Guide in PDF format

Modern and Contemporary Spanish History

Code: 106343
Credits: 6

2026/2027

Degree programme	Type	Course
Spanish Language and Literature	FB	1

Contact lecturer

Name :: Javier Antón Pelayo
Email :: javier.anton@uab.cat

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

None.

Objectives

A general survey of the main events and processes of change and continuity in Spain from the end of the 15th century to the XXIst cebntury, with various thematic approaches, and with special emphasis on the social, political and cultural aspects that allow a better contextualization of Spanish literature of the Modern Age.

Learning outcomes

Identify the main periods in Western history.
Recognise and comment on the main ideas of a text.
Draw conclusions from the reading of an essay.
Produce organised presentations.
Make clear summaries of information or ideas.
Relate the principal historical periods with their literary expressions.
Identify the main gender inequalities present in society.
Analyse inequalities due to sex or gender and gender bias in the field of social-historical knowledge.

The course is divided into two sections taught by two different professors, one specializing in the Early Modern Period and the other in Contemporary History.

SECTION 1: EARLY MODERN HISTORY

Introduction to the Early Modern History of Spain.
The foundations of modern Spain.
The Hispanic Monarchy under the Habsburgs I.
Structural foundations I: demography and economy.
The Hispanic Monarchy under the Habsburgs II.
Structural foundations II: society and culture.
Spain under the Bourbons.

SECTION 2: CONTEMPORARY HISTORY

The nineteenth century: from the Peninsular War to the dynastic alternation of the Bourbon Restoration.
The first third of the twentieth century: the crisis of liberal parliamentarianism, dictatorship, the Second Republic, and the Civil War.
Franco’s dictatorship, exile, and the Transition to democracy.
Epilogue: the Constitution of 1978, the construction of the State of Autonomies, and the shortcomings of the democratic consolidation process.

Learning activities and methodology

Title	Hours	ECTS	Learning outcomes
Tutorials	20	0.8	1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Classes	39	1.56	1, 2, 6, 7, 8
Seminars and practices	10	0.4	1, 5, 7, 8
Exercices	10	0.4	2, 3, 4, 5
Personal study	38	1.52	1, 5, 6, 7, 8
Reading	16	0.64	2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Attendance to theoretical classes led by teachers.

Attendance at seminars and internship sessions led by teachers.

Comprehensive reading of texts.

Carrying out reviews, work and analytical comments.

Personal study.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title	Weight	Hours	ECTS	Learning outcomes
Exams (Exam 1: 20%; Exam 2: 20%)	40%	4	0.16	1, 4, 6, 7, 8
Participation: attendance, qualitative contributions, and office hours.	10 %	2	0.08	1, 6, 8
Assessed classroom exercises: Exercise 1 (10%); Exercise 2 (10%).	20 %	2	0.08	2, 3, 4, 5, 8
Assessed Readings (Reading 1: 15%; Reading 2, 15%)	30%	9	0.36	2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT

The competencies of this course will be assessed through examinations of the theoretical content, readings, practical activities, and active student participation.

Examinations (40%): two examinations on the theoretical content, each worth 20%.
Assessed Readings (30%): two readings, each worth 15%.
Assessed Classroom Activities (20%): two classroom activities, each worth 10%.
Participation (10%): attendance, qualitative contributions, and tutorials.

Dates of assessments and reviews: assessment activities will be scheduled throughout the academic year. At the time each assessment activity is carried out, the lecturer will inform students (via Moodle) of the procedure and the date for reviewing grades.

Not Assessed: students who do not complete a minimum number of assessment activities amounting to 30% of the final course grade will receive a “Not Assessed” grade and will not be eligible for reassessment.

Irregularities: if a student commits any type of irregularity that may lead to a significant alteration of the grade awarded for an assessment activity, that activity will be graded 0, regardless of any disciplinary proceedings that may result. If several irregularities are verified in the assessment activities of the same course, the final grade for the course will be 0.

AI:in this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted as an integral part of the work process, provided that the final result reflects a significant contribution by the student in terms of analysis and personal reflection. Students must: (i) identify which parts have been generated using AI; (ii) specify the tools used; and (iii) include a critical reflection on how these tools have influenced both the process and the final outcome of the activity. Failure to disclose the use of AI in this assessed activity will be considered a breach of academic integrity and will result in a grade of 0 for the activity, with no possibility of reassessment, and may lead to more severe sanctions in serious cases.

Exchange students:exchange students who request to take an examination earlier than scheduled must provide the teaching staff with a written document from their home university justifying the request.

Language accuracy: spelling, syntactic, and lexical errors will be taken into account in written assignments. Penalties may range from 0.1 to 0.2 points for each error, deducted from the final grade of the assessment activity.

Single Assessment: this course does not provide for a single-assessment system.

REASSESSMENT

Minimum assessed activities required for reassessment:to be eligible for reassessment, students must previously have been assessed in a set of activities whose combined weight is equivalent to at least two-thirds of the total continuous assessment grade.

Reassessable activities: all continuous assessment activities may be reassessed, except assessed classroom activities and participation.

Minimum grade: to take part in reassessment, students must have obtained a minimum grade of 3.5/10.

Bibliography

Early Modern Period

Alcalá-Zamora, José Nicasio. (2019). La vida cotidiana en la España de Velázquez. Madrid: La Esfera de los Libros.

Bennassar, Bartolomé. (2018). La España del Siglo de Oro. Barcelona: Crítica.

Domínguez Ortiz, Antonio. (2017). La sociedad española en el Siglo de Oro. Madrid: Marcial Pons.

Elliott, John Huxtable. (2012). La España imperial, 1469-1716. Barcelona: Debolsillo.

Floristán, Alfredo (Coord.). (2004). Historia de España en la Edad Moderna. Barcelona: Ariel.

Martínez Shaw, Carlos. (2020). Breve historia de la España Moderna (1474-1808), Madrid: Alianza Editorial.

Rey Castelao, Ofelia. (2020). La monarquía de las naciones. Patria, nación y naturaleza en la Monarquía de España. Madrid: Marcial Pons.

Contemporary Period

Álvarez Junco, José Álvarez and Shubert, Adrian (2018), Nueva Historia de la España Contemporánea (1808-2018), Barcelona, Galaxia Gutenberg.

Casanova, Julián, (2007), República y Guerra Civil, Barcelona/Madrid, Crítica/Marcial Pons [Vol. 8 de la Historia de España, dirigida per J. Fontana i R. Villares

Casanova, Julián, Gil, Carlos (2010), Historia de España en el siglo XX, Madrid, Ariel.

Dardé, Carlos (2023), El siglo XIX en España. La nación liberal, Ediciones 19: Madrid.

Pérez Garzón, Juan S. (2007), El nacimiento de la nación liberal (1808-1814). Ed. Síntesis: Madrid.

Sánchez, Raquel (2019), Señoras fuera de casa. Mujeres del siglo XIX: la conquista del espacio público, Los Libros de la Catarata: Madrid.

Toledano González, LLuis F. et al (2018), La corrupción política en la España contemporánea, Marcial Pons: Madrid.

Software