SWS-Galicia/History

Question 1

Where is Green Spain located?

Answer 1

• along Atlantic coast from NW Spain to western end of Pyrenees

Question 2

What are the autonomous regions in Green Spain?

Answer 2

1. Galicia
2. Cantabria
3. Asturius
4. País Vasco

Question 3

Who first settled Galicia? When?

Answer 3

Celts migrated there in 6th century

Question 4

Who invaded after the Celts? When?

Answer 4

Romans invaded in 137 BCE

Question 5

What were the Romans interested in?

Answer 5

• gold and minerals
• lost interest when mines became unproductive after 100 years

Question 6

What did Roman occupation bring?

Answer 6

1. new technology
2. trade partners
3. language
4. introduced foreign vines
5. better knowledge of viticulture

Question 7

Who took over Galicia after the Romans?

Answer 7

• Suebi took over around 410
• decline of Roman Empire in early 5th century

Question 8

Who invaded after the Suebi?

Answer 8

Visigoths took control in 585

Question 9

Who invaded after the Visigoths?

Answer 9

Muslims invaded Spain in 711, but they never gained control over Galicia

Question 10

What is the capital of Galicia?

Answer 10

Santiago de Compostal

Question 11

Why was Santiago de Compostal historically important?

Answer 11

• last city on the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James) pilgrimage route
• Christians held city during Reconquista

Question 12

What was the Reconquista?

Answer 12

Christian reconquest of Iberian peninsula (722–1492)

Question 13

Who controlled Galicia during the 14-15th centuries?

Answer 13

• local knights, counts and bishops
• Spanish aristocracy had prior control

Question 14

Who controlled Galicia in the late 15th century?

Answer 14

Isbella I established Castilian monarchy in the region

Question 15

How did Galicia benefit from Christopher Columbus’ explorations?

Answer 15

started exporting wine

Question 16

What is vino tostado?

Answer 16

• naturally sweet wine made from sun-dried grapes in Ribeiro (Galicia’s center of wine production)
• known as Tostado do Ribeiro
• consumed by pilgrims on way to Santiago de Compostela

Question 17

What was effect of Tostado do Ribeiro?

Answer 17

1. exported in large amounts to England during 17-18th centuries
2. led to planting craze; agricultural land converted to vines

Question 18

What were the causes of vineyard decline?

Answer 18

1. Tostado do Ribeiro fell out of fashion; merchants turned toward northern Portuguese red wines
2. mildew and phylloxera hit vineyards
3. low-quality hybrid vines and non-traditional varieties planted in early 20th century
4. led to identity crisis

Question 19

What was effect of Spanish Civil War (1936-39)?

Answer 19

• Galicia lost autonomous status
• spared worst of fighting since it was one of areas where coup attempt successful
• General Franco was Galician, but still surpasses Galician language

Question 20

What was effect of Franco’s death?

Answer 20

• used in new era and democracy in 1981
• regained autonomous status

Question 21

How was the region revived in the 1980s?

Answer 21

1. winemakers started making quality wine from local grapes (Albariño, Mencía and Godello)
2. regional authorities restricted use of foreign varieties
3. Spain’s EU entry in 1986 brought investment into region’s wine industry