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History of Spain
is colorful
and deep like its geographical state.
Spain
lies on
the crossroads between Europe and Africa.
By 19 BC
Romans dominated the peninsula leaving
behind their trace. Bourbons from North
Africa arrived here on
711 AD
and soon they
rule the Muslim religion took the land.
Christians fought for reconquer the land
until only the Muslim city Granada survived
as a Muslim stronghold.
In 1492,
the last Muslim king surrendered his
fortress to the Catholic rulers Fernando and
Isabella. That same year, Spanish monarchs
financed Christopher Columbus' voyage of
exploration.
And when
Columbus have landed in the new world, he
claimed it as the Spanish ground. Spain
eventually conquered huge empires in the
Americas, colonizing Mexico and Peru and
exploring parts of the US. Gold taken from
the native enriched the Spanish treasury.
As the 17th
century ended, Spain was affected
by plague, depopulation, faltering economy
and the war with France wasted the
country.
In 1938
fascism plunged Spain into Civil War.
From 1939, Dictator Francisco Franco
emerged and dominated Spain for 36 years of
repressive control. Franco picked his own
successor, the grand son of the late King
Alfonso XIII, Juan Carlos de Barbon,
and took the throne on Franco's death in
1975.
Eventually, Juan
Carlos has led his country from dictatorship
to democracy. Establishing a constitutional
monarchy working to modernize Spain and
raising its standard of living.
Today Spain
is the thriving member of the European
Union. It is an urban country with %75
percent of its citizens living in cities.
The capital Madrid is homed over 5 million
of the country's 40 million.
About 15
million holidaymakers travel to Spain each
year. Spain attracts its visitors mostly
by its sunshine, beaches and unique culture.
Underneath its
modern exterior, Spain's traditions run
deep. In Andalucía, the country's
southern region, vineyards still lies for
thousands of years.
Spain is one of
the world's major producer of wine,
especially fine cherries.
Flamenco
music and dance are also born in
Andalucía. |
