Spain

HISTORY

Pre-Roman Spain was inhabited by Iberians, Basques, Celts and Celtiberians, while Greece and Phoenicia established colonies on the coast from the 7th century BC.

Pre-Roman map of The Iberian Peninsula By CanBea87 

Carthage dominated from the 4th century, trying to found an empire in the southeast. When the Carthaginians first arrived. they called the country Ispania (from Sphan, "rabbit"), which means "land of the rabbits."

The south east area of the Iberian peninsular was conquered by ancient Rome about 200BC and after long struggle over all Spain was absorbed into the Roman Empire.

At the invitation of Rome, the nomadic Germanic tribe the Visigoths set up a kingdom in Spain from the beginning of the 5th century AD. until the invasion by the Moors in 711.

At first the Moors ruled most of Spain but the reconquista slowly forced them out over several centuries. They called the land Al-Andalus.

Christian resistance held out in the north and by 1250 the Moorish caliphate was evaporating as Christian armies pushed the borders of Moorish Spain southwards.

With the gradual expelling of The Moors southwards a number of small kingdoms formed, all of which by the 13th century have been absorbed by Castile and Aragon.

The marriage of Ferdinand II of Aragon to Isabella I of Castile on October 19, 1469 paved the way to the unification of Aragon and Castile into a single country, Spain.

On January 2, 1492, Emir Muhammad XII surrendered complete control of the Emirate of Granada  to Ferdinand and Isabella after the last battle of the Granada War. The fall of the emirate of Granada, the last Moorish stronghold on the Iberian peninsular, completed the unification of Spain.

Under Ferdinand and Isabella, Charles I, and Philip II, Spain became one of the most powerful empires in the world. The discoveries of Christopher Columbus made on behalf of Spain were followed by the conquest of most of Central and South America.

Christopher Columbus meets Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon

Through royal marriage alliances and inheritance, the Spanish Empire also expanded to areas of Italy, cities in Northern Africa, as well as parts of what are now France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. However, with the revolt in the Netherlands and a defeat of the Armada in 1588, Spain's power began to decline.

The motto of Spain was originally Non Plus Ultra ("Nothing further beyond") but after the discovery of the New World it was reversed to be Plus Ultra ("Further beyond").

By the Peace of Utrecht that concluded the War of the Spanish succession in 1713, Spain lost Naples, Sicily, Milan, Gibraltar, and its last possessions in the Netherlands.

The 18th century saw reforms and economic progress, but Spain became involved in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, first as an ally, then as an opponent of France. France occupied Spain in 1808 and was expelled with British assistance six years later.

Spain lost its American colonies between 1810 and 1830 and after the Spanish-American War in 1898 ceded Cuba and the Philippines to the USA.

The first railroad in Spain – between Barcelona and Mataró, opened on October 28, 1848. It was a 30-kilometer (19 miles) journey, and the train that made the inaugural journey was nicknamed La Mataró. The railroad was an immediate success, and it helped to spur the industrialization of Spain.

The Barcelona-Mataró railroad was also a significant cultural event. It was the first time that many Spaniards had ever seen a train, and it was a symbol of the country's progress into the modern world. 

In 1931 a Spanish republic was established and five years later the Popular Front, a center-left alliance, took office and introduced agrarian and other reforms. They aroused the opposition of the landlords and the Catholic church and led to the Spanish Civil War between 1936 and 1939.

The Victorious General Franco established a Fascist dictatorship, which was normally neutral in World War II, largely because of up to $200 million in bribes from British intelligence.

Franco arriving in San Sebastian in 1939 By Pascual Marín 

The last use of capital punishment in Spain on September 27, 1975, saw the executions of five members of militant organisations, sparking worldwide protests against the Spanish government and the withdrawal of numerous ambassadors.

Juan Carlos Alfonso Víctor María de Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias became Juan Carlos I, King of Spain, on November 22, 1975 after the death of General Franco.

In 1977, Spain held its first democratic elections since the Spanish Civil War. The election marked the beginning of the end of authoritarian rule, and Spain officially became a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy.

The Spanish Constitution was ratified in 1978, and it came into effect on December 29, 1978. This constitution established Spain as a parliamentary monarchy with a constitutional framework that guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms. The transition to democracy in Spain is often referred to as the "Spanish transition" or the "Transition to Democracy" (Transición Española).

The flag of Spain consists of three horizontal stripes: red, yellow and red, the yellow stripe being twice the size of each red stripe. Its origin is the naval ensign of 1785, Pabellón de la Marina de Guerra under Charles III of Spain. The current version of the national flag of Spain with its present-day coat of arms was adopted on December 19, 1981.

DEMOGRAPHICS AND LANGUAGE 

Spain has the lowest population density in Western Europe (excluding Scandinavia).

The people of Spain are called Spaniards as the country's official language is Spanish. Catalan, Valencian, Gallego, Euskera are independent languages spoken in Catalonia, Valencia, Galicia and The Basque Country.

The languages of Spain (simplified). By Órbigo -

In the tourist areas of the Mediterranean coast and the islands, English and German are widely spoken by tourists, expat residents, and local workers.

GEOGRAPHY 

Spain is the third biggest country in Europe (after France and the Ukraine).

The country of Spain is made up of 17 autonomous regions.

Spain’s territory includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic.

Spain's capital, Madrid, is in the physical center of the country.

Madrid By Justraveling.com - 

Mar Menor, Spain’s largest lake is also the largest salt lake in Europe.

Spain has over 8,000km (5,000 miles) of beaches.

Spain has one of the most diverse landscapes and climates in Europe. The region of Almeria in the South East resembles a desert in places, while the North West in winter can expect rain around 20 days out of every month.

FUN FACTS 

The Spanish National Day is October 12th.

The Spanish national anthem is called "La Marcha Real" ("The Royal March"). It has no words.

The patron saint of Spain is Saint James (Santiago).

94% of the people in Spain are Roman Catholic.

Spain has 44 total sites on the list of World Heritage Sites, third only to Italy (49) and China (45).

The two main newspapers in Spain are El País (The Country) and El Mundo (The World).

Flamenco refers both to a Spanish musical genre, known for its intricate rapid passages, and a Spanish dance genre characterized by its audible footwork. The oldest record of flamenco dates to 1774 in the book Las Cartas Marruecas by José Cadalso.

Soccer (fútbol) is the most popular spectator sport in Spain.

Bullfighting is considered an art as well as a sport and popular attraction. It is also the biggest and most controversial sport in Spain and is an integral part of Spanish history, art and culture with bull rings in all major cities and beyond.

In Spain, it is common to pour chocolate milk or cafe au lait on cereal for breakfast.

Sources Hutchinson Encyclopaedia, Good Herald