Spain is known around the world as a Roman Catholic country, but little is known for sure about the precise details of how the religion came to the Iberian peninsular. The Catholic Church is deeply rooted in modern Spanish culture, yet the roots of the religion are not so … [Read more...]
History
At the crossroads of western Europe, modern Spain has been influenced by a diverse set of cultures and religions over many centuries.
The Phoenicians in Spain
The Phoenicians were the first people to link the western and eastern Mediterranean, and to sail through the treacherous straight of Gibraltar. The most important colony they established in Spain was Cádiz. The culture of the Phoenicians was based on the shores of the … [Read more...]
Early Greek Immigration to Spain
Although never controlling the peninsular, the Greeks made an important mark on the land we now know as Spain. Some time around 800 BC, Greeks began to leave their peninsular and establish colonies around the Black Sea and some of the northern shores of the Mediterranean. … [Read more...]
The Celtic Origins of Galicia, Spain
The north-western region of Spain has strong Celtic roots stretching back thousands of years. The influence of those Celtic arrivals remains strong in modern-day Galicia. The origins of the Celtic people are shrouded in mystery. Their language is Indo-European, which puts … [Read more...]
The Roman History of Spain
For 600 years, Spain played a central role in the Roman empire. Many stunning ancient roads and monuments remain to this day. By the year 300 BC, the Mediterranean region had two growing powers, so it was somewhat inevitable that the Romans and Carthage would come to … [Read more...]