The Elders are trying to peer into the Crystal Ball of Twine and see what will become of America. Let’s look back into history and see if we can see any parallels. We’ll start with Spain.
A little context:
The Spanish Civil War (Spanish: Guerra Civil Española) was a military conflict fought from 1936 to 1939 between the Republicans and the Nationalists.
[ed. note: irony of ironies – the Republicans are the good guys here and the Nationalists are the fascists]
Elder G sees some similarities between the Spanish Civil War and the current political environment in America.
1. Polarization and Fragmentation
**Spanish Civil War:** Spain in the 1930s was deeply polarized between various factions, including Republicans, Nationalists, anarchists, and communists. The political landscape was fragmented, with deep ideological divisions.
**America Today:** The U.S. is experiencing significant political polarization, with strong divisions between conservatives and liberals. The political discourse is highly charged, and the rise of various political movements has further fragmented the landscape.
2. Economic Strain and Inequality
**Spanish Civil War:** Economic hardship and inequality were significant factors leading to the war. The Great Depression had a profound impact on Spain, exacerbating class tensions and economic disparities.
**America Today:** Economic inequality and the lingering effects of the Great Recession have contributed to political and social tensions. Issues such as wealth disparity, job insecurity, and the cost of living are major concerns for many Americans.
3. Role of Extremist Movements
**Spanish Civil War:** Extremist ideologies, including fascism and communism, gained traction as traditional political structures weakened. This led to radicalization and the rise of militant groups.
**America Today:** There has been a rise in extremist ideologies on both the far right and far left in the U.S. This includes white nationalist movements, anti-fascist groups, and other radical organizations, which have contributed to social unrest and violence.
4. Impact of Media and Propaganda
**Spanish Civil War:** Propaganda played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and mobilizing support for both sides. Media outlets were often biased and used as tools for political agendas.
**America Today:** The media landscape is highly fragmented, with news outlets often taking partisan stances. Social media has also become a powerful tool for spreading information (and misinformation), further polarizing public opinion.
5. Weakening of Democratic Institutions
**Spanish Civil War:** The failure of democratic institutions to effectively address the country’s problems led to a loss of faith in democracy and the rise of authoritarian movements.
**America Today:** There are concerns about the weakening of democratic norms and institutions in the U.S., including challenges to the integrity of elections, the rule of law, and the functioning of checks and balances.
6. International Influence and Interference
**Spanish Civil War:** Foreign powers played a significant role in the Spanish Civil War, with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy supporting the Nationalists, while the Soviet Union and international brigades supported the Republicans.
**America Today:** The U.S. faces challenges from foreign interference in its political processes, including concerns about cyber-attacks, election meddling, and the influence of foreign money in politics.
A Quick History of Imperial Spain
In a nutshell: greed and lust for power. Nothing new to see here.
The Spanish Empire, sometimes referred to as the Hispanic Monarchy or the Catholic Monarchy, was a colonial empire that existed between 1492 and 1976. In conjunction with the Portuguese Empire, it ushered in the European Age of Discovery. It achieved a global scale, controlling vast portions of the Americas, Africa, various islands in Asia and Oceania, as well as territory in other parts of Europe. It was one of the most powerful empires of the early modern period, becoming known as “the empire on which the sun never sets”. At its greatest extent in the late 1700s and early 1800s, the Spanish Empire covered over 13 million square kilometres (5 million square miles), making it one of the largest empires in history.
The Spanish Empire during the second half of the 18th century By Ostiudo – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0Wikipedia
Things started to slip away in the 19th century, with an extended visit from Napoleon, followed by most of their colonies saying thanks but no thanks (Gracias pero no gracias). The United States seriously kicked their asses in the Spanish American War (1898), then Spain held a fire sale for some of its remaining colonies and pulled out of the Philippines.
The Queens (part I)
Isabella I of Castile
Isabella I (22 April 1451 – 26 November 1504), also called Isabella the Catholic, was Queen of Castile and León from 1474 until her death in 1504. She was also Queen of Aragon from 1479 until her death as the wife of King Ferdinand II. Reigning together over a dynastically unified Spain, Isabella and Ferdinand are known as the Catholic Monarchs.
Ann Foster has an engaging web site describing interesting female historical figures.
Ann is both a Saskatchewanian and a Saskatonian.
Isabella and Ferdinand were officially co-monarchs of both the huge kingdom of Castile and the smaller but important Aragon. They were truly an equal pairing, with Isabella given the same level of respect and responsibility as her husband. This feels like “so what” until you remember that this was the first time in Western history that a woman actively ruled a country. – Ann Foster
The portraits of Isabella I of Castile vary considerably, wondering if some court artists had short tenures.
Semi-Sequitur: Isabella’s Half Brother
Fun fact: Isabella’s half brother, Enrique IV de Castilla, was a dud, and forever known to history as “El Impotente”.
In 1440, at the age of fifteen, he was married to Blanche II of Navarre. The marriage was never consummated. In 1453, after thirteen years, Henry sought an annulment. An official examination confirmed the virginity of Blanche, and a priest questioned the prostitutes of Segovia, who confirmed that Henry was sexually capable. Blanche was sent home; eight years later, she became de jure Queen of Navarre and died under strange circumstances.
Blanche II (June 1424 – 2 December 1464) was the titular Queen of Navarre between 1461 and 1464. She was the daughter of John II of Aragon and Blanche I of Navarre. She was also Princess of Asturias by marriage to Henry of Castile.
