The History of Spain The Spaniard civilization can date all the way back to the Stone Age. Because of its agricultural wealth, Spain was acknowledged to have people occupy its land approximately 32,000 years ago. In A.D. 409, Spain was overrun by German invaders, but they were later forced out of the country and into Africa by a group called the Visigoths. The Visigoths, however, would soon lose control over Spain from a battle lost by the Byzantine Empire in 507. By 585, they would regain control over Spain and lived side by side under two separate laws between themselves and the Spaniards. In 711, North African Moors sailed across the straits, swept into Andalusia, and within a few years, pushed the Visigoths up the peninsula to the Cantabrian Mountains. Spain, dating back to 756, used to be a Muslim state and covered the entire land except for the northern most part of it. It was not until 778 when the Spanish March was created in order to merge the Muslim and Christian cultures together. However, with the lack of unity over the years, a bloody rivalry continued as the two sides fought constantly until a victory was won. The Christians received the victory because of its religious enthusiasm and dynamic expansion, which caused their side to continue to live in harmony and peace. Before Spain became part of the Roman Empire, it was occupied by Celts, Iberians, and Basques. Not until after Spain became ruled by a Roman emperor named Ataulf did it finally become independent and its own entity. In the year 1469, the country was brought together by the marriage of Ferdinand II and his wife Isabella I. Nearly ten years later; they tried to convert whatever religion that was not Christianity to it. Not long after the conversion of the other religions, Roman Catholicism was discovered, established, and became the official religion and whoever did not convert over were
From 711-1492, Christian Spaniards lived under Moorish rule until eventually, the Christian Kingdoms took over during the Reconquista. The conflicts between the Muslims and Christians created a militaristic culture in Spain that surpassed that of any other European nation. Furthermore, being trained militarily was often exclusively attributed to the nobility however, in Spain, “many young men knew these skills and used them to their advantage.” Without a doubt, recently reconquering their homeland motivated the Spanish to a basis for expansion and conquest that most other European societies were lacking. In addition, the voyages of Christopher Columbus led to discovering the New World which undoubtedly contributed to added interest in conquest. Eventually, each conquest further raised Spanish hopes for fame and
A Vanished World: Muslims, Christians, and Jews in Medieval Spain is survey medieval Spain, where Christians, Jews, and Muslims once lived side by side and the Muslims were in charge. The book tries to lead the reader to the conclusion that there is indeed a historical precedent for the three major religions establishing a beneficially symbiotic relationship which may be an enduring lesson for coexistence. The author, Chris Lowney, is an ex-Jesuit and holds degrees in medieval history and philosophy.
During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church was the dominant force in Western civilization. As the Dark Ages came to a close, the monarchies of Europe began to consolidate power; providing an alternative power base. With the Protestant Reformation came another blow to the influence of the Church. Spain, the forerunner in the Age of Discovery, was a fervently Catholic country. During the 16th century, the monarchy combined the forces of "cross and crown" in its imperial policy; much to the dismay and ultimate destruction of the indigenous peoples of the New World. Through an examination of Aztec polytheism and the Catholicism of the conquistadors, comes the central role of religion in the successful conquest of New Spain.
Spain was first influenced by Christopher Columbus who was successful in gaining territory and wealth in his exploration in 1492. They hoped to gain the same therefore the spanish explorers also known as conquistadors traveled across the atlantic ocean and arrived in southern land known as Texas today. Among those explorers was Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca whom was one of the few survivors in the first spanish exploration to Texas that took eight years. The spanish conquistadors were not lucky to find the wealth they hoped for, instead they went through many challenges. The main challenge being that very few survived on their way to Texas, and once they arrived were trapped by American Indians who had already settled the land. Once Alvar and
The Cult of Saint James was born through turmoil but survived because of faith. The fact that Spain was never conquered by the Moors and turned into an Arab nation is believed to be thanks to Saint James, and also why he is, and has been, the patron saint of Spain. Santiago de Compostela is considered one of the three most important centers of Christianity with Jerusalem and Rome being the other two. For this feat, Spain was and is grateful to Saint James, and the pilgrimage to his tomb has been a monumentous occasion for Christians all over Europe and the world.
War would break out after the sinking of the Battleship Maine. This took place in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898. Before all of this, Spain would become the first European country to claim land, sailing westward crossing the Atlantic, exploring, and colonizing the lands and its inhabitants in the western hemisphere. At the peak of its time, the empire that resulted from Spain’s exploration extended from Virginia all the way to Tierra del Fuego in South America. The empire then continued to expand t...
The Spanish people are essentially a mixture of the indigenous peoples of the Iberian Peninsula with the successive peoples who conquered the peninsula and occupied it for extended periods. These added ethnologic elements include the Romans, a Mediterranean people, and the Suevi, Vandals, and Visigoths (see GOTHS), Teutonic peoples. Semitic elements are also present. Several ethnic groups in Spain have kept a separate identity, culturally and linguistically. These include the Basques (Euskal-dun), who number about 2.5 million and live chiefly around the Bay of Biscay; the Galicians, numbering about 2.5 million, who live in northwestern Spain; and the nomadic Spanish Gypsies (Gitanos; see GYPSIES).
Venezuela was one of the richest countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Ecuador). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Current concerns include: a polarized political environment, a politicized military, drug-related violence along the Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.
Ecuador is located in South America, on the Equator it also extends out to sea to the Galapagos Islands. The people of Ecuador speak Spanish, Quechua, and now English is starting to be part of the curriculum for students. Ecuador is the home to all my family, and possible the retirement place for my parents. This is all possible since Ecuador branched out of the Gran Colombia. Going even further into the past Ecuador did not just have one start on being what/where they are now. The history of Ecuador is said be divided into five different phases or eras: Pre-Colombian, The Conquest, The Colonial Period, The War of Independence and the Republican Era. These eras needed to happen so the place I call home could be what it is now. It also has gone through changed within the flag, which is used as a representation – or a symbol to show off were one is from. The people of the city also are the heart of it all, and with time they learn to adapt to new life and customs without losing the traditional ones. Ecuador has gone through many changes to get where it is now. The struggle has been hard for most but at the end the nations is a strong nation.
El Cid was born on 1043 in Vivar del Cid, Spain. He died on July 10, 1099, in Valencia, Spain. He was very inspired in the Muslim faith. The muslim empire split into rivals after the fall of the Umayyads in 1031. This fall began Reconquista which was an onslaught by the Christian kingdoms in the North on Moorish Spain. Spain's hero was made even though the reconquest was not completed until
Spain was under control of the Roman Empire for more than 700 years. Consequentially many cities reflects historically events and structures from Rome.
The Arabs and Byzantines help aid Catalonia before they moved into the “regions of Tortosa, Tarragona, and Lleida became a part of the Muslim world for the next 400 years”(). The Muslim influence was never very strong in parts Catalonia, so the Franks took over Barcelona. The Muslims Moors beginning using the land for farming and built an irrigation systems. After the 400 years the Catholic Monarchs, than pushed the Muslims south, and took over Catalonia region. The crown of Aragon and Catalonia still had separate laws.
Portugal is a country located in southwestern Europe, situated on the western portion of the Iberian Peninsula. It is bounded on the north and east by Spain, and in the south and west by the Atlantic Ocean. The total area of metropolitan Portugal is 35,655 sq mi. The capital and largest city is Lisbon.