LESSON 4 THE CHRISTIAN KINGDOMS

SEVEN MINUTES to READ page 72 to 73

VOCABULARY Pilgrims  Peregrinos

4. The Road to Santiago In the 9th century, Santiago de Compostela became one of the main destinations for Christian pilgrims According to legend, the remains of thee apostle James were buried there, and a church was built on this site. Every year pilgrims from all over Europe came to Compostela to visit the apostle’s tomb. The route taken by the pilgrims is known as the Road to Santiago Many businesses were started in the cities on the route to meet the travellers’ needs. And it was also important in terms of cultural development. The pilgrims brought the fashions, styles and ways of thinking of other countries.

4. Santiago’s Cathedral In Xth century the old Cathedral was destroyed by Al- Mansur, so Christians had to built a new one In XIth century they built the cathedral that we can visit now, in Romanesque style Remember the words: –Buttress  contrafuerte –Barrel vault  bóveda de medio cañón –Crossing  crucero –Transept  transepto –Apse  ábside –Ambulatory  deambulatorio

4.4. Repopulation of conquered territories Council Repopulation –Since XIIth century, when the Christian Kings conquered territories with too much people (Tajo Valley, Ebro Valley), the kind of repopulation changed –The Kings organized the repopulation of the frontiers cities (Council Repopulation), in which the Kings gave important privileges and rights (fueros) to the inhabitants that lived there

ACTIVITIES Why did pilgrims start to go to Santiago? In what ways was the Road important to Castile? Imagine you were a medieval pilgrim. –Write a diary entry about your travels, the things you saw on the road, the clothes you wore,…