During the time of Spanish splendor, at the peak of the Spanish Indies trade,the position of the rich merchants in Seville was remarkably strong. ?ey resid-ed at the hub between the European and the American economy and the com-mercial opportunities seemed endless. Based on recent literature and abundantsource material, this chapter gives a survey of the economic and social struc-ture of the ci…
Although they constantly shape behavior and nudge people to act in certain ways, norms tend to be taken for granted. Taking off shoes or removing a hat when entering a sacred space are not merely the result of individual decisions made upon crossing the threshold of a temple; they are appropriate ways of acting in that specific context and they signal conformity with a norm. This can also be no…
In May 1951, Francisco Franco attended an international social security congressin Madrid. In the audience were experts and officials from across Spain, LatinAmerica, and western Europe, including ministers from various foreign govern-ments and representatives from international bodies such as the InternationalLabour Organization (ILO). Addressing the conference, Franco told delegates thattwo f…
Western and eastern values of society underscore the family as a fundamental social structure and institution.1 The family reveals the most significant sociocultural features of European communi-ties in a given context, and these become central communication channels back to the family. This idea asserts James Casey’s axiom that family and society are part of a single unit.2The family is at t…