Human Development: Historical Eras and Economic Foundations
Prehistory: Dawn of Humanity
Prehistory encompasses the period from the appearance of humanity until the first written records. Knowledge of this era comes from human skeletal remains, discovered tools, remnants of housing, and artistic creations. Humans appeared approximately 2 million years ago and made crucial discoveries, notably controlling fire and domesticating animals.
Paleolithic Period: Nomadic Life
During the Paleolithic period, humans were nomadic. They lived near rivers, subsisting on
Read MoreKey Agricultural and Rural Development Terminology
Organic Agriculture
A farming system based on the optimal use of natural resources, avoiding synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to produce organic food.
Extensive Agriculture
Characterized by the need to increase acreage to boost production, primarily using traditional methods. Key features include low yields, low capitalization, and reliance on traditional crops.
Extensive Livestock
Characterized by very long production cycles and the use of native breeds adapted to the local
Urbanization in Antiquity, Medieval & Modern Eras
The Urbanization Process: A Historical Overview
De-urbanization process:
- The conformation of the urban network in antiquity. It is a network of peripheral locations of towns like the Phoenician colonies. The Greeks created colonies along the Mediterranean coasts of Catalonia and Valencia. Small towns began to develop, fortified by the native Iberian population. The Punic presence and the long period of Romanization strengthened a well-connected urban system.
- The Hispanic City. The Iberian Peninsula
Iberian Peninsula: Geography, Relief, and Plateau Regions
Iberian Peninsula: Territory and Relief
1. The Spanish Territory
1.1. Location of the Iberian Peninsula
The geographical position of the Iberian Peninsula facilitates trade with Europe. The Pyrenees act as a natural barrier, but were not an obstacle for contact with other peoples in the past. There are accessible mountain passes and only 14 km separate it from Africa at Gibraltar. This proximity has facilitated cultural and commercial exchange and navigation control.
1.2. Relief Features of the Spanish
Read MoreForest Resources and Agriculture: Types and Importance
Forest Resources and Their Importance
The Portuguese expanded beyond the Treaty of Tordesillas, primarily in America. While the Spanish focused on acquiring precious metals in Potosi, the Portuguese initially found little and spent much of their colonization searching for them. They expanded their territory, but without finding significant metal deposits.
Forest resources are generally considered renewable, but constant and often irreversible deforestation is a significant concern.
Intensive exploitation
Read MoreEvolution of Spanish Cities: 16th Century to Modern Urban Areas
Spanish Cities in the 16th Century
Specifically, in the year 1561, Philip II established his capital in Madrid during his reign. Seville handled all trade with America. Burgos controlled the entire trade with the north. At the end of the century, Castilian and Andalusian towns lost importance due to the economic crisis, and urban growth concentrated in the cities of the Mediterranean.
The Industrial City: 19th Century Transformation
Cities experienced significant changes due to industrialization in
Read More