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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 southeastern 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 Tartessos. 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.
The 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 Tartessos. 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 defense by descendants from the Tartessos 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 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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