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Spain History - Early History
The early history of known mankind in Europe is strongly linked
to the Iberian Peninsular but the subject remains to most scholars
as fragmented as different sections of a large puzzle with many
pieces missing.
At the turn of the 19th Century evidence was discovered of human
existence existing being around 800,000 BC at the Gran Dolina site
near to the town of Burgos This species has been given the title
of homo antecessor. They are considered to have been more
advanced than the Neanderthals who were to follow about 100,000
BC. In 3.000 BC Neolithic settlements appeared originating from
the eastern Mediterranean and can be termed as the first static
Iberians and also the origins of the unique Basques who are
considered the oldest nation of Western Europe. Five hundred
years later there is evidence of a more advanced Neolithic
offspring around the south-eastern area of Almería and there
exists sparse evidence of their capital. In this period stone
religious structures termed megaliths were created throughout
Europe and especially in the Peninsular. An outstanding example
of these structures can be seen in the caves near Antequera north of
Málaga. However, with the emergence of the Bronze Age
in about 2,000 BC religion changed direction and individual burial
became the practice. The ore-rich area of Almeria on the east
coast became a centre in this new style civilization. Some 1,000
years later this area began to lose its importance to that around
the city now known as Cadiz and the lost civilization of the
Tartessus. This famed tribe was possibly based in the area of
Huelva and its capital has been recorded by a Greek scribe as
being full of notable buildings.
About 1,000 BC the Basque tribes, who are recorded as having been
generally dark with long skulls, were being infiltrated by the fair
skinned Celts from northern Europe. With them the Celts brought the
introduction of iron but this also coincided with the same move by
the Phoenicians along the southern coastline. These Phoenicians
originated from the area now know as Lebanon and expanded their
considerable influence through trade and it is from their word
i-schephan-im that the route of the word España can
be traced.
Phoenician traders were found to have settled in Gadir (Cadiz),
from around 1100 BC. Other colonies were started in Malaca
(Málaga), Sexi (Almuñecar) and Abdera (Adra).These people are
recorded as successfully destroying the previously strong
Tartessus. During their influence Cadiz grew in wealth and
temples were built for human sacrifice to the Gods. The local coastal
Iberian inhabitants adopted the more advanced habits of Phoenician
society and assisted them to exploit the plentiful deposits of ore to
be found in Andalucía. This period lasted until the fall of their
Kingdom and the infiltration of the Carthagians who quickly filled
the trading void and set up coastal centres for inland produce and
minerals. Evidence of their mark on Iberian culture is typified by
the introduction of their alphabet and the famous Dama de Elche
sculpture unearthed near Alicante in 1897. It is the Carthagians
that gave the name hesperia which today is the foundation of
word Iberia. This Greek influence was devastated by the naval
battle of Alalia in 535 BC when their fleet was destroyed. At their
height of influence at this time they held control over the
coastline from Valencia in the northeast to the Algarve in the
Atlantic. After suffering a later defeat at home by the Romans they
again turned their attention to Iberia and in 237 BC General
Hamilcar Barca with his young son Hannibal landed at
Cadiz and took control by force of the southern part of the
Peninsular. Strong inland defence by descendants from the
Tartessus caused his death but his son escaped to later
leave his own mark on history. As soon as Hannibal was old
enough he led his army into the interior of the Peninsular and
conquered as far north as Salamanca. A treaty was made by the two
parties which basically divided the Peninsular at the River Ebro in
the north. The brother-in-law Hasdrubal Barca is
recorded as being the founder of the town of Barcelona and
Cartagna (Cartago Nova). All territory to the south was under the
control of Hannibal with the exception of the coastal town
of Saguntum which claimed special trading protection from Rome.
Hannibal saw the chance to provoke the Romans and took the
town which gave rise for the Second Punic War (218 - 201 BC). The
Romans landed two legions at Emporion but Hannibal had
already left on his historic march across the Alps into northern
Italy. The Romans led by General Publius Cornelius Scipio
successfully defeated their opponents in a series of battles which
included the taking of Cadiz. Hannibal was subsequently
driven out of Spain in 206 BC and the following year finally
defeated in North Africa by Scipio at Zama. From 210 to 50
BC successive waves of Roman forces slowly occupied Iberia and in
61 BC Julius Caesar became the governor of the area now
named Andalucía.
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