Americo Castro
Encyclopedia
Américo Castro y Quesada (1885 – 1972) was a Spanish
cultural historian
, philologist, and literary critic who challenged some of the prevailing notions of Spanish identity, raising heated controversy with his conclusions that (1) Spaniards didn't become the distinct group they are today until after the Islamic conquest of Hispania
of 711 CE, an event that turned them into an Iberian caste coexisting among Moors
and Jews, and (2) the history of Spain and Portugal
was adversely affected with the success in the eleventh to fifteenth centuries of the "Reconquista
" or Christian reconquest of the Iberian peninsula
and with the Spanish expulsion of the Jews (1492).
Castro was born on May 4, 1885, in Cantagalo, Brazil
, to Spanish parents. In 1890 his parents returned with him to Spain where he then grew up. In 1904 he graduated from the University of Granada
, going on to study at the Sorbonne
in Paris
from 1905 to 1907. After returning to Spain he organized the Centre for Historical Studies in Madrid
in 1910 and headed its department of lexicography
. In 1915 he became a professor at the University of Madrid
.
Later, when the Spanish Republic
was declared, he became its first ambassador to Germany
in 1931. But when the Spanish Civil War
broke out in 1936 he moved to the United States
, teaching literature at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
from 1937 to 1939, at the University of Texas
from 1939 to 1940, and at Princeton University
from 1940 to 1953.
Among Castro's most notable scholarly works are The Life of Lope de Vega (1919), Language, Teaching, and Literature (1924), The Thought of Cervantes (1925), Ibero-America, Its Present and Its Past (1941), The Spaniards: an Introduction to their History (1948), The Structure of Spanish History (1954), and Out of the State of Conflict (1961).
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
cultural historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, philologist, and literary critic who challenged some of the prevailing notions of Spanish identity, raising heated controversy with his conclusions that (1) Spaniards didn't become the distinct group they are today until after the Islamic conquest of Hispania
Umayyad conquest of Hispania
The Umayyad conquest of Hispania is the initial Islamic Ummayad Caliphate's conquest, between 711 and 718, of the Christian Visigothic Kingdom of Hispania, centered in the Iberian Peninsula, which was known to them under the Arabic name al-Andalus....
of 711 CE, an event that turned them into an Iberian caste coexisting among Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
and Jews, and (2) the history of Spain and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
was adversely affected with the success in the eleventh to fifteenth centuries of the "Reconquista
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
" or Christian reconquest of the Iberian peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
and with the Spanish expulsion of the Jews (1492).
Castro was born on May 4, 1885, in Cantagalo, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, to Spanish parents. In 1890 his parents returned with him to Spain where he then grew up. In 1904 he graduated from the University of Granada
University of Granada
The University of Granada is a public university located in Granada, Spain that enrolls approximately 80,000 students. The university also has campuses in Ceuta and Melilla. Every year, over 2,000 European students enroll in the UGR through the Erasmus Programme, making it the most popular...
, going on to study at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
from 1905 to 1907. After returning to Spain he organized the Centre for Historical Studies in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
in 1910 and headed its department of lexicography
Lexicography
Lexicography is divided into two related disciplines:*Practical lexicography is the art or craft of compiling, writing and editing dictionaries....
. In 1915 he became a professor at the University of Madrid
University of Madrid
The Complutense University of Madrid is a public university in Madrid, Spain, and one of the oldest universities in the world.The University of Madrid may also refer to:* The Autonomous University of Madrid, a public university founded in 1968...
.
Later, when the Spanish Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
was declared, he became its first ambassador to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1931. But when the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
broke out in 1936 he moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, teaching literature at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
from 1937 to 1939, at the University of Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
from 1939 to 1940, and at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
from 1940 to 1953.
Among Castro's most notable scholarly works are The Life of Lope de Vega (1919), Language, Teaching, and Literature (1924), The Thought of Cervantes (1925), Ibero-America, Its Present and Its Past (1941), The Spaniards: an Introduction to their History (1948), The Structure of Spanish History (1954), and Out of the State of Conflict (1961).