Author: Erik Parker, Torch Staff
Renowned UCLA history professor Teofilo F. Ruiz visited Occidental on Wednesday, February 6 to give a lecture on the book he is currently working on, A Social History of Spain, 1400-1600. He spoke in the Morrison Lounge to a full room of students and professors from many departments.
Ruiz’s studies focus on Spain from about 1100 to 1600-in particular, the social history of this period. His lecture on February 6, “Philip II’s Entry in Zaragoza in 1585: Theaters of Power or Contestation?” addressed how festivals are social events that are indicative of important power dynamics.
The book Ruiz is writing currently has four chapters, and Ruiz spoke on the three central points made in his book. The first point shows the “history of cultural transmission” and the “circulation of culture” in Spain during this period. The second is to demonstrate the link between “performance and the exercise of power” through the social history of festivals, because festivals have political purposes and ideological aims. Ruiz also critiques previous historians’ interpretations of festivals. The final component of A Social History of Spain shows that the transition from the late medieval period to the early modern period in Spain was “not sharp.” Ruiz does this through analyzing the continuity of festivals and cultural performances.
He also stressed the importance of the “role and reactions of the audience” in studying cultural performances. “Festivals are useless without large crowds,” he said.
Ruiz’s lecture focused on a voyage undertaken by King Philip II in 1585 and the festivals that took place when the king came to different cities. Ruiz said this journey “highlights the relationship between the king and his subjects.”
Before delving into the subject matter of his book, Ruiz spoke about the importance of having reliable sources and justified why he trusted his main source of information, the papers of a man named Henry Cock. Ruiz explained that this “dedicated servant of the state” wrote without political motives, which makes his papers a valuable resource.
The contents of these papers included descriptions of many festivals. Ruiz said that despite the cold, peasants would come to the road as the king rode by to make music and perform. In particular, Ruiz focused on King Philip II’s reception in Aragon, a “risky” area that prided itself upon being its own principality in Spain. “Crossing into Aragon required a series of ceremonies to recognize it as a different principality,” Ruiz said. These ceremonies were “highly scripted to enhance Philip’s . . . authority,” he said.
Within Aragon, Philip II visited the city of Zaragoza. Ruiz detailed the king’s reception in this city and the many spectacles that took place. This included bonfires, stages with musicians and people with candles.
Ruiz described how the procession in Zaragoza had a “rigid hierarchical organization,” in which the crowd was sorted into groups such as knights, orphans and clergymen. “It was not at all spontaneous appreciation of the king,” Ruiz said, adding that people could be fined for not attending festivals.He also said cities visited by Philip II had to pay for their festivities. The king would reward the city based on the quality of the ceremonies, and “the presence of the king legitimizes the city’s authority,” Ruiz said.
Ruiz concluded the talk by summarizing the structure of A Social History of Spain. The first chapter is about festivals in general, the second addresses festivals for entering a city, the third goes into detail about these “entry” festivals and the final chapter is about King Philip II’s travels.
After the lecture, Ruiz fielded questions from the audience.
This article has been archived, for more requests please contact us via the support system.
