage, had being founded as a Phoenician trading posts from around 800 BC. Once the Phoenicia era became extinct, the Carthaginian Tribe developed their name in the trading presence of the Mediterranean.

A Phoenician Sarcophagus, believed to be found in Cadiz Spain; now in Archaeological museum of Cadiz. The Sarcophagus is thought to have being designed and paid for by a Phoenician merchant, and made in Greece influenced by Egyptians.

ROMAN EMPIRE:

When the Romans settled in Empurias (REF 1)…in the province of Girona, on Catalonia’s soil, (From 281 BC) their main purpose was to prepare for the expansionist threat of their great rivals-the Carthaginians. It did not take them long before they took over Emporium after their victory against the Carthaginians Tribe. The Roman Empire introduced Latin to the region. However, it is within the Catalans rights to reserve their ownership of first-spoken-language within and around the area of Catalonia. Rome transformed the society, encouraging patronage and slavery; this wasn’t as straightforward as it seems, resulting in restricted boundaries. Religion and Culture penetrated and adopted the same religious calendar, and the same temple, praising the same deities, leading to their lost distinct characteristics, including their own language. They (the Romans) succeeded in dividing the territory in to two parts, Modern Cataluña-located in Hispania Citerior, running down the East Coast and, inland the other being called Hispania Ulterior-which is roughly where modern Andalusia is today. The Romans success is noted, in the help of expanding City Barcino-Barcelona and Tarraco-now Tarragona, aswell as setting camp for Veterans, whom found solace from the Austurian Wars. During their reign, they had the capabilities and the intelligence to work effectively together, resulting in the institutional structure of roads, connecting City to Cities. Through their hard graft in farming, they adopted popularity, a great agriculture trade, and people from around the Mediterranean Sea began placing orders, such as Cereals, Grapes and Olives. The Romans had brought the City, not only Roads, Farming, and adoption of a New Language, but some form of independency, and a new strategy, gaining an increase of population to the City. The Romans were under the supremacy of Caesar Augustus, he often came to monitor the region, eventually changing what was Barcelona’s official name-Colonia Julia Augusta Faventia Paterna Barcino to a much shorter version; Barcino. Caesar didn’t want, or, couldn’t see any further potential in the surroundings. Nevertheless, he continued ensuring the security of trade to and from the more, prosperous and welcoming City of Tarragona. The city needed a wall that defined the precinct, and a need for running water; that served the homes, fountains and any public thermal bath(s). The Romans, due to their creative manual hands, gave rise to constructions, which was much appreciated from other citizens, this included: Aqueducts and beautiful reservoirs that guaranteed the gathering and storing of water. They had lead pipes and Bronze valves and pressure deposits, which guaranteed the distribution of the water to Fountains, Homes and, Public Thermal Baths-where the Citizens gathered, usually at the end of festivities. The Romans also opened paved streets, monumental forensics squares: Curia, Juridical Basilicas and grand temples. At the convenient time, when engineering was done on important areas, they built amusement buildings, such as Theatres, Amphitheatres, and Circus Buildings for entertainment. By the end of the 5^thCentury, the Romans leadership had come to an end and the territory that, for a long time belonged to them, became abandoned in the 3^rd Century and eventually disappeared beneath the dunes. (REF2)

The Romans, due to their agriculture prosperity, never declined their own produce, and eating in wealth, Oysters in particularly-appeared on the Roman menu, frequently. Wine, Olive Oil and, Garum-a sort of fish paste, were all produced and consumed in abundance. 

*Reference 1* “Empurias dates back to the early Iron Age, it was first founded in the 6th Century by Ancient Greek traders from Phocaea-Emporion, as it was originally known, who utilised the advantageous location of a valuable natural harbour. Emporion is a practical name, given its commercial purpose; Emporion means Market in Ancient Greek.”

*Reference 2* By the end of the 5th Century, the Romans leadership had come to an end and the territory that, for a long time belonged to them, became abandoned in the 3rd Century and eventually disappeared beneath the dunes. The archaeological site, buried for centuries-until 1908, when excavations were granted, still to this day they are discovering new information. Tourists can admire part of the legacy that is left behind on the Iberian Peninsula by the civilisation of the Greeks and Romans.

During the Phoenicians, Greeks and the Roman Empire; many forms of Art including; sculptures, ceramics, paintings, pottery, constructions and architecture came about. The most outstanding sculptures are:

Lady of Elche: 

The origin of this sculpture was discovered by chance in 1897 at L’ Alcudia, an archaeological site on a private estate about two kilometres south of Valencia, Spain. The bust is believed to be a piece of Iberian sculpture from the 4^th century BC. There are no similar sculptures from that time period that even come close to the high degree of execution which leaves the debate open that the work comes from a much earlier period. There are many replicas of the Lady of Elche. To think of the possible year this was sculptured you have to feel amazed at the talented hands, and the dedication of time and effort, although it is not to everyone’s taste

Goddess of Baza:

The Goddess of Baza is a Phoenician Sculpture, she can be seen sat on a winged throne, and rumoured to have lion-footed legs. She was sculptured to have a blue-painted dove in her left hand. Openings at one side of her throne suggest it was used to deposit cremation ashes.

VISIGOTHS

Due to the sudden incursion of another burst of Germanic Tribes-the Visigoths and Franks, the Roman power was rapidly dispersing. The Franks took control of the Northern Part of Europe-modern day France. The Visigoths controlled the Southern

borders and once their confidence increased in their ability to extract people from ownership of land, aswell as establishing their own Kingdom with its Capital at Toulouse; France, they slowly extended their authority into Hispania, removing the Vandals and Alan Tribes. They also took over the Suevi Kingdom and its Capital City Bracara (modern day Braga) between 584-585 A.D. the province of the Byzantine Empire, South of the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands.

Germanic, or more commonly known as Gothic Tribes, has picked up many enemies and disapprovals of the Gothic presence, Gothic Cathedrals were scorned during the renaissance because they never could compare well with the classical elegance. When a Writer announces a Gothic genre, images of decay and decadence appear in the mind; even in the Oxford and Webber Dictionaries they announce the meaning as barbarous, uncouth and rude. Which, given the fact the Visigoths are deemed as barbarous by the Romans and Greeks, it is easier to understand why. Nevertheless, this did not prevent the Romans from making pacts with them or incorporating them in their imperial armies.

Over time the Visigoths Kingdom collapsed in 711 when the Moors (North African Muslims) invaded Morocco. Within just a few years the Moors gained more people and conquered nearly all of the Peninsula and Southern France. Many Spaniards afraid of the new empire took refuge in the northern mountains and from there; they held bitter resistance against the Muslim Domination. The Moors controlled the Southern two-thirds of Spain for two centuries. Another Muslim Domination took over the Western Side.

The events between Visigoths and the Independence of Catalonia:

If we skip to The Battle of Tours 732 A.D. (Most commonly known by the Battle of Poitiers) which began 10^th October 732 A.D between the Frankish leader; Charles Martel and a massive invading Islamic army led by Emir Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi Abd er Raham near the city of Tours, France. During this heated battle the Franks defeated the Islamic Army, resulting in the death of Emir Rahman. Many praise Martel, with the lingering question; had he not won the battle, would the Islamist eventually over ruled, the strong faith in Christianity. The battle is considered by most historians to be of Macro-Historical importance, due to the enormous possibilities of “What ifs?” After the death of Emir, his remaining troops departed and local Visigoths regained independency, although they voluntarily made themselves tributary to the emerging Frankish Kingdom, which resulted in the generic name Marca Hispanic.

The basis of the Catalan Culture is reported to have started in the middle Ages under the domination of the Counts of Barcelona, particularly in Aragon. The Catalans became notorious for maritime power, expanding all the time by trade and conquest. Trade went to Valencia, the Balearic Islands, Sardinia and Sicily.

The main event in 1469, was the marriage of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon this united most Christian citizens. In 1492 al-Andalus was finally conquered and the Spanish conquest of the Americans began. Political power and wealth shifted away from the Crown of Aragon towards Castile.

Catalonia retained as much power and law as long as they could however, their power was sieving through their fingers and eventually eroded. Over the next few Centuries, Catalonia was part of many battles, and always on the losing side, as much as they detested and tried to fight back, it was no use. The most significant conflict was the War of the Spanish Succession, which began in the early 18^th Century.

Spain became distracted and divided in a succession war between the Habsburgs and the Bourbons, in gaining the respect the Spanish Throne holds. Immediately opposed to the Bourbon’s traditional trend towards strong centralism, Catalans outwardly declared their hatred and became loyal to the Habsburg Pretender; Charles 3^rd and signed a treaty with England, that in return, promised them some naval support against Philip V-the leader of the Bourbons. Unlucky for Catalonia, Philip V won the votes and he became the holder of the Spanish Throne. For the next thirteen months, Catalans had a Kamikaze resistance, yet their actions were never taken seriously and, with much regret, Barcelona finally surrendered in 1714. It wasn’t long before Philip V made it quite clear there will be repercussions-penalised for their long, drawn out opposition.

Philip V held a conference with the Flemish Military Prosper Verboom, discussing the size of a citadel that Philip V wanted to be built around the city of Barcelona. (A Citadel is described as a fortress, a wall that encloses, or destroys visual contact with the other side. A Citadel is mostly associated with incorporating a castle. The term, Citadel; a Fort, derives from the Latin Language, meaning “city”.) Confirmation was placed into action, resulting in a pentagonal shaped citadel, built near the harbour to dominate the city (1714). Barcelona was now stripped of their independence and was under strict surveillance. The overwhelming feeling of being smothered, perhaps like that of a straightjacket or a character exploited in the infamous book of: 1984 George Orwell. It was made to intimidate the Catalans against repeating their mid 17^th and early 18^th century rebellions against the Spanish Central Government. There was no informal enclosures, where mannerism could be private, kept securely upon their own men. Philip V wanted to destroy the chances of civic expansion and industrial developments. The citadel’s structure consisted of a fronted moat, zigzagged from the western face of the south again to the port meeting the sea at the ancient shipyards; this way Barcelona became an enormous fort in which the military installations covered almost as much space as the civilian buildings. Philip V also disarmed the use of the Catalan Language; this went for Literature; Poets, Singers and Artists. The military complex remained a hated symbol of Castilian rule for a long time. Construction was non-negotiable, prohibited in the so-called firing range; a series of overlapping semicircles with a radius-reportedly to have being 1.25km, there centres at different points in the fortifications. This firing range meant it had created a-no-man’s-land outside the wall. There was no room of planning proposals without making simultaneously an implicit political statement. 

Despite all this, Catalans never belittled their own academic rights and continued to carry out a series of social and economical transformations, within the city’s walls, which in return improved agriculture, commerce and manufacturing. The economic growth derived from the modernisation of the crops, due to their more upbeat attention, radiation and extensive acres. The accumulation of benefits obtained from commerce favoured an incipient industrialisation, which was then principally concentrated in the textile segment.

Transformations in Catalonia over time was spreading like wild fire, people from all around the world was over-hearing the achievement of the Catalan’s latest expressions and their form of mutual respect amongst their own men. The dimensions within the grounds of Catalonia, welcomed more population that, in return, continued to expand new initiatives and infrastructures which backed the new economical necessities. One of the most successful representative of the Barcelona’s working field was in-fact “Junta de Comerc de Barcelona (Barcelona commence Board) which was promoted by traders and industrialists in 1758. In the interior districts, wool spinning and weaving, silk and Calico printing was also highly popular, particularly to the women. In the coastal districts, principally the Maresme, Vineyards and the industries which elaborated wine and brandy were implemented. Due to the markets of northern Europe there was high demand for wine and brandy, where the consumption of these liquors was traditionally high. The exportation to the American colonies also progressively increased and Catalonia’s popularity of trade and incoming culture was very much known around the world by now, much to the annoyance of the Spanish economy.

Despite the changes of Spanish Rulers since 1718, all of them were keen to keep the walls upright, until, finally, there were demolished 1854-1856.

Barcelona and parts of Spain experienced more pain as a French Revolutionary Army was launched in Spain’s direction (1793-1795) with limited success. However, as soon as Napoleon turned his attention to the country in 1808 it was another story. Barcelona suffered along with the rest of the Country until the French were eventually expelled in 1814-Barcelona was the last City in the hands of the French, whom finally left in September.

The Catalan Language and Culture, which at one point was facing obliteration, experienced a rebirth-due to the Romantic movement of the 1830’s. It was a happy and most treasured moments of Poets and Writers. They reunited and ushered in the Catalan Renaissance and popularised the Catalan Language. Politicians embraced the new era; the nationalist movement sprang into mutual love for the artistic Renaissance. Adding to the moving forward, Barcelona was the first Railway Line from Barcelona to Mataró (estimated 30 Kilometres northward and completed in 1848). 

Catalonia was getting its taste of freedom back when the Bourbons lost all power in Spain after the Spanish Revolution of 1868. Nationalist Catalan Parties began to grow and became more involved in Catalan institutions, traditions and its culture. Barcelona’s Wine, Cork and Iron Industries developed from the mid 1830’s onwards. As well as increasing trade, steamships were launched off the slipways. Due to the extensive population, in the 19^thcentury, Barcelona’s wealthy upper-class people, felt strong and independent financially and strong in a political state. The rest of Spain was spiralling into a mental depression, caused by the loss of colonies; Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

It wasn’t always happy in the Barcelona city, between 1834-1874 fatal epidemics broke out, reportedly killing around 3% of the population each time the flu broke out. The average life expectancy was decreasing, rapidly. Men, thought to be around 38 years old amongst the rich communities and 19 years old amongst the poor. Although the increase in population ultimately increased the exports across the sea, accommodations were becoming cramped. The population density was reported to have being around 850 inhabitants per hectare; this was-by record, higher than the population of Spain and in Europe. The average population of Paris, for example, was around 400 inhabitants per hectare, if we were to compare. As well as overcrowding, the city was notorious in its hygiene amongst workers and families who stayed at home. Districts voiced their opinions out in the streets, resulting in predictive riots against the governments. Something HAD to be done.

A French visitor once said, after returning from Barcelona: “The people do not fit into Barcelona.” Common sense screamed for the walls to be demolished, to expand the city. The problem laid in the hands of Madrid’s central government, refusing to apply to their needs. Between 1800 and 1900; just fewer than 418,000 people resided in Barcelona’s walls. The citizens of Barcelona, pissed off with the selfish government, decided to go it alone. The supplied shops were flooded with men, on the lookout for tools such as hammers to help bring down the walls. Mutually grieved for the many years they had to live with the walls over-bearing their everyday life, and the constant surveillance of Philip V’s men, they took their anger out, clashing the walls with all their might. Unfortunately, it was not as simple or easy, in-fact it took almost two years to bring down. Once the walls were demolished, the areas were converted into an urban park; the present-day Parc de la Ciutadella, which hosted the World’s fair in 1888. Another transformation is that of the fields on the outskirts of the city into a modern district, the Exiample. Today it is a city in itself, and a very popular tourist attraction, mostly associated with the infamous architects; Antoni Gaudi, Eusebi Guell, Ildefons Cerda and many more that has turned the city around. It comes across as inspirational, especially to artists alike and those who can appreciate how far Barcelona has come to what it used to be. Many people have walked on the grounds of Catalonia, each wanting their own trade, power, wealth, money, possession. Yet despite all this, Catalonia has done nothing but stand up to oncoming superiors. The citizens of Barcelona have always stood for what or, who they believe in, whether they won or not.

If you continue to analyse the timeline you will come across another notorious event. In the beginning of the 20^th century it is fair to say, Barcelona was a hotspot for terrorists, or more commonly known as the French Anarchists, resulting in General strikes from 1901-1902. Another riot that escalated in 1909 went on continuously for a week, leaving behind demolitions of 70 buildings which were burnt by the French Anarchists. Nevertheless, due to reign on Barcelona’s territory, the leader of the anarchists, Francesco Ferrer, was sentenced to death.