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Spain
Roman Hispania, al-Andalus, the Reconquista and the empire that circumnavigated the globe.
Overview
The Iberian Peninsula was Roman Hispania for six centuries, Muslim al-Andalus for seven, and after the 1492 Reconquista the launching-pad of Europe's first global empire.
Basic Information
CapitalMadrid
Population48 million
Area505,990 km²
CurrencyEuro (EUR)
LanguagesSpanish, Catalan, Galician, Basque
RegionWestern Europe
History Timeline
- c. 218 BCERoman conquest of Hispania begins
- 711Umayyad conquest
- 1492Fall of Granada; Columbus voyages
- 1588Defeat of the Spanish Armada
- 1936 – 1939Civil War
- 1975Death of Franco; restoration of democracy
Ancient Peoples
- Iberians
- Celtiberians
- Phoenicians
- Visigoths
Ancient Kingdoms
- Kingdom of Asturias
- Kingdom of León
- Crown of Castile
- Crown of Aragon
Empires
- Roman Empire
- Umayyad Caliphate
- Spanish Empire
Religions
- Roman Catholicism
- Islam (historical)
- Judaism (historical)
Culture
Cervantes, Velázquez, Goya, Picasso, flamenco and the Camino de Santiago.
Language
Castilian Spanish is spoken by over 500 million people worldwide.
Important Battles
- Battle of Covadonga722
Beginning of Reconquista
- Fall of Granada1492
End of al-Andalus
- Trafalgar1805
Naval defeat by Nelson
Historical Figures
Isabella I of Castile
1474 – 1504
Reconquista monarch
Philip II
1556 – 1598
Empire-building king
Francisco Franco
1939 – 1975
Dictator
Archaeological Sites
- Altamira Cave
- Numantia
- Mérida Roman theatre
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Alhambra
- Sagrada Família & Gaudí works
- Historic Toledo
- Santiago de Compostela
Dynasties
- Trastámara
- Habsburg
- Bourbon
Colonial Period
The Spanish Empire spanned the Americas, the Philippines and parts of Africa; most colonies gained independence 1810 – 1898.
Modern History
Spain is a parliamentary monarchy and EU member since 1986.