El Cid and the Cantar de mio Cid: Medieval History and Literature
Learn about the life of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, the famous Cid Campeador, and the oldest epic poem of Spain.
El Cid y el Cantar de mio Cid: Un héroe medieval
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About this article
What you'll learn
reading about Spanish history, literature, and medieval culture
This text describes the life of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (El Cid) and the importance of the Cantar de mio Cid in Spanish literature.
After reading
Article learning block
Phrases, words, grammar, and quick practice from this text.
Phrases for training
Add useful phrases to SRS or mark them as already known.
La literatura medieval española es un periodo fascinante
newMedieval Spanish literature is a fascinating period
This is the article's opening sentence. It introduces the topic and key vocabulary: literatura (literature), medieval, periodo (period).
Helps you understand how Spanish describes historical periods.
El Cantar de Mio Cid, que data del siglo XII
newEl Cantar de Mio Cid, which dates from the 12th century
«data» is the verb «to date» in Pretérito indefinido. It shows a completed action in the past.
Practicing this sentence helps you master Pretérito indefinido while learning about Spanish classics.
El rey Alfonso X el Sabio promovió la creación de muchas obras literarias
newKing Alfonso X the Wise promoted the creation of many literary works
«promovió» is the Pretérito indefinido form of promover. The phrase also introduces «muchas obras literarias».
Useful for learning how to describe historical figures' contributions to culture in Spanish.
Los trovadores componían canciones sobre el amor cortés
newThe troubadours composed songs about courtly love
«amor cortés» is a key term of medieval culture. «Componían» is the Imperfect of composer.
Learn this phrase to understand how troubadours are described in Spanish cultural history.
El Conde Lucanor enseña una lección sobre la vida y la conducta humana
newEl Conde Lucanor teaches a lesson about life and human conduct
«enseña una lección» is a useful structure meaning «teaches a lesson». Also note «conducta humana».
Helps you describe the moral purpose of a work while practicing the present tense.
La Celestina marca la transición hacia el Renacimiento
newLa Celestina marks the transition to the Renaissance
«marca la transición» is a useful phrase for expressing transitions. It also references a key historical boundary.
Learn this phrase to talk about cultural transitions in Spanish history.
Key words
Vocabulary that carries the school-day topic.
century
siglo
siglo
«Siglo» means «century». Used with ordinal numbers: siglo X (10th century), siglo XII (12th century).
Essential for understanding Spanish historical periods.
era / epoch
época
época
«Época» is a broader term for a period of time, wider than «siglo». You can say «la época medieval» or «aquella época».
Useful for describing general historical periods, not just centuries.
courtly love
amor cortés
amor cortés
«Amor cortés» is a medieval cultural concept: idealized romantic love of a knight-poet for his lady.
Key term for understanding troubadour culture and medieval Spanish literature.
chivalry
caballería
caballería
«Caballería» relates to the knightly code, chivalric virtues, and adventures. Connected to the theme of El Cid.
Complements the theme of knights, important for understanding medieval Spanish culture.
troubadours
trovadores
trovadores
«Trovadores» are medieval poet-musicians who composed and performed songs about courtly love in noble courts.
Important word for understanding the literary process of medieval Spain.
works
obras
obras
«Obras» is the plural of «obra». Can mean literary works or buildings/structures. In this article, it refers to literary works.
A common word needed for discussing literature.
Grammar in context
Patterns from the text worth noticing after reading.
Pretérito indefinido: dates
data del siglo XII
data del siglo XII
«Data» is the Pretérito indefinido form of «datarse» (to date) in the 3rd person singular. It expresses a completed action in the past.
Learn this pattern to correctly use Pretérito indefinido with historical dates.
Past time markers
durante este tiempo
durante este tiempo
«Durante este tiempo» is a time marker indicating a period in the past. Other markers in the article: «desde el siglo X hasta el siglo XV», «en el siglo XIII», «al final del periodo».
Time markers help you correctly understand and build sentences in the past tense.
Connector: also
también escribió
también escribió
«También» means «also / too». It adds information to the previous sentence. In the article: «También escribió obras sobre historia».
Use «también» to add information when describing or narrating.
Relative clauses
que data del siglo XII
que data del siglo XII
«Que data del siglo XII» is a relative clause that specifies which poem is being referred to. «Que» = «which/that».
Learn to build these constructions for more detailed descriptions.
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