Stages of Urbanization in Spain: Preindustrial to 1975
Urbanization: A Historical Perspective
Urbanization refers to the progressive concentration of population, economic activities, and innovations in cities. This process can be divided into three main stages:
1. Preindustrial Urbanization
This stage extends from the origins of cities to the beginning of industrialization in the 19th century. During this period, urban development was modest. Factors favoring this development included strategic military, political, economic, administrative, and religious considerations. Preindustrial urbanization in Spain can be further divided into three sub-stages:
a) Origins
In Spain, true cities emerged with the Phoenician and Greek colonization of the Mediterranean coast. Romanization led to the founding of many cities, creating an urban network linked by roads with commercial and military roles. The decline of Roman power and the Germanic invasions led to de-urbanization from the 3rd century.
b) Middle Ages
A new phase of urbanization occurred in two distinct spheres: Muslim and Christian.
- The Muslim sphere: After the Muslim invasion of 711, this area encompassed most of the peninsula, from the south to the northern mountains. New cities like Madrid were founded, and existing settlements like Toledo were utilized. As the Reconquista progressed, Muslim cities came under Christian domination.
- The Christian sphere: Initially based in the northern mountainous areas, urban life was limited. However, it expanded from the 10th century with the Reconquista.
c) Urbanization in the Modern Age
Urbanization experienced fluctuations depending on the demographic, economic, and political circumstances of each period.
- 16th Century: Urban growth occurred due to population increase, economic expansion, and the political-military power of the Habsburgs.
- 17th Century: Stagnation occurred due to demographic and economic crises.
- 18th Century: The urbanization process revived due to the strengthening of royal power and demographic and economic recovery.
2. Industrial Urbanization
During this stage, the rate of urbanization experienced significant growth. Factors included administrative and socio-economic changes. Four sub-stages can be distinguished:
- Until the mid-19th century: Demographic concentration in cities was limited. Urban growth mainly affected provincial capitals.
- From the mid-19th century to the Civil War: The growth of cities became evident, and the urbanization rate almost doubled. Industrial development caused the most significant increases.
- The Civil War and Postwar period: Growth slowed. Franco’s regime did not favor urban growth. The triangle of urban-industrial development began to form in the Northeast (Cantabrian coast, Barcelona, and Madrid).
- The development phase (1960-1975): This period saw the fastest urban economic growth of the 20th century, due to the expansion of industry, which attracted manpower from rural areas to industrial cities. Population growth also contributed.
In the first half of the 19th century, reforms were driven by disentailment, leading to the opening or widening of streets and squares.
The construction of grand boulevards, based on those of Paris, connected historically rich areas with the expanding areas of cities like Burgos. Tertiary functions (luxury trade, banking, theaters) were installed in their buildings, making them the main streets of the city.
The land use of the old town experienced a progressive shift towards tertiary activities, culminating in the 1960s and consolidating the old town as the center of trade and business. This caused problems with congested streets and the deterioration of buildings due to pollution.
The widening: Cities that exceeded their old limits due to the rural exodus created new areas for the bourgeoisie, industrial areas, working-class neighborhoods, and landscaped neighborhoods.
The bourgeois widening sought to respond to the growth of cities in accordance with the interests of the bourgeoisie, leading to the demolition of city walls. Initially, it adopted a regular grid plan and low-density plots.