| The Spanish culture for a long time has been well | | | | During the 8th century AD, Spain assimilated a number |
| known for the warmth and welcoming that friends, | | | | of elements of Moorish culture, with the conquest of |
| visitors and foreigners have always enjoyed. Their | | | | the area by the Muslims. Moorish artistic and |
| spirit of friendliness as well as generosity is part of | | | | architectural influences can readily be seen all over the |
| what draws many people to the Spanish-speaking | | | | country. Another unique contribution from the Moorish |
| people and why learning Spanish is such a favorite | | | | culture are the attractively designed gardens. |
| topic of study. | | | | An Islamic garden contains four elements which make |
| Additional Spanish Contributions | | | | them unique and stunning: water, shade, variations in |
| In addition to the many things known about the culture | | | | color as well as fragrance, and sound. The Spanish |
| of Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries, the | | | | vocabulary was again augmented from this time |
| world has also been affected in numerous ways by | | | | period with many Arabic words, all of which started |
| Spanish influences. Some of these cultural influences | | | | with the "al" prefix. |
| from the Spanish language and the Spanish people | | | | Next, in the early half of the 11th century, there was |
| come in the different forms of art, poetry, cuisine, | | | | significant influence on the culture from French pilgrims |
| music, dance, and architecture. | | | | and ecclesiastics who traveled through Spain. This |
| The Spanish culture could really be regarded as a | | | | cordial interaction brought about a considerable inflow |
| vibrant mosaic from a number of other various | | | | of French words and phrases, as well as touches of |
| cultures who captured or visited the Iberian peninsula. | | | | cuisine, spiritual traditions and art. |
| This large peninsula, that constitutes a large portion of | | | | In the 15th and 16th centuries, the culture was further |
| the south western part of the continent of Europe, | | | | influenced by an infusion of factors from the Italian |
| could be regarded as the cradle from which the | | | | language and society. This grew from the domination |
| Spanish culture was fostered. | | | | of Aragonese influences in Italy and due to the huge |
| Throughout the centuries, the Iberian peninsula, which | | | | popularity of Italian poetry in Spain, throughout this |
| was the cradle of the Spanish culture, was | | | | period. This influenced the Spanish language again with |
| encroached upon, conquered and influenced by | | | | additional words to the vocabulary, including Spanish |
| numerous different people. There were pre-Latin | | | | verbs. In addition, art, cuisine, music and thought were |
| influences of culture and language from the Greeks, | | | | affected by Italy at this time. |
| the Basque as well as the Celts. Later, moving into the | | | | Over the course of numerous centuries, the Spanish |
| 5th century AD, an invasion of the region by the | | | | culture has undergone quite a bit of changes, as new |
| Visigoths introduced some Germanic influences, plus | | | | influences were assimilated and added. Numerous |
| contributed some German words to the Spanish | | | | creative and artistic forces of the different ages have |
| language. In addition, the Visigoths introduced some | | | | either sprang from the culture of Spain, or have had an |
| components of architecture, which as the centuries | | | | affect on it. When someone starts to learn how to |
| past, evolved into the familiar forms of Gothic | | | | speak Spanish, they are often astonished with the |
| architecture which is so ordinarily seen in buildings | | | | vast and rich culture which they also learn about |
| across Hispanic cultures. | | | | through their Spanish lessons. |
| History's Further Influence On Spain | | | | |