1. Make a list of five streets dedicated to
craftsmanship or trades and describe them.
What were the “Els Gremis” (guilds)?
Corders street -
make ropes for stuff like horses, la placa de la llana
Shepards
come once a month here, guilds working with fabrics and they would establish
price for wool that they would convert into rope. Workers would establish
price, shepherds would leave town and workers started work
Carrer de Semolers – Made
wheat
Carrer de los
Candales – Candles were crafted here
Carrer dels Cotoners –
Cotton was made here
Carrer dels Mirallers - Were
rich if u had mirror very few people had - mirrors were made for church or rich
people
A guild is essentially a
group of workers who are all apart of the same profession. It was very important to be apart of a guild
while growing up and the family profession is passed down through the
generations. This was incredibly
important during the medieval time period in Barcelona, because it helped give
political power and was seen as a way of life.
Once their children were old enough, they would take on the same jobs as
their parents. They would train for
three years as an “intern” and then pass an exam to prove that they qualify to
become a member of that guild.
2.
“La
Casa-Taller” (The House-workshop) was the typical craftsmanship family
house. The same place to live and
work. Describe how spaces were organized
in a “Casa-taller.”
Each guild lived in a
building with two to three floors. The
workshop was located on the ground level.
There were big display windows that lead into the workshops. On the side of the building there was usually
a tile that represented the type of work that guild did. The principal floor was the noble floor where
the owner of the building or the richest person in the building lived; also
known as the most comfortable floor to live on.
The windows on this floor were usually big, in order to help represent
the wealth of that family. The remaining
floors in the building had small windows and incredibly tight and uncomfortable
living quarters. This was usually where
the servants, and poorer people lived.
They usually served the people on the principle floor or worked in the
workshop.
3.
Observing
the building of this area of Barcelona, mention some of the main architectural
aspects that distinguish the craftsman work building to the industrial
productions ones For example, materials, spaces or structures of the building
and streets.
The obvious aspect of the
architectural changes in the craftsmanship buildings to the industrial ones is
the material that the architects decided to use to build them. The older buildings are built with stone,
which is thick, heavy, and incredibly difficult to build with. During, and after, the Industrial Revolution
the use of iron to build buildings became more prevalent. This made these building look more modern,
making it apparent of which building still remain intact before the Industrial
Revolution.
4.
Find
the cultural relation of these five places cited below to Catalan culture. Take into account the different historical
periods in each case.
Santa María del Mar: Santa Maria del Mar is located in the Ribera
district of Barcelona built between 1329-1383. It provides a great
example of Catalan Gothic style. It also helps represent Catalan culture because it was built by working Catalan men. Santa Maria del Mar is a
symbol of Bourgeoisie in Barcelona and the middle class of the Middle
Ages. It also displays octagonal towers and simple walls.
El Mercat del Born: El Mercat del Born was made of iron and was
Barcelona's principal wholesale market until the mid-1970s when the wholesalers
were moved to Mercabarna on the city's outskirts. Symbol of the 1800s
mentality because it was made of iron.
El Fossá de les Moreres: El Fossa de les Moreres is a memorial plaza near
Santa Maria del Mar built over a cemetery where defenders of the city were
buried following the Siege of Barcelona at the end of the War of the Spanish
Succession in 1714. The eternal flame is always burning
in remembrance of the fallen Catalans. Several people
associated with guilds died here defending Catalonia.
La Ciutadella Park (The
Fortress of Philip V by 1714): La Ciutadell Park was a fortress created by Philip V in 1714 after the
War of the Spanish Succession. The Citadel was created in order to
maintain control over the city, and to hold the Catalan citizens from rebelling
like they did in the previous century.
5.
After
September 11th 1714 Philip V proclaimed the decrees of Nova Planta
in Catalonia. Mention the main changes
in Catalan society doing a little research after the field study.
September 11, 1714, Philip
V's enacted the Nueva Planta decrees banning all the main traditional Catalan
political institutions and rights and merged its administration into that of
the Crown of Castile as a province. However, the Bourbon monarchy allowed for
Catalonia's civil law code to be maintained. With the exception of the loyal
Basque Country, the new Bourbon king, Philip V of Spain, abolished the ancient
privileges of all of Spain's medieval kingdoms, including the Crown of Aragon
and with it, those of the Principality of Catalonia. Following the model of
France, he imposed a unifying legislation and administration across Spain, as
well as introducing the French Sallic Law and founding Spain's own Royal
Academy in 1714.
6.
What
is el Consolat de Mar or Llotja?
El Consolat de Mar was a quasi-judicial body set up in the Crown of
Aragon, that later spread throughout the Mediterranean basin to administer
maritime and commercial law. Also refers to a celebrated maritime customs
and ordinances in Catalan known in English as the Customs of the Sea.
In the 21st century el Conosolat de Mar is used
for commercial arbitration service operated by the Barcelona Chamber
of Commerce and for a series of trade-promotion offices operated by the city of
Barcelona.
