The volume surveys Spanish literature of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, focusing on the theatre’s evolution from church-dominated religious mysteries to secular popular drama. It details ecclesiastical censorship and the Inquisition’s impact, early experiments that mixed liturgical, classical, and vernacular elements, and the emergence of strolling companies and playwrights who established comedias, pasos, and colloquies for broader audiences. The narrative traces shifting forms, metrics, and audience demands that shaped dramatic practice.