THE ARTS AND HISTORICAL
HERITAGE
Jaione Mainz Betelu
2nd Semester - History
Bachelor’s Degree in Primary Education
,1
,BLOCK 1: HISTORICAL HERITAGE
CHAPTER 1: HERITAGE:
DEFINITION AND EVOLUTION OF
THE CONCEPT
1.- WHAT IS HERITAGE? .
If you look it up in the dictionary, you will find that heritage means something that has been
inherited. The word includes the concept of transmission from the past to the future.
Heritage must be considered a legacy that we receive from our ancestors and have to pass
on to future generations.
English definition
1. Cambridge:
• Features belonging to the culture of a particular society, such as traditions, languages or
buildings, that were created in the past and still have historical importance.
• Things (specially valuable things such as buildings, literature, etc) which are passed on from
one generation to another.
2. Collins: a country's heritage is all the qualities, traditions or features of life that have
continued over many years and have been passed on from one generation to another.
Spanish definition
The word patrimonio comes from the latin word patrimonium, which is made out of two
different words:
• Pater: origin, father
• Monium: pertenencia or belong to
In Roman Law, patrimonium is the assets that the son inherits from his father. According to the
DRAE: “Hacienda que alguien ha heredado de sus ascendentes”.
• Subentrada patrimonio histórico: conjunto de bienes de una nación acumulado a lo largo de
los siglos, que, por su significado artístico, arqueológico, etc., son objeto de protección
especial por la legislación.
French definition
In french, the concept “patrimonie” emphasizes the idea of something inherited from ancestors,
or things received from previous generations.
2
, Subjective and dynamic concept
We cannot give a single definition for a universal value. The value of heritage changes, because
it is relative. It depends on societies’ perceptions and attitudes. It does not depend as much on
objects or goods but on the value that societies, or its elites, attribute to them at each moment
through history. It determines which goods are protected and preserved for prosperity and
identity.
Heritage classification
Natural heritage: cultural landscapes, geological, biological and
physical formations.
Monumentos naturales/natural monuments
Natural Heritage Reservas nacionales/nature reserves
Parques naturales/nature parks
Reservas de la biosfera/biosphere reserve
Material cultural heritage
Movable: sculptures, paintings, coins and manuscripts
Immovable: monuments, archeological sites…
Cultural Heritage
Underwater: shipwrecks, underwater ruins and cities…
Intangible cultural heritage: such as oral traditions, performing arts,
crafts, rituals…
2.- THE HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF THE HERITAGE CONCEPT .
PREHISTORY HISTORY
PALEOLITIC NEOLITIC AGE OF ANTIQUE MIDDLE MODERN CONTEMPORARY
METAL AGE AGES AGE AGE
Double-faced concept
Functional: objects, buildings, places… Attributed magic or
spiritual values, as well as related with the origins of a society.
War and booty: The destruction of the defeated society’s
heritage and its identity symbols into complete annihilation
and acculturation processes.
Personal wealth: interested in metallic and exotic objects.
Two main purposes: Economic (re-use and melt) and social
or political power’s symbols: weapons, batons, crowns,
etc.
3
HERITAGE
Jaione Mainz Betelu
2nd Semester - History
Bachelor’s Degree in Primary Education
,1
,BLOCK 1: HISTORICAL HERITAGE
CHAPTER 1: HERITAGE:
DEFINITION AND EVOLUTION OF
THE CONCEPT
1.- WHAT IS HERITAGE? .
If you look it up in the dictionary, you will find that heritage means something that has been
inherited. The word includes the concept of transmission from the past to the future.
Heritage must be considered a legacy that we receive from our ancestors and have to pass
on to future generations.
English definition
1. Cambridge:
• Features belonging to the culture of a particular society, such as traditions, languages or
buildings, that were created in the past and still have historical importance.
• Things (specially valuable things such as buildings, literature, etc) which are passed on from
one generation to another.
2. Collins: a country's heritage is all the qualities, traditions or features of life that have
continued over many years and have been passed on from one generation to another.
Spanish definition
The word patrimonio comes from the latin word patrimonium, which is made out of two
different words:
• Pater: origin, father
• Monium: pertenencia or belong to
In Roman Law, patrimonium is the assets that the son inherits from his father. According to the
DRAE: “Hacienda que alguien ha heredado de sus ascendentes”.
• Subentrada patrimonio histórico: conjunto de bienes de una nación acumulado a lo largo de
los siglos, que, por su significado artístico, arqueológico, etc., son objeto de protección
especial por la legislación.
French definition
In french, the concept “patrimonie” emphasizes the idea of something inherited from ancestors,
or things received from previous generations.
2
, Subjective and dynamic concept
We cannot give a single definition for a universal value. The value of heritage changes, because
it is relative. It depends on societies’ perceptions and attitudes. It does not depend as much on
objects or goods but on the value that societies, or its elites, attribute to them at each moment
through history. It determines which goods are protected and preserved for prosperity and
identity.
Heritage classification
Natural heritage: cultural landscapes, geological, biological and
physical formations.
Monumentos naturales/natural monuments
Natural Heritage Reservas nacionales/nature reserves
Parques naturales/nature parks
Reservas de la biosfera/biosphere reserve
Material cultural heritage
Movable: sculptures, paintings, coins and manuscripts
Immovable: monuments, archeological sites…
Cultural Heritage
Underwater: shipwrecks, underwater ruins and cities…
Intangible cultural heritage: such as oral traditions, performing arts,
crafts, rituals…
2.- THE HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF THE HERITAGE CONCEPT .
PREHISTORY HISTORY
PALEOLITIC NEOLITIC AGE OF ANTIQUE MIDDLE MODERN CONTEMPORARY
METAL AGE AGES AGE AGE
Double-faced concept
Functional: objects, buildings, places… Attributed magic or
spiritual values, as well as related with the origins of a society.
War and booty: The destruction of the defeated society’s
heritage and its identity symbols into complete annihilation
and acculturation processes.
Personal wealth: interested in metallic and exotic objects.
Two main purposes: Economic (re-use and melt) and social
or political power’s symbols: weapons, batons, crowns,
etc.
3
