A History of Spain
The Oldest Human Remains in Spain
The oldest human remains in Spain have been found in the Sima de los Huesos and Gran Dolina in the Sierra de Atapuerca in Burgos. These fossils are attributed to Homo antecessor. Abundant human fossils classified as Homo heidelbergensis have been found in the Sima de los Huesos. This species likely served as a transitional species between Homo neanderthalensis and Homo antecessor and migrated to the Iberian Peninsula from Africa, probably following herds of animals upon which they depended for sustenance. The last two species of the Homo genus to appear were Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens.
Early Civilizations in Spain
Tarshish
Tarshish was a brilliant civilization that developed in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. This civilization was renowned for its wealth and cultural significance, as evidenced by artifacts such as the Treasure of El Carambolo.
Iberians
The Iberians inhabited the southern Mediterranean coast of Spain. Contact with Greek and Phoenician settlers significantly influenced their cultural development. They engaged in agriculture, livestock farming, trade, and mining. Their small towns, situated in easily defensible areas, were characterized by a hierarchical social structure with an aristocracy ruling over slaves.
Celtiberians
The Celtiberians, inhabiting the central plateau of Spain, had an economy based on agriculture and livestock farming, with trade playing a lesser role. Their society exhibited strong tribal cohesion and resided in fortified villages like Numantia.
Artistic and Cultural Highlights
Notable artistic and cultural highlights of this period include the Verracos, large animal sculptures found in the Tagus valley, created by the Vettones people. These sculptures are believed to be linked to fertility cults and agricultural practices.
The Christian Kingdoms of Northern Spain
Asturias
In 722 AD, Pelayo, leading a force of Asturians and other indigenous groups, defeated a Muslim expeditionary force at the Battle of Covadonga. This victory marked the beginning of the Reconquista, the Christian reconquest of Spain.
- Alfonso I: Succeeding Pelayo, Alfonso I drew upon the Visigothic legacy and established the “Forum Iudicum” (Fuero Juzgo), a legal code. The northward migration of the Hispano-Visigothic population reinforced cultural continuity.
- Alfonso II: Alfonso II established his capital at Oviedo. During his reign, the tomb of St. James was allegedly discovered in Galicia, which would later become a major pilgrimage site.
- Alfonso III: Alfonso III expanded the Asturian kingdom southward to the Douro River and moved the capital to León. This marked the transition from the Kingdom of Asturias to the Kingdom of León.
Navarre
The Kingdom of Navarre emerged in the western Pyrenees, situated between France and Al-Andalus. After the Basque victory against the Franks at the Battle of Roncesvalles, the Kingdom of Pamplona was established under the Íñiguez dynasty.
- Sancho III el Mayor: The Kingdom of Navarre reached its zenith under Sancho III el Mayor. Ruling from 1004 to 1035, he extended his dominion over Aragon and Castile, uniting much of Christian Iberia under his rule.
Aragon
The Kingdom of Aragon arose in a sparsely populated area of the central Pyrenees. Initially under Carolingian and later Navarrese influence, Aragon made limited progress in its expansion against the powerful Muslim territories south of the Ebro valley.
Catalonia
The County of Barcelona, established by the Franks as part of the Carolingian Empire, rose to prominence among the Catalan counties. Wilfred the Hairy, Count of Barcelona, regained territories lost to Muslim rule and initiated a process of independence from the weakening Frankish kingdom.
The Reconquista
First Stage
From the Battle of Covadonga (722 AD) onward, the Christian kingdoms of northern Spain consolidated their territories and gradually expanded southward. By the 10th century, they had reached the Douro River. Ordoño II of León moved his capital to León, marking the emergence of the Asturian-Leonese kingdom, later known as the Kingdom of León.
Second Stage
Following the collapse of the Muslim Caliphate of Córdoba and the fragmentation of Al-Andalus into smaller Taifa kingdoms, Castile and León advanced beyond the central mountain ranges and occupied the Tagus River basin. Toledo, the former Visigothic capital, was recaptured in 1085.
Third Stage
After cessation of progress with the coming of the Almohad gradually Castilla-Leon got to rule the valley of the Guadiana and the steps of Sierra Morena. That process culminated in the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa Quick Step Four occupation of the valley of the Guadalquivir (Córdoba, Sevilla) by St. Ferdinand and Valencia and the Balearic Islands by James I the Conqueror. It shall be the Muslim stronghold of Granada. Reyes Catolicos: In 1469 occurred the marriage of Isabel of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon. Both belonged to the dynasty Trastámara.
Henry IV died after civil war erupted in Castile. The sister, Isabella, who had the support of Aragon, and the alleged daughter Juana la Beltraneja “supported by Portugal, clashed in a conflict that culminated in the Battle of Bull and Alcaçovas peace with Portugal.
1479, Ferdinand I was crowned King of Aragon. Complete the dynastic union between the two kingdoms. The new kings were ready to get the union under his crown peninsular.
In January 1492 completed the conquest of the Nazari kingdom of Granada. He had thus Reconquista. In Portugal, tried unsuccessfully marriage.
Previously, with the signing of Barcelona, Aragón France had recovered from ultrapyrenean territories of Roussillon and Cerdaña, and Castilla had completed the conquest of the Canaries.
. Under these rulers, the various kingdoms continued to maintain different laws and institutions.