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Francisco Franco




 * Francisco Franco was the ruler of Spain from 1939 until he died in 1975. He started his career as a military hero, and later participated in a full blown coup against the left-wing [|Popular Front] government that eventually transitioned into a full blown civil war. Franco was a General during this time, the [|Spanish Civil War]. His nationalists were victorious, which led to his seizing control of the Spanish government. Soon after taking control, Franco established an [|authoritarian] regime. He held right-wing, monarchist views and the republican government mistrusted him and demoted him to a minor post in Corunna. The right-wing groups in Spain formed the [|National Front], which Franco was part of. In 1936, Franco and his troops invaded Spain from their base in North Africa. They seized power from the democratically-elected government. This became the Spanish Civil war, which lasted from 1936-1939.**

Ferdinand Magellan



[|Ferdinand Magellan] was born in Portugal in 1480. He was a Portuguese explorer. Magellan originally sailed for Portugal, but after a dispute with the Portuguese King, he moved to and sailed for Spain. On September 20, 1519, Magellan set sail for the Spice Islands. On December 15, his fleet landed on the coast of Brazil. They then continued down the coast, looking for the strait. They finally found it in October 1520. On November 28, Magellan began sailing on an unknown sea, and named it the Pacific Ocean. In March, 1521, Magellan landed on what he though was the Spice Islands, but was actually the Philippines. Magellan was killed by natives, and never actually reached the Spice Island, but his men continued on and did. In his lifetime, he discovered the Strait of Magellan and the Pacific Ocean. He was also the first person to travel around the world.

Leonardo da Vinci - St. John the Baptist



[|St. John the Baptist] is a painting created by Leonardo da Vinci. It dates from his final years in Rome, around 1509-1516. His smile is similar to the one of //Mona Lisa//, and his finger is pointing towards heaven. da Vinci makes the form seem three-dimensional by the use of perspective and [|chiaroscuro]. The illuminated form also stands out from the dark background. This painting also shows [|realism], which Leonardo da Vinci was able to show by spending a lot of his time studying the human body. Sfumato and classicism are also evident in this work of art. Leonardo da Vinci used many techniques in order to make this painting more realistic. This peice of art was greatly influenced by [|humanism]. Spiritual beliefs are being represented in this painting, as the man is pointing towards heaven. Leonardo also used Christian types to convey humanist ideas. His [|focus was on the human being], not the interests of the Church. He spent time on work that would benefit people in thier daily lives.