History of Spain

This article summarizes the history of Spain .

The Spain is a country of the south-west of the Europe which occupies most of the Iberian peninsula.

Older European colonial power with Portugal, the country grew rich by the 15th century at the 18th century, but declined with the loss of its colonies throughout the 19th century.

Spain is member of the European Union since 1986 and of NATO since 1982.

Prehistory

The Iberian peninsula shelters many prehistoric sites of world famous. The discoveries testify to a human occupation as of the Paléolithique inferior (sites of Orce, Pinedo, Aridos, Torralba, Ambrona, Atapuerca). During the Paleolithic superior, the Spanish solutréen left some traces in the cave of the Parpallo. On the site of Altamira an example of parietal art going back to approximately 12.000 years before J. - C offers.

Original Neolithic cultures, (" campaniforme" , civilization of El Argar close to Alméria) develop in Spain. The technique of the megalithic metallurgy and the erection of monuments attach Spain to the evolutions which relate to Western Europe: the Taula S of the Balearic Islands are surmounted vertical stones of another horizontal stone.

Antiquity

Ibères, Celtibères, Phéniciens and Greeks

the Ibères are the first inhabitants of the peninsula to which one allotted their name, in the written sources. Their origins are ignored and it seems that they are not Indo-European origin. The Celtic migration of the S and their installation in Spain causes the interbreeding of the populations and gives rise to the Celtibères.
Tartessiens are mentioned in works of the Greek geographer Strabon; heirs to the Andalusian civilization of the Megalith S on the south-western coast of the Iberian peninsula, they were established on the river Tartessos (today the Guadalquivir). With the VI éme front century J-C the inhabitants of Tartessos worked out a Langue and a writing different from those of the close people, and knew the cultural influence of the Phénicie NS and the Égyptiens.
the expansion of the Phéniciens in the Western Mediterranean gives rise to several Comptoir S on the coast: Malaca (Malaga), Gadir or Gadès (Cadiz), Ebusos (Ibiza), Nova Cartago (Carthagène), Onoba (Huelva), Toscanos, Trayamar, Abdera (Adra), Sexi (Almuñecar), etc
At 7th front century J-C, the Greeks are established with Tartessos. The Phocéen S of Marseilles are established in Emporion (Ampurias).

Carthaginian empire

After the First Punic War (264-240 av. J. - C.), the Carthaginians extends their influence starting from Carthagène in the South of Spain, under the control of the Barcides (family of Barca). They there work mines and give again with Carthage its economic power and commercial. The pretext of the release of the Second Punic War was the seat of the city of Sagonte in Spain, allied of Rome. The writer Tite-Live presents the catch of Sagonte like an aggression deliberated on Hannibal Barca against the Roman interests. In 218 av. J. - C., Hannibal starts from Tarragone and goes on Rome by Gaulle with 37 elephants. In 209 av. J. - C., Carthagène is taken by the Romans. The Carthaginians are finally crushed with Bataille of Zama in Africa, in 202 av. J. - C. In Spain, the Guérilla carried out by Celtibères blocks the complete romanisation and rapid of the area. In -133, Scipion Émilien takes and destroys Numance. The inhabitants of the Oppidum prefer the suicide with the tender in Rome. Partial risings still continue in Spain during one century.

Roman domination

Rome arrived to Spain at IIIe century before J. - C., and was driven out by the Visigoths at the 4th century after J. - C. The emperor Auguste completes the conquest of Spain in Ier century before J. - C. by subjecting the populations of north. The romanisation of Ibères really started, even if this one were undoubtedly less important than in other areas of the Roman empire. It operated in the fields of the right, the language, the urbanization and the construction of roads. The peninsula was also divided into two provinces ( Hispania Citerior and Hispania Ulterior , IIe century before J. - C.), then three (under Auguste). In IVe century, the diocese of Hispanie includes/understands the Tarraconaise, the Gallécie, the Carthaginoise, the Lusitanie, the Bétique, the Balearic Islands and the Maurétanie Tingitane.

The event-driven history was initially agitated by revolts and wars: in 77, Pompée was sent in Hispanie to fight against last the partisans of Marius and succeeds in overcoming Sertorius by assassinating this last. At the time of the First triumvirate with Jules César and Crassus, it controls Hispanie. During the Civil war, Cesar fought the partisans of Pumped. Between 26 and 19 after J. - C., Auguste then Agrippa subject with difficulty the Astures mountain dwellers and Cantabres.

The local aristocracy was integrated into the order of the senators and the knights. Two " Espagnols" were even emperors in IIe century (Trajan and Hadrian) and in IVe century (Théodose Ier, Maxime). In 74, the emperor Vespasien grants the Latin right to all Spain, thus giving the Latin citizenship to all the free townsmen. The Latifundia, i.e. the great agrarian fields, were superimposed with the small property ibère. The techniques of irrigation transformed traditional agriculture. The Romans created new urban centres (Saragossa, Mérida, Valence).

During the Pax romana, the Iberian economy developed, in relation to the other areas of the Mediterranean basin: it benefitted from tin exports, of gold and wine, olive oil. It is as at that time as Christianity progresses in the population hispano-Roman. The cities develop everywhere, they still nowadays preserve several buildings characteristic of Roman civilization: Aqueduct of Segovia, bridge with Cordoue, ramparts of Lugo, vestiges with Tolède, amphitheater of Tarragone…

The 3rd century, the Germanic incursions which devastate Gaulle save Spain, except into 258, when the most advanced raid of the Alamans reaches Tarragone. In 408 then in 409, the two usurpers Constantin III and Maxime extend their authority on Spain.

Thus the Romans dominated Hispania during seven centuries, which were, mainly, rates/rhythms by the peace and the modernization of the Spanish company.

The medieval time

See also: Migrations of people, Espagnes medieval

During the Early middle ages, the Iberian peninsula saw the arrival and the installation of several cruel people from Central Europe and from Asia. As of 408, the Vandals, the Suèves and part of the Alains pass to Spain. In 411, this one is divided by drawing lot: the Bétique (current Andalusia) for the Silings Vandals, the northern part of the Galicia for the Hasdings Vandals, the southern part of the Galicia for Suèves (they left traces of the kingdom of Braga), the Lusitanie (current Portugal) and the Carthaginoise for Alains. Only the Tarraconaise (Catalonia) remains a Roman tiny room, for little time. The Vandales are driven out by the Visigoths and carry on their road towards the North Africa (429). They did nothing but cross the country and bequeath their name to the Andalusia.

Visigoths

The Visigoths are a Germanic Peuple, originating in Scandinavia and which settles in Balkans under the pressure of Huns in IVe century. Under the direction of Alaric Ier, they ransack Rome into 410 and conquer a vast kingdom. They dominate Hispanie until the beginning of the 8th century and found a brilliant civilization.

When peace was concluded by the Fœdus from 418, the Roman Emperor Honorius granted to the Visigoths grounds in the area of current the Aquitaine, followed others in Spain. They eliminated the Vandals who had to fold up on the other side of the Straits of Gibraltar. They then control one of largest the cruel Royaumes which was prolonged beyond the the Pyrenees, and whose capital is Toulouse. Driven out of Aquitaine by the Frank after the Battle of Vouillé in 507, they were folded up in the peninsula with for capital Tolède. They preserve the Septimanie until the beginning of the 8th century. They ended up absorbing the kingdom of Suèves in the west (585). However, in 554, the Byzantine emperor Justinien I {{er}} puts the hand on the old province of Bétique (current the Andalusia) in 554 and imposes Byzantine suzerainty on the kingdom of the Visigoths. The Byzantine influence is erased with the victories of the king Léovigild in Cordoue and Malaga (664).

Too much very few to occupy all the peninsula, the people Visigoth is especially established in the north of the Meseta, between the Tage and the Èbre, being established in these mountainous regions and timbered with the hard climate rather than in Andalusia and on the coast the Mediterranean. The domination wisigothe is thus especially soldier. Initially arien S, the Visigoths convert then with Catholicism when the king Récarède Ier imposes it like official religion in 589.

One of the largest scientists of this time is holy Isidore of Seville, but there are also other ecclesiastics of great value such his brother Léandre. Before their collapse in 711, the Visigoths had time to develop an original art (see the detailed article Art Visigoth).

List of the kings Visigoths and their dates of reign

Christians against Moslems

A historical Processus of almost 800 years takes place between 711/718 until the crucial Année.

Conquista...

After the arrival of the armies of the Islam, in 711, Spain becomes for many Christian centuries the theater of the confrontation between and Musulman S. Initially, those manage to occupy a major part of the peninsula and bring a brilliant civilization to him…

Moslem Spain (711 - 1492)

See also: Al-Andalus, Caliphate of Cordoue, Time of the taïfas

The conquest of Hispanie wisigothe by the Moslems fits in the expansion of Islam in VIIe and VIIIe centuries.

North Africa hardly conquered, the governor Mûsâ had the idea to divert towards outside the warriors Berbères in whom it did not have confidence. In 711, the Moor Tariq ibn Ziyad, then directs a forwarding of 7.000 Berber which must take Spain, in prey to divisions and an economic crisis. The defeat then the installation of the Moslems was fast: the town of Saragossa falls (714), Tarragone is destroyed and occupied Barcelona (716 - 719). Military forwardings are carried out beyond the the Pyrenees, towards the Septimanie Wisigothe, then in franque Gaulle. The battles of Poitiers gained by the franc Charles Martel, mark a crushing argument to the Arab conquest in Occident. In Spain, a Berber revolt is subdued by the kaisite BaldjU. The governors, although not very powerful and often replaced, are increasingly independent of the Califat. The inversion of the Omeyyades by the Abbassides has as a consequence the emancipation of Spain: Abd Al-Rahma¯n, grandson of the last caliph omeyyade, takes refuge in North Africa, then seizes Cordoue in 756, where he proclaims emir. He must fight against the Berber ones and various Arab chiefs. Two of them, cause even the intervention of Charlemagne (778). This last creates a walk of Spain which gathers Navarre and Catalonia. At the 11th century, the caliphate of Cordoue is parcelled out in small kingdoms: the time of the taïfas (1031-1094) is disturbed by wars. This division facilitates the Christian reconquest come from north. The Christian kings enhardis obtain that unquestionable Taïfas deliver a tribute to them after having known the defeat.

Spain is then invaded by the dynasties Berbères of the Almoravides (1086-1147) and of the Almohades (1147-1212), which supplant the precedents. After 1212, only the south of the peninsula is always under Moslem control. In 1248, the Christians take again Seville. Only the Royaume of Grenade resists until 1492. On this date, Spain sur the politique plan is become again completely Christian.

The contributions of the Moslems enriched the Spanish culture. The civilization hispano-Moslem woman took part in the golden age of Islam. A certain number of words of the Spanish language come from Arabic. New cultures and agricultural techniques, from Africa or from the East, are introduced. The big cities of Al-Andalusians are centers of a refined craft industry (work of leather with Cordoue). They are also important markets and hearths of studies. The caliphs build libraries and support the blooming of the culture: the future Pope Sylvestre II comes to study the science of wise Arabic examined in Barcelona.

In the same way recent scientific studies showed the contribution as of these populations Berbères on the genetic level, the haplotype V characteristic of the Berber populations being found very strongly in Spain (>40% in Andalusia).

Reconquista (718 - 1492)

Construction of a centralized state and a colonial empire

Dating: XVe/XVIIe centuries
This part starts the Modern history of Spain .

See also: Spanish Empire, History of the Latin America, territorial Formation of Spain

Towards the political unit

In XIe century, the Iberian peninsula is divided into several small Christian or Moslem kingdoms. A process of unification started at the following centuries and accompanied Reconquista towards the south. In 1137, Aragon and Catalonia are linked. In 1230, it is it tower of Castille and León. Aragon follows a dynamic foreign policy by taking possession of the south of Italy: in 1282, the riots called Sicilian Vespers, caused the conquest of Sicily by Pierre III of Aragon. In 1442, Alphonse V of Aragon conquers the “kingdom of Naples” and gives rise to the Royaume of Deux-Siciles. The marriage of Isabelle de Castille and Ferdinand II of Aragon in 1469 is revealing Spanish unification. Qualified " kings catholiques" by the pope, the royal couple sets up the Spanish Inquisition (1478-1480), drives out the Jews and the Moors of Spain and reduces the influence of large feudal. In 1515, the kingdom of Navarre comes to be added to the possessions of the crown. Lastly, the catholic kings support the project of Christophe Colomb to cross the Atlantic Ocean to find a road Western towards the Indies. The discovery of America is followed of its colonization. Spain is the instigator of the triangular Commerce, there were indeed black slaves in the caravels, as of the second voyage of Colomb in 1492. In 1494, the Spain and the Portugal sign, constrained by the pope Alexandre VI, the Traité of Tordesillas, by which these two powers are understood on the division of the territories of the Nouveau World. All that would be discovered in the west of longitude 50° would belong to the Spain, and all that would be in the east (Africa included/understood) would belong to the Portugal. In fact papacy had not allotted zones of colonization, but of the zones of evangelization, subtle distinction which did not resist the appetites of these two European powers.

Spain, European and world power

The Century of Spanish gold

See also: Succession of Spain, House capétienne of Bourbon in Spain

Spain of the century of gold (about 1550/1660) is the bastion of Catholicism against the Réforme and the mahométans (naval victory of Lépante). St François Xavier share évangéliser the Far East in first half of XVIe century. It took part in the foundation of the Society of Jesus in 1534, at the sides of St Ignace de Loyola. co. Therese d' Avila (1515-1582) reform and found many convents and is essential like a Master of Christian spirituality. St Jean of the Cross (1542 - 1591) is another large Spanish mystic who reformed the male branch of the Carmel. In the field of arts, the Spanish painters are distinguished and radiated on the continent of Europe (Diego Vélasquez, Greco).

For the related artistic period: to consult the article Century of Spanish gold.

Gaspar de Guzmán, count d' Olivares (1587-1645), favorite and Prime Minister of Philippe IV it undertook important reforms: fight against corruption and inflation, centralization, Mercantilisme. Despite everything, it could not prevent the country from declining (bankruptcy of 1627). It supported the House of Austria in hillock to the conflicts of the Guerre Thirty Year old, which overflowed on the Soulèvement of the Spanish Netherlands, and was opposed to the policy of France directed by Richelieu. In 1640, Portugal is detached from Spain after the revolt of Lisbon. The Spaniards lose the Bataille of Rocroi in 1643 and must yield the Comté of Roussillon and the Comté of Artois. Regency then the reign of the " king débile" Charles II (Carlos II) precipitated the end of the century of gold. Its death without heir in 1700 opens the War of succession of Spain (1701-1713): the crown of Spain is asserted by the Bourbons (France) and Habsbourgs of Austria. The Traités of Utrecht (1713) cut down the Spanish power several territories in Italy and in the Netherlands; Gibraltar and Ménorque become naval bases of the Great Britain. The grandson of Louis XIV, the heir to the Bourbon, Philippe V, becomes king d' Espagne (1701-1746) by giving up his rights on the crown of France. Spain disappears as a major power from the continent and its traditional bonds with the Austria are broken.

Decline

The Age of Enlightenment

The revolutionary age and Napoleon

One period of strong instability

See also: Restoration of the absolutism in Spain, Reign of Isabelle II, Revolution of 1868, Crisis of succession of Spain (1833-1846)

However, Ferdinand VII appears an authoritative sovereign very quickly. Confronted with violent revolts, it is constrained in 1822 to proclaim a Constitution which it does not respect. It restores the Enquiry and persecutes the liberals. The general Rafael del Riego, with the complicity of other officers, organized a mutiny the 1 {{er}} January 1820 and required the re-establishment of the constitution of 1812. The troops of Riego went on the main cities of Andalusia, in the hope to cause an insurrection anti-royalist, but the local population expressed a certain indifference. On the other hand a revolt burst in Galicia and was propagated quickly through the Spain. The March 7th 1820, the royal palace of Madrid was encircled by the soldiers of the Ballesteros general, and as of the March 10th, the king agreed to restore the constitution. This last then called upon France which intervenes in 1823 by the Expédition of Spain. Ferdinand VII found all its capacities and inaugurated one period of white terror which lasted ten years.

Between 1818 and 1830, all the Spanish colonies of Latin America obtain to them Indépendance (except Puerto Rico and Cuba and the Philippines). Spain turns then to Morocco in 1906, but runs up against the resistance of Abd el-Krim in the years 1920.

The death of Ferdinand VII involves a dynastic crisis (1833-1840) which leads to a civil war between the partisans of Isabelle II of Spain and the Carlistes in favor of Don Carlos and the absolutism. The latter are finally overcome. The personal reign of Isabelle II (1843-1868) rather unpopular and was agitated. The queen does not seem to have carried a great interest with the Politique. Enough quickly, the reality of the capacity belongs to the army and they are generals who control the country. In 1868, the general Joan Prim lance a revolution and forces the queen Isabelle, the September 30th, to exile itself in France. She abdicates however only in 1870. The duke Amédée of Savoy is selected to succeed to him but he abdicates as of 1873. In front of the inextricable situation, the République is proclaimed on February 11th, 1873. The industrialization of the country remains timid, the economy is with the image of the countries, dispossessed of its colonies, marked by the Napoleonean wars and the civil wars. The country thus remains in margin of Europe while French, Britanniques and Germans develop powerful industries. The first railway line is built in 1848.

See also: First Spanish Republic, Restoration bourbonienne in Spain

However, as of 1874, the Bourbons are restored in the person of Alphonse XII, wire of Isabelle II, and a Constitutional monarchy (1876) stable settles. But the agrarian crisis, the industrial backwardness, the claims separatists of Catalonia, the strikes and the Anarchisme shake the country. During the minority of Alphonse XIII, Spain launches out in the Guerre Spanish-American against the the United States and loses Cuba, Filipino Puerto Rico and the in 1898.

Neutral during the First World War, Spain is highly touched by the Spanish Grippe. The government must face a general strike in 1917. The general Miguel Primo de Rivera asserts himself like Prime Minister after the coup d'etat of September 13rd, 1923. He takes measure radical which institutes a dictatorship. He engages also a series of great work to modernize the country. But its authoritarianism, the economic crisis of 1929 and the persistence of the agrarian problem are right of him: it is exiled in 1930, followed by the king in 1931. The Second Republic Spanish is proclaimed.

Modern history

See also: : Category: Modern history of Spain

Second Republic and Civil war

See also: Second Spanish Republic, Spanish Civil war

The Second Republic rests on a new liberal constitution which founds the vote for all. It took measures in favor of the peasants (agrarian law of September 15th, 1932), of the women (right to vote, authorized divorce) and of Catalan and Basque autonomy. The titles of nobility are abolished and the capacity of the clergy and the army is decreased. Manuel Azaña is president of the council of 1931 to 1933 and becomes “leader” of the Popular front ( Frente popular ) in 1936. Initially chief of the government, it is elected president of the Republic in May. Moved away from the levers of the State, it attends impotent “tragic spring”. In prey with a punctuated political serious attack of strikes, removals, assassinations of opponents like the leader monarchist Jose Calvo Sotelo, the country is surbedded under its eyes. In July 1936, the generals Émilio Mola and Francisco Franco organize the nationalist military rising and the putsch which rejoin several areas of Spain and mark the beginning of the civil war. The republican camp incarnates, at the beginning of the conflict, the legal government of the Second Republic, supported by militants representing various tendencies progressists and called the rojos (red). The nationalist camp consists of rebels called nacionalistas (“nationalist”) or facciosos (“factious”). This war takes also the form, in certain territories controlled by the rojos , of a social revolution which creates conditions of collectivization of the grounds and factories, and which allows the experiment of new social relations and policies in these zones. The trade union anarchosyndicalist CNT (creates in 1910) will have enormously importance gathering in 1936 1700000 members. At the time of the attempt of the catch of Barcelona by the pro-Franco troops, the anarchistic group nosotros (Garcia Oliver, Durrutti, Ascaso…) will save the city of the factious one. That will be worth to them little time after being called at the office of the president of the généralidad of Companys Catalonia which will give them the management of the city. Companys remains with the government in manner marionette but does not have any impact on the social decisions. That being managed by the creation of the committee of the fascistic anti militia (3 CNT, 3 UGT, 3 will esquerra). Thus will develop in Catalonia a self-management dash and collectivist like in other localities (asturies, Andalusia, valence…). The war is held July 1936 at April 1939 and is completed by the defeat of the republicans and the establishment of the Dictature of Francisco Franco.

During this “civil” war, the future European belligerents of the Second world war start to clash more or less directly: the Germany of Hitler and the Italy of Mussolini give their support for Franco, the Soviet Union of Stalin sells weapons to the republicans, while seeking the catch to be able within the republic. The France and the the United Kingdom do not take part directly, but they let the International Brigades engage at the sides of the republicans.

See the articles detailed, as well as the Leitartikeces according to:

Manuel Azaña
Dolores Ibárruri
Jose María Gil-Robles
Jose Calvo Sotelo
Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera
YIELDED
international Brigades
working Parti Marxist unification
Spanish Phalange
Guernica

Pro-Franco Spain 1939-1975

The Democratic transition

Monarchical and democratic Spain

European Spain

January 1st 1986, Spain integrated the European economic community.
2004: The Spanish voters approve by Référendum the European Constitutional treaty.

Terrorist attacks

June 21st 1993: two attacks kill seven people with Madrid. They are allotted to the ETA.
April 19th 1995: Jose Maria Aznar escapes an attack from ETA.
Attacks in Madrid of March 11th, 2004
February 9th 2005: an attack of the ETA makes 15 wounded. The authorities were prevented a few minutes before the explosion by an anonymous telephone call.

L´immigration

From 2001 l´Espagne is touched by a vague African d immigration of origne. The immigrants arrívent by boats or d Afric terrestrial way of north or d´ sub-Saharan Africa with the danger of their life. The Spanish authorities placed barbed fences and military patrols places from there along the borders with Morocco to dissuade the immigrants to be introduced into the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. This wall was the subject of a massive attack of night, by simultaneous places, in September 2005. Since, the Balearic Islands became also a place of attempt to use the Union. The Spanish navy and the Red Cross have extremely to make with the immigrants shipwrecked men and asked for l´aide European l´union.

See too

Chronology of Spain
territorial Formation of Spain
Stories sets of themes of the Spanish Autonomies having a clean cultural identity

of specific languages

Basque Country: History of the Basque Country
Catalonia: History of Catalonia
Galicia: History of specific Galicia

of cultures

Castille S: History of Castille
Navarre: History of Navarre
Aragon: History of Aragon
Andalusia: History of Andalusia

External bonds

Spain of the Kings Catholiques by Joseph Pérez, Professor emeritus at the university of Bordeaux III.
History of l´Espagne per periods
Spain under the domination almoravide and almohade by Philippe Conrad, Historian.
Spain under the kings of the house of Bourbon at the XVIIIe century (1700-1788) by Yves Bottineau, Professor emeritus at the university Paris X-Nanterre.
wisigothic Spain by Michel Zimmermann, Professor of medieval history at the university of Versailles-Saint-Quentin-in-Yvelines.

Notes of bottom of article

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