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Back to Subjects - European History

History of Spain

History of Spain Spain's history can be traced back as far as 3000BC, where Paleolithic cave paintings were found in the region of the Bay of Biscay and the western Pyrenees. These paintings exhibited a remarkable degree of animation and skill. About 1000BC the southern region became the first invasion point for the Iberians, Iberians were originally North African people who became the most prominent ethnologic element in the peninsula and gave its name. The Celts, who migrated from France, also invaded the peninsula and completely absorbed the central region and the northern mountains. Together these two groups form the Celtiberians. Around the 11th century BC the first Mediterranean seafaring people called the Phoenicians colonized in what now is Cadiz. Somewhat later traders from Rhodes and the Greek cities followed. They established colonies also along the Mediterranean coast. In the later part of the 3rd century BC the African State of Carthage, began to exploit the Peninsula. Under the Carthaginian General Hamilcar, a large part of peninsula was conquered in a campaign in from 237BC to 228 BC. That part of the peninsula is now known as Barcelona. This expansion was viewed unfavorable by the Romans and in 219 BC, after violating a Carthage-Rome agreement limiting Carthaginian territory, General Hannibal; destroyed the Greek colony of Saguntum, and started the second Punic war. Around 206 BC the Carthage was forced to evacuate the Peninsula, and nine years later Rome divided the peninsula into two provinces. The Hispanic Citerior, in the valley of the Ebro River and the Hispanic Ulterior, in the plain penetrated by the Guadalquivir River. Under the Romans, Hispania took its final form as three provinces: Lusitania, approximating modern Portugal; Baetica, in the south, approximating western Andalusia; and Hispania Tarraconensis, the central plateau and the north, northwest, and the eastern coast above Cartgena. In 409AD, Teutonic Invaders crossed the Pyrenees, Alans, Vandals, and Suevi swept over the peninsula. The unity of Hispania under Rome was destroyed, and was not to be recreated for another thousand years. In 412 AD the Visigoth brought their armies in and became the dominant power. From 417 to 717, The King of Toulouse implanted Roman Culture and Christianity in the peninsula. Euric ruled at the height of Visigothic power in the 5 century and codified the Roman and Gothic Law. During the years of 586 to 601 the Roman Catholic religion became the official state religion. In 711 Muslim armies invaded the Iberian Peninsula, under the leadership of Tariq-lbn-Ziyad. In two years they succeeded in capturing most of Spain. After 717 the country was ran by emirs, and the last of the Spanish emir of Abd-ar-Rahman. In 756, Abd-ar-Rahamn founded the powerful and independent emirate, which later developed into the caliphates of Cordoba. During the establishment of the moors power, a small portion of Christianity still hung on in the northern portion of the peninsula. With the death of Hisham III came the Umayyad dynasty and left the door open for the Christian King of Spain to regain control. The Abbadids of Servile between 1023 and 1091 established a temporary revival of central power. In 1086 Toledo was recaptured by the Christians, and in a great battle fought in July of 1212, the Almohads were defeated and expelled form Spain shortly after. The Moorish power was then limited to some ports around Cadiz and to the Kingdom of Granada, which endured until 1492 and was one of the greatest and most splendid of Muslim realms. The wedding of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand V of Aragon initiated the start of great power for Spain, but this was a union of crowns, not kingdoms. Each region maintained its own leadership, government, traditions, and rules of succession. In 1480 Isabella convoked a great Cortes (parliament) at Toledo, which laid the legislative basis for royal absolutism in Castle. The judicial system was reformed, and the power of the nobility was weakened. After the fall of Granada in 1492, the last Moorish stronghold, the royal power increased even more. In 1485, a Genoeses navigator approached the Catholic monarchs Fernando and Isabella, for financial help in exploring new lands. Christopher Columbus promised them new territories, and abundant riches. After holding him off for seven years, on October 12, 1492, Christopher landed in the island of San Salvador in the Bahamas. He claimed the new land, which he mistook for India, for the Spanish Crown. Later to come Spain conquered huge empire in the Americas, notably in Peru and Mexico. Hernan Cortes took down the Aztec empire in Mexico from 1519 to 1521, and Francisco Pizarro destroyed the Inca Empire of Peru, from 1531 to 1533. After Fernando death, in 1529, his grandson Charles I replaced him. During the years of 1521 to 1556, Charles waged war five times against the French, and this made Spain a dominant power in northern as well as southern Italy. In 1556 Charles relinquished the Spanish throne to his son, Philip II, who served as ruler during Charles' many absences. The French Wars were ended by the Treaty Cateau-Cambresis in 1559, and thus started the "Golden Age" of culture and art. In 1571, Spain took the lead in the Holy League, which defeated the Turks in the Battle of Lepanto, permanently weakening Turkish maritime power. With territories in Asia, Africa, and Brazil, Portugal's union with Spain created the Largest Empire in the world. Things took a turn for Spain in 1588, when the Spanish Armada was defeated by England, thus destroying Spain's sea power. By the end of 16th century, the economic and political glory of Spain had declined drastically, and the cultural leadership of Europe had passed to France. A series of weak kings and ambitious ministers contributed further to Spain's downfall. The Thirty Years' War, from 1618-1648, began a series of religious disputes but turned into a struggle between the Hapsburg and French Bourbon dynasties, each vying for control of Spain, weakening Spain in the process. The Hapsburg rule finally ended in Spain with the reign of Charles II during 1665-1700. The 18th century began with the War of Spanish Succession that lasted from 1701 and 1714. French King Louis XIV obtained some Spanish territory and put his grandson, who became Philip V, on the throne. The early Bourbon rulers in Spain paid great attention to economic development and the centralization of power. By the mid-1700s, Spain experienced increased prosperity and unity, eventually becoming a union of provinces instead of a collection of kingdoms, as it had been throughout its history. With introduction of rational and enlighten ideals, in part learned from France, Spain moved away from its strong religious orientation. In 1767, the Jesuits were expelled, and the powers of the Inquisition reduced. In later years, Spain allied itself with France and was thrust into the Seven Year War that lasted from 1756 to 1763, against Great Britain. Spain's decline in Subsequent years invited intervention by other powers, notable the French. In 1973, during France's revolutionary wars, Spain was made a French outpost. Resentment turned against the throne and government, further weakening Spain. In 1808, Napoleon Bonaparte forced the King Of Spain, Charles IV, to abdicate in favor of his own brother Joseph Bonaparte. The Spanish rebelled against the French occupation and were eager to adopt their own form of government. A democratic constitution was drawn up, whose progressive principles were disputed by liberal and conservatives for another 100 years. Efforts of the British and Spanish then forced France to evacuate, and in 1814, the Spanish throne was restored with the return of Ferdinand. During the years of 1814 and 1875, Internal conflicts resulted as efforts toward a more liberal government were defeated by the autocratic Ferdinand VII. Quarrels over succession to the throne led to the Carlist War in 1833, sparking an era of turmoil. Military, peasants, and socialist uprising, who alternated between monarchy and republic for several years, threaten to tear Spain apart. The First Spanish Republic was declared in 1873 and 1874, Alfonso XII, a Bourbon, became King. His reign was marked by the free trade. By 1890, however, with the declaration of universal suffrage for men, republicanism was again a growing force. By 1897, the peaceful period had ended. A popular but conservative political leader was assassinated, and in 1898, Spain lost the last of its empire in the Americas and the Pacific, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines, in the Spanish Civil War. The Second Republic from 1931 to 1939, brought about increased political participation in Spain, but doing so it created problems. Spain became torn, on one side there was the military, the church and landowners, and on the left were workers, landless peasants, intellectuals, and most Catalans and Basques. Some positive reforms were instituted, but eventually violent disputes between the left and the right erupted in to the Spanish Civil War. General Francisco Franco led the right-wing nationalist movement, aided by Italian and German fascists, and quickly conquered the western half of Spain. The Republicans, despite some soviet aid, were weakened by internal divisions and eventually fell to Franco's army. The tragic war cost Spain hundreds of thousands of lives, and many Spaniards fled the country. Franco ruled the devastated nation as a military dictator for the next 36 years; he supported the Catholic Church and the Falange. After Franco, In 1947 Spain declared itself a monarchy, with a king to be named to succeed Franco. In 1955 it became a member of the United Nations. Finally in 1992 Seville hosted the Worlds Fair and Barcelona hosted the Olympics. The Plaza's of Spain have played an important role in the culture of Spain. Plaza's served as the civic and economic center till the end of the 19th century, for many of the largest cities of Spain. The Plaza Mayor, located in Madrid, the capital of Spain, was built in the 17th century. It was used everyday as a public market and was the scene of public ceremonies. It was used as a bullring for royal festivals and held as many as 50,000 spectators The Plaza de la Villa marks what was once old Madrid; here you can see stunning artwork and brilliant architecture. The Plaza de Oriente holds a fascinating story. The statues that surround the Plaza were actually built for the palace roof, but they were to heavy. The Plaza de las Ventas holds the largest bullfighting ring in Spain. The Plaza de Espana is one Madrid's most popular meeting place. The square obtained its' appearance during the Franco period. In Segovia you can find the Plaza Mayor, Which is located near the Alcazar. In the city of Toledo, you find the Plaza de Zocodover. It is located in the middle of town and and is known the ancient horse fairs. Sevilla is the home of the following Plaza's; Plaza de Santa Cruz, Plaza de Espana, Plaza Dona Elvira, and Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza. Bibliography:

Word Count: 1822

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