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located in Spain, including the famous caves at Altamira that contain spectacular paintings dating from about 15,000 to 25,000 years ago. The Basques, Europe's oldest surviving group, are also the first identifiable people of the peninsula.
located in Spain, including the famous caves at Altamira that contain spectacular paintings dating from about 15,000 to 25,000 years ago. The Basques, Europe's oldest surviving group, are also the first identifiable people of the peninsula.
==Roman Empire==
==Roman Empire==
Beginning in the ninth century BC, Phoenicians, [[Greeks]], Carthaginians, and Celts entered the Iberian Peninsula. The [[Roman]]s followed in the second century BC and laid the groundwork for Spain's present language, religion, and laws. Although the Visigoths arrived in the fifth century AD, the last Roman strongholds along the southern coast did not fall until the seventh century AD. 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. The <i>Reconquista</i>--efforts to drive out the Moors--lasted until 1492. By 1512, the unification of present-day Spain was complete.
Beginning in the ninth century BC, Phoenicians, [[Greeks]], Carthaginians, and Celts entered the Iberian Peninsula. The [[Roman]]s followed in the second century BC and laid the groundwork for Spain's present language, religion, and laws. Although the Visigoths arrived in the fifth century AD, the last Roman strongholds along the southern coast did not fall until the seventh century AD.
===Muslims and Crusaders: 711-1492===
===Muslims and Crusaders: 711-1492===
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. The ''Reconquista'' (wars to drive out the Moors) lasted until complete success was achieved in 1492. By 1512, the unification of present-day Spain was complete.
Muslims crossed from Africa into Spain early in the eighth century and in 711 at the battle of Río Barbate, they defeated the Visigoths and pressed forward to capture Toledo. By 718, the Moors (the name given North African Muslims by the Spaniards) had completed their conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, except for small Christian remnants in the Pyrenees. They remained on for the next 674 years until driven out by Spanish and Portuguese Christians.
Muslims crossed from Africa into Spain early in the eighth century and in 711 at the battle of Río Barbate, they defeated the Visigoths and pressed forward to capture Toledo. By 718, the Moors (the name given North African Muslims by the Spaniards) had completed their conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, except for small Christian remnants in the Pyrenees. They remained on for the next 674 years until driven out by Spanish and Portuguese Christians.
During the 16th century, Spain became the most powerful nation in Europe, due to the immense wealth derived from its presence in the Americas. But a series of long, costly wars and revolts, capped by the defeat by the English of the "Invincible Armada" in 1588, began a steady decline of Spanish power in Europe. Controversy over succession to the throne consumed the country during the 18th century, leading to an occupation by France during the Napoleonic era in the early 1800s and a series of armed conflicts throughout much of the 19th century.
During the 16th century, Spain became the most powerful nation in Europe, due to the immense wealth derived from its presence in the Americas. But a series of long, costly wars and revolts, capped by the defeat by the English of the "Invincible Armada" in 1588, began a steady decline of Spanish power in Europe. Controversy over succession to the throne consumed the country during the 18th century, leading to an occupation by France during the Napoleonic era in the early 1800s and a series of armed conflicts throughout much of the 19th century.
In the late 18th century Spain at last attempted to reform the administration of its colonies. Some progress was made, but the improvements also stimulated a demand for more autonomy and even independence on the part of the creoles (people of Spanish descent born in the colonies).
==19th century==
==19th century==
The 19th century saw the revolt and independence of most of Spain's colonies in the Western Hemisphere; three wars over the succession issue; the brief ousting of the monarchy and establishment of the First Republic (1873-74); and, finally, the Spanish-[[American War]] (1898), in which Spain lost [[Cuba]], [[Puerto Rico]], and the [[Philippines]] to the United States.
Spain had built a large empire, primarily in South America and Central America; most of the colonies revolted about 1820, and the remainder were lost in 1898.
The 19th century saw the revolt and independence of most of Spain's colonies in the Western Hemisphere; three wars over the succession issue; the brief ousting of the monarchy and establishment of the First Republic (1873-74); and, finally, the [[Spanish-American War]] (1898), in which Spain lost [[Cuba]], [[Puerto Rico]], and the [[Philippines]] to the United States.
==20th century==
==20th century==
* Barton, Simon, ''A History of Spain'' (Palgrave Essential Histories) (2009) [http://www.amazon.com/History-Spain-Palgrave-Essential-Histories/dp/0230200125/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250295307&sr=1-9 excerpt and text search]
* Barton, Simon, ''A History of Spain'' (Palgrave Essential Histories) (2009) [http://www.amazon.com/History-Spain-Palgrave-Essential-Histories/dp/0230200125/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250295307&sr=1-9 excerpt and text search]
* Carr, Raymond. ''Spain: A History'' (2001) [http://www.amazon.com/Spain-History-Raymond-Carr/dp/0192802364/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250295307&sr=1-4 excerpt and text search]
* Carr, Raymond. ''Spain: A History'' (2001) [http://www.amazon.com/Spain-History-Raymond-Carr/dp/0192802364/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250295307&sr=1-4 excerpt and text search]
* Kames, Henry. ''A Concise History of Spain'' (1973)
[http://www.questia.com/library/book/a-concise-history-of-spain-by-henry-kamen.jsp online edition]
* Lloyd, Alan. ''The Spanish Centuries: A Narrative History of Spain from Ferdinand and Isabella to Franco'' (2002), popular [http://www.amazon.com/Spanish-Centuries-Narrative-Ferdinand-Isabella/dp/038550702X/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250295307&sr=1-11 excerpt and text search]
* Lloyd, Alan. ''The Spanish Centuries: A Narrative History of Spain from Ferdinand and Isabella to Franco'' (2002), popular [http://www.amazon.com/Spanish-Centuries-Narrative-Ferdinand-Isabella/dp/038550702X/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250295307&sr=1-11 excerpt and text search]
* Pierson, Peter. ''The History of Spain'' (2008) [http://www.amazon.com/History-Greenwood-Histories-Modern-Nations/dp/0313360731/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250295307&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Pierson, Peter. ''The History of Spain'' (2008) [http://www.amazon.com/History-Greenwood-Histories-Modern-Nations/dp/0313360731/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250295307&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]; [http://www.questia.com/library/book/the-history-of-spain-by-peter-pierson.jsp online 1999 edition]