Spain has long been shaped by external forces. The peninsula has long been an attractor of people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Architecture in El Escorial stands as testament to this fact; from its majestic palace/monastery combination to the stark Inquisition tribunals, this land of contrasts provides plenty of visual pleasures.
1. Roman Conquest
Roman forces first invaded Iberian Peninsula (Hispania) during their Second Punic War against Carthage in 218 BCE and embarked upon a process of “Romanization”, leaving an indelible mark upon Spanish culture and society that continues to this day.
Iberian populations adapted to Roman rule by adopting aspects of their way of life, including religion and language. A regional variant of Latin was created, used for administration, trade, education and everyday communication purposes.
In the nineteenth century Spain lost all of its colonies in Latin America, was embroiled in World War I, and was overthrown by a military dictatorship. Subsequently it established a constitutional monarchy. A wave of liberal reforms including land reform, women’s suffrage and educational expansion ensued, followed by an economic boom which dissipated much of Spain’s wealth by 1920.
2. The Middle Ages
Hispania fell under Germanic control following the collapse of Roman authority, yet these outsiders did not destroy classical civilization as was experienced in Britain and Northern Europe.
Muslim invasion in 711 would mark the start of al-Andalus, lasting from 711-1492 before disintegrating into competing Taifas and Christian kingdoms slowly taking back their former territory.
At a time of great social turmoil, church reformers like the Council of Trent instituted reforms designed to restore order through church reform – such as creating nunnery cloisters and ending indulgence payments – which absolved sin. Alongside these changes came an increase in wealth that resulted in cathedral construction as well as clearing large tracts of land for peasants.
3. The Renaissance
Spain was home to great scientific and artistic achievements throughout its Renaissance history, yet harsh policies that contributed to its Black Legend led to a backlash that obscured much of its full story.
Their kings spearheaded the Reconquista of Iberian Peninsula, battled for control of Americas and established strict hierarchy in their domestic empire through laws, appointed officials and land grants to nobles and wealthy merchants – even expanding to colonies where this structure pervaded.
In the 19th century, Spain experienced a series of political upheavals. One such upheaval occurred during the Revolution of 1854 when General Leopoldo O’Donnell marched on Madrid in order to overthrow yet another discredited cabinet and herald the modern age of Spanish politics. This pronunciamiento marked the beginning of modern politics in Spain.
4. The Age of Discovery
Spain was transformed by its colonization and discovery of America, becoming an empire which greatly affected global trade patterns.
Queen Isabella ensured long-term political stability by arranging strategic marriages for her children. Her firstborn married Afonso of Portugal and established strong ties between both countries.
1820s – King Louis-Philippe of Spain faced multiple absolutist conspiracies and the failure of liberal government to secure support among most of his people, leading to a turbulent period known as Trienio Liberal (1820-23) which was finally put down by France in 1823.
In its second Spanish Republic, Catalonia and Basque Country gained significant autonomy. Meanwhile, economic difficulties resulted from high debt levels and rapid coalition changes; eventually the centre-right Popular Party led by Jose Maria Aznar won general elections and Spain introduced euro currency on 1 January 1999.
5. The Age of Exploration
Christopher Columbus’ voyage in 1492 signalled the Age of Exploration, propelling Spain forward as one of the leading world powers. Gold and silver collected from civilizations encountered on America provided fuel for Spain’s economy and military endeavors.
Explorers and conquistadors (the term for soldiers who fought overseas territories for the crown) were driven by wealth, glory and Christianity’s spread; many believed they had been given divinely inspired missions to convert “infidel” native peoples in New World territories to Christianity.
Exploration of the New World had long-reaching repercussions, from spreading European diseases that devastated native populations to massive labor exploitation – both legacy effects that can still be seen today – such as spreading Spanish as a second most spoken language or introducing foods like tomatoes, chocolate and chili peppers from Americas into mainstream diets.