History of Spain

History of Spain
Spain has a strong historical past. It has seen the rise and fall of many powers. Waves of invaders and colonizers have followed over the millennia, including the Celts, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and Greeks, and by about 200 B.C., the area was controlled by the Roman Empire. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Suevi, Vandals and Alans entered Spain, but they were defeated by the Visigoths who, by the end of the 6th century, has occupied virtually the whole of the Peninsula.

The Muslim invaders entered from the south at the beginning of the 8th century. During the next 750 years, independent Muslim states were established, and the entire area of Muslim control became known as Al-Andalus. This period is remembered in part for a flowering of philosophy and religious thought, and in part for continuing tensions between Christians and Muslims. What became known as the Reconquest of Spain by Christian forces began almost immediately in the 8th century.

In 1469, the marriage of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon, prepared the way for the union of the two kingdoms and marked the opening of a period of growing success for the Kingdom of Spain, since during their reign, Granada, the last stronghold of the Muslims in Spain, was conquered and, at the same time, in the same historic year of 1492, the caravels sent by the Crown of Castile under the command of Christopher Columbus discovered America.

Columbus's arrival in the New World, and the development of the Spanish Empire ushered in an age of glory for Spain.

During these next three hundred years, Spain's colonial empire expanded and was known as the largest empire in the history of the world. Financed in major part by the riches pouring in from its colonies, Spain became embroiled in wars and intrigues in continental Europe. The dynastic family of the Hapsburgs took control of the Spanish throne, followed by the crown being worn by the Bourbon family. Spain's European adventures led, however, to successive bankruptcies, and reduced Spain to a second-tier European power by the end of the 18th century.

In 1808 Joseph Bonaparte was installed on the Spanish throne, following the Napoleonic invasion, although the fierce resistance of the Spanish people culminated in the restoration of the Bourbons in the person of Fernando VII. In 1873, the brief reign of Amadeo of Savoy ended with his abdication, and the First Republic was proclaimed. However, a military proclamation in 1875 restored the monarchy and Alfonso XII was proclaimed King of Spain.

During the 19th century Spain saw series of struggles among elites, as well as struggles between elites and newly-empowered republican and liberal forces. Experiments in democracy alternated with returns to more authoritarian rule, and pressure grew in Spain's regions for increased autonomy. The arrival of the Industrial Revolution, late in the century, brought wealth to an expanding middle class in some major centers; however the Spanish-American War at the end of the 19th century led to the loss of almost all of Spain's remaining colonies.

The first third of the 20th century continued the political turmoil despite a rising standard of living and increasing integration with the rest of Europe. Spain was neutral in First World War however in 1936 Spain was plunged into a bloody civil war. The war led to a fascist dictatorship, led by Francisco Franco which controlled the Spanish government until 1975. Spain was officially neutral during the Second World War; the post-war decades were relatively stable. While tensions remain, modern Spain has seen the development of a modern democracy, one of the fastest-growing standards of living in Europe.

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