To: Ilaine who wrote (30480 ) 5/23/2002 5:09:33 PM From: Zeev Hed Read Replies (1) | Respond to Don't take it too literally (about Spain left behind during the Herem). Actually, there are different "Golden ages" in Spain, some would claim that the capture of Moorish Grenada in 1492, ended the first Spanish Golden age. Others would say that Spain's influence peaked when they lost the Armada (Phillip II-1588) and from there on, they started to lose colonies, first the Belgium, Milan, Sardinia, Luxemburg around 1700/15), and then in the next century their new world possessions. I think that what held up Spain for a long time, was the official status of the Roman Catholic Church (maybe Islam should learn that it is not healthy to mix governance and religion), that official status was not removed until the 1977 Cortes action. I think the Republicans were to busy in the 1931/39 time frame with other things and forgot to address that issue. The Spaniard themselves term their "Golden age" (Siglo de Oro) and date it to include Cervantes, from the early 16th century to the late 17th (I think that the period seal is Calderon's death in 1681). Since I am not versed that well in history, you would want to check these.
