Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Baccalaureate

The Contenders

Initially, the primary participants were the countries of the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente. The Triple Alliance, initially comprising Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, was eventually limited to the Central Powers, with the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria joining. Italy, despite its initial alignment, ultimately joined the Allies. The Entente, also known as the Allies, included Serbia, Belgium, Romania, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Japan, and the United States. Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, Albania, and the Nordic nations remained neutral.

Phases

War of Movement (1914)

The initial phase saw the failure of the Schlieffen Plan, a German strategy to advance through Belgium and encircle the French army. The Battle of the Marne...

The 17th Century: A Transformative Era

Historical Context of the 17th Century

The 17th century was a period of profound change across Europe, marked by significant conflicts and shifts in power dynamics. This era, often associated with the life and thought of prominent figures like Descartes, witnessed the devastating impact of widespread warfare and the emergence of new political structures.

The Thirty Years' War and its Aftermath

The continent was embroiled in the Thirty Years' War, primarily a conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Germany, which extended across all of Europe. France, under the strong influence of the Jesuits (during the reigns of Louis XIII and XIV), stood in contrast to Holland, a more tolerant haven for philosophers...

Narrative Genre

The narrative genre is a literary genre that represents real or fictional characters in a specific place and time.

Structure of a Narrative

• Exposition: Beginning of the story, presentation of the characters, and the time-space situation.
• Rising Action/Knot: The conflict unfolds.
• Climax: The most intense moment of the conflict.
• Falling Action/Dénouement: Resolution of the conflict.
• Resolution: End of the story.

Narrative Perspective

• First-person narrator: The narrator is one of the characters in the story, often the protagonist, and uses the first person ("I," "we").
• Third-person narrator:
  • Omniscient: The narrator knows everything about all the characters and events.
  • Limited: The narrator is a witness, telling what happens without revealing

Early Catalanism: Autonomy and Civil Law

The most conservative elements were better synchronized with the bourgeoisie. In 1888, a document titled "Message to the Queen Regent" was signed, calling for autonomy for Catalonia. There was also a campaign in defense of Catalan civil law, as the government in Madrid sought to reform the civil code, aiming for uniform laws across all regions. Through this campaign, Catalonia successfully retained its own civil law, which is considered the first victory for Catalanism.

Conservative Catalanism and its Foundations

When Spain transitioned from the Ancien Régime to the liberal state, the Church initially endorsed Carlism. However, with the establishment of the liberal state, the Church slowly abandoned this...

Significance and Function

As Greek culture evolved, it increasingly sought the perfection of images. Since most sculptures were created for shrines or cities, maximum realism was sought as a representative token.

Historical Context

It is very possible that Hermes with Infant Dionysus was sculpted to commemorate the peace between Elis and Arcadia, as Dionysus was the first patron of Elis and Hermes the second patron of Arcadia.

Symbolism and Dualism

The group is dualistic: it perfectly contrasts maturity and balance (represented by Hermes) with the immaturity and imbalance of Dionysus. In fact, it can be seen as a symbol of the world, as Hermes and Dionysus play just like the gods play with human destiny.

Mythological Narrative

Dionysus, son of Zeus...

Immanuel Kant: Life and Work

Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) was a German philosopher, widely considered to be one of the most influential thinkers of the modern era. Born in Königsberg (now Kaliningrad, Russia) on April 22, 1724, Kant was educated at the Collegium Fredericianum and the University of Königsberg. At school, he studied the classics, and at university, he focused on physics and mathematics. After his father's death, he was forced to leave university and earn a living as a private tutor. In 1755, with the help of a friend, he resumed his studies and obtained his doctorate.

He then taught at the university for 15 years, initially lecturing on science and mathematics, and gradually expanding to cover almost all branches of philosophy....

PERSONAL FORMS: Times as Indicative Simple Compounds

Present Perfect

I am loved, you are loved, he is loved, we are loved, you are loved, they are loved. I've been loved, you've been loved, he has been loved.

Past Perfect

We were loved, you were loved, they had been loved.

Past Imperfect

I was loved, you were loved, he was loved, we were loved, you were loved, they were loved.

Pluperfect

I had been loved, you had been loved, he had been loved, we had been loved, you had been loved, they had been loved.

Pretérito Perfecto Simple

I loved, you loved, he loved, we loved, you loved, they loved.

Pretérito Anterior

I had been loved, you had been loved, he had been loved, we had been loved, you had been loved, they had been loved.

Future Perfect

I will be loved,...

Authors and Works of the 16th Century

Peter Seraph: Poet and painter, his date of birth is unknown, and it is known he died around 1566. His poetry still presents points of contact with March. However, he used proper poetic forms of the Renaissance, such as the sonnet, and he cites poets of Greek and Latin classics (Homer, Virgil, and Ovid) and two Italian dolce stil nuovo poets (Dante and Petrarch) plus March. He also wrote in Catalan.

18th Century Authors

Francesc Vicent Garcia: He is considered one of the most outstanding authors of three centuries. Known as the Rector of Vallfogona, he was born in Tortosa and died in Vallfogona. His reputation is based on one aspect of his work: that which emphasizes a thick, deliberately exaggerated humor,...

Human Development: Soma, Psyche, and Pneuma

The tripartite nature of man—soma, psyche, and pneuma—is inherent in its evolution, development, growth, and maturation. Authentic human development is not merely the accumulation of years, indicated by chronological age, but the evolution of the guiding principle that directs and governs. Thus, childhood is characterized by the mastery of the soma over the other two components; youth, by the domain of the psyche; and maturity, by the domain of the pneuma over the other two components.

Maturation is contained within the very nature of form and is the evolution of man towards the pneumatic. This somatic evolution is achieved by denying the immediately preceding stage. In this evolution, we are driven...

A

• In a good deal: Many, above all, especially abroad.
• Accountant: The stranger.
• Address book: Contact.
• Afford: Allow.
• All in all: In general.
• Alow/Allow: Permit.
• Annoyed: Angry.
• Apply for: Seek.
• Approach: Method.
• Ardent: Fervent.
• As long as: Provided that.
• Assortment: Collection.
• Avoid: Evade.

B

• Be about to: Ready to.
• Beat about the bush: Avoid saying something directly.
• Beg: Plead.
• Boarding school: Residential school.
• Boot: Car trunk.
• Bottom line: The main point.
• Break a habit: Stop a habit.
• Break someone's heart: Cause emotional pain.
• Break the news: Inform.
• Bursts into tears: Starts crying.
• Business executive: Executive.

C

• Cab: Taxi.
• Can: Tin.
• Candy: Sweets.
• Chance: Occasion.
• Charm: Attractive quality.
• Check: Examine.
• Cheer: Applaud.
• Chemist's: Pharmacy.
• Choice: Option.
• Clap: