Specific Origins

I found a website today that is primarily a travel and information page. It had an interesting article, "Information on Bullfighting", https://traveltips.usatoday.com/information-bullfighting-spain-3422.html. which offered information on where specifically bullfighting originated from: 

  • The origins "trace back to 711 A.D., and the first fight was held in honour of the king, King Alfonso VIII".  (Thyberg, David, 2021).
  • Spain was once a part of the Roman Empire, so the correlations between the bullfight and the gladiator games are visible. (This link is particularly interesting as it expains that bullfighting is on the borderline between being art and a bloody competition).
  • The source also states that "bullfighting was done on horseback and was reserved for Spanish aristocracy, but King Felipe V ended this trend because he believed it was in poor taste for nobles to practice such a bloody sport". (Thyberg, David, 2021). "Information on Bullfighting in Spain" 
  • Also, "Commoners continued to develop bullfighting on foot with smaller weapons. The art of dodging and stabbing the bull grew into its present form around 1724, and matadors today still cling to a traditionally strict code of conduct." (Thyberg, David, 2021).

Source Evaluation: 

This source is reliable as it is for informative purposes and directed towards people who want to visit Spain, however it doesnt tell me when the article was written. That being said, this is not a limitation as the information I gained here isn't opinion based or likely something that could have changed over time. 


Also, I found another article today which showed me how bullfights in Spain are extremely violent and bloody. As stated in Bulletpoint Bullfight (2002), "The first drawing of blood comes from a horse mounted lancer, called a picador. This is considered distasteful even amongst the audience, as can be judged from cries of protest" (Barwick, 2002, pg6). 

"A horse is then thrown at the bull, with the horse being blindfolded." (Barwick, 2002, pg6) It seems that the horses are as much victims in the fight as the bulls. This article links with what I read in the previous "Information on Bullfighting", as the Gladiators were known for enjoying blood sports so the similarities are noticeable. It also consolidates the fact that my research so far is reliable because the information corresponds. 

Source Evaluation:

This sourse is a scholary article, making it credible. However, it was written in 2002 which could possibly mean that the information is old. It still helps gain an understading of bullfighting through time which is very useful to me.

I found these articles interesting because they introduced me to the origins and brutality of the sport, something which I will look further into. I am beginning to gain an understading of the world of bullfights. 

Reference:

  • Thyberg, David. "Information on Bullfighting in Spain" traveltips.usatoday.com, https://traveltips.usatoday.com/information-bullfighting-spain-3422.html. 2 February 2021.
  • (Barwick,M.2002.The BW Bulletpoint Bullfight, Not for the Squeamish, p.6.)

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