2. The Basics of the Basques
✤ Basque Country: areas of Spain and France.
✤ Two main religions.
✤ Shipbuilders and small-plot farmers.
✤ Fiercely independent and extremely original.
3. A (Very) Brief History Lesson
✤ First city was founded by the Romans.
✤ Spanish Civil War: General Francisco Franco takes over
Spain’s government.
✤ Basque individuals affected: unable to use native
language.
✤ Always been known for being genetically original.
4. Facts on the Basques
✤ Crew to America and Captain around the world.
✤ Nafaroa, Gipuzkoa, Bizkaia, Araba, Lapurdi, Benafaroa, and
Zuberoa: Seven Wonders of the Bay of Biscay.
✤ Iowa has a community with 30,000 Basque individuals,
which is the most densely populated group outside of
Basque Country.
5. Pictures of Basque Country
✤ http://t2.gstatic.com/images?
q=tbn:ANd9GcTZoC6hhEARcLvUpHERquRWoxKTqiBOUyFKNDYT
PjzWl9QwFqKZqg
✤ http://www.indigoguide.co.uk/france/basquecountry.jpg
6. Understanding the Basque
Struggle
✤ Imagine American culture (hot dogs, Monday night
football, etc).
✤ Consider it took 400 years to develop this culture.
✤ Basque Country has been here since the beginning of time
and is still struggling.
✤ What would you do if America’s culture started to
decline?
7. Culture Focus: Music
✤ “Folksy” music.
✤ Original instruments: Alboka
✤ Can be found singing in the streets.
✤ Dances: Can you do the Fandango?
✤ Berri Txarrak.
8. Here’s Some Berri Txarrak Music!
✤ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cciUbKjX_Sw&feature=related
9. Euskara: The Language of the
Basques
✤ Native tongue of those in Basque Country.
✤ Considered to be one of the first languages in the world.
✤ Spoken in tribes (according to Roman records).
✤ Not linked to any other Indo-European language.
✤ Almost eradicated.
10. Euskara vs. English
Euskara English
Emakumeak Ladies/Women
Bazkaria Lunch
Jatetxea Restaurant
11. The ETA: Political Strife in
Basque Country
✤ Fight over independence.
✤ Extreme individuals founded the ETA organization.
✤ Violent measures taken.
✤ International terrorist group.
✤ Four cease-fires.
✤ Memberships decreasing: police take notice.
12. Conspiracies about the Basques
✤ The Rhesus factor.
✤ Blood types.
✤ Considered by some to be the “missing link” between
modern-day humans and Neanderthals.
✤ Some think the Rh factor means the Basques are
extraterrestrial creatures.
13. Preserving Their Culture
✤ Re-painting boats.
✤ “Improvised poetry.”
✤ Euskara used on television, radio programs, and in
newspapers.
✤ Staying independent.
14. Picture Citations:
✤ Basque Country. N.d. Photograph. Indigo GuideWeb. 14
May 2012. <http://www.indigoguide.co.uk/france/
basque-country.htm>.
✤ La Tranquilidad de Zumania. 2008. Photograph.
TripAdvisorWeb. 14 May 2012.
