Spain

Spain

Country statistics

area:	504,780sq km (194,896sq mi)
population:	40,847,271
capital (population):	Madrid (2,938,723)
government:	Constitutional monarchy
ethnic groups:	Castilian Spanish 72%, Catalan 16%, Galician 8%, Basque 2%
languages:	Castilian Spanish (official), Catalan, Galician, Basque
religions:	Roman Catholic 97%
currency:	Euro = 100 cents

Kingdom on the e Iberian peninsula. The Kingdom of Spain occupies 80% of the Iberian Peninsula. The central Spanish regions of Aragón, Castile-La Mancha, and Castile-León form part of a vast plateau (the Meseta), in the centre of which lies the capital, Madrid. The Ebro and Tagus rivers drain the central plateau. Zaragoza lies on the Ebro, and Toledo on the Tagus. The Cantabrian Mountains lie between León and the n coastal regions of Galicia and Asturias. Bilbao and Pamplona are the major cities in Basque Country. The Pyrenees form a natural border with France, and extend s into Navarre and Catalonia. Barcelona lies on the Costa Brava. On the e Mediterranean coast lie the ports of Valencia and Cartagena, and the Balearic Islands. Andalusia includes the cities of Seville and Córdoba, and Spain's highest peak, Mulhacén, at 3478m (11,411ft), in the Sierra Nevada, close to the city of Granada. Many Spanish holiday resorts, such as Málaga, are found on the Costa del Sol. The status of Gibraltar is disputed with Britain.

Climate

The Meseta has hot summers and cold winters. The s coast has Europe's mildest winters. Winter snowfall is heavy on the high mountains.

Vegetation

Forests cover 32% of Spain, mostly in the mountainous regions. Grassland and scrub cover much of the Meseta, but 30% of land is arable.

History and Politics

Iberians and Basques were Spain's early inhabitants. In the 9th century bc, the Phoenicians established trading posts on the s coast. In c.600 bc, Greek merchants set up colonies. In c.237 bc, the Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca conquered most of the peninsula. By the 1st century ad, most of Spain fell to the Romans and it became a prosperous province. From c.ad 400, Germanic tribes swept into Spain. The Visigoths controlled s Spain from the 5th to 8th century.

In 711, the Moors defeated the Visigoths. Spain was rapidly conquered (except Asturias and the Basque Country), and an independent Muslim state founded in 756. The Alhambra is testimony to the splendour of Moorish architecture. The Basques established the independent kingdom of Navarre. Asturias acted as the base for the Christian reconquest. In 1479, Castile and Aragón united in the marriage of Ferdinand V and Isabella I. The reconquest of Granada (1492) saw Ferdinand and Isabella become rulers of all Spain. The Inquisition ensured Catholic supremacy through persecution and conversion. Christopher Columbus' discovery of America (1492) brought vast wealth, and Spain became the leading imperial power. The 16th century was Spain's golden age.

In 1519, Charles I became Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. The supremacy of the Habsburgs was established. Philip II continued the extension and centralization of power, gaining Portugal in 1580. The defeat of the Spanish Armada (1588) dented Spanish naval power. During the 17th century, Spain's political and economic power declined. The War of the Spanish Succession (1701–14) resulted in the accession of Philip V, and the establishment of the Bourbon dynasty. Charles III brought the Church under state control. Charles IV's reign ended in French occupation, and the appointment of Joseph Bonaparte as king. Spanish resistance led to the restoration of the Bourbons in 1813. Many of Spain's New World colonies gained independence. The accession of Isabella II resulted in civil war with the Carlists. A short-lived constitutional monarchy and republic preceded a second Bourbon restoration under Alfonso XII and Alfonso XIII.

Spain remained neutral during World War I. In 1923, Primo de Rivera established a dictatorship. He was forced to resign in 1930, and a second republic proclaimed. The Popular Front won 1936 elections, and conflict between republicans and nationalists, such as the Falange, intensified. With the backing of the Axis powers, the nationalists led by General Franco emerged victorious from the Spanish Civil War (1936–39), and Franco established a dictatorship.

Spain did not participate in World War 2. During the 1960s, most of its remaining colonies gained independence. In 1975, Franco died and a constitutional monarchy emerged under Juan Carlos. A process of democratization and decentralization began. Spain joined NATO in 1982, and became a member of the European Community in 1986.

There is a historic tension between central government and the regions. Since 1959, the militant Basque organization ETA has waged a campaign of terror. In 1977, the Basque Country (Pais Vasco), Catalonia, and Galicia gained limited autonomy. In 1996, allegations of government complicity in an illegal anti-terrorist campaign forced a general election. After 13 years in power, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) were defeated. José María Aznar formed a minority administration; he was re-elected in 2000. In March 2004, terrorist bombs targeting commuter trains in Madrid killed c.200. In election shortly afterwards, the Socialist Workers' Party under Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero came to power.

Economy

Spanish economic revival began in the 1950s, based on tourism and manufacturing. It rapidly transformed from a largely poor, agrarian society into a prosperous industrial nation (2000 GDP per capita, US$18,000). Agriculture now employs only 10% of the workforce. Spain is the world's third-largest wine producer. Other crops include citrus fruits, tomatoes, and olives. Industries: cars, ships, chemicals, electronics, metal goods, steel, textiles. It lacks mineral resources. Unemployment remains high (2000, 14%). Spain adopted the euro currency in 2000.

Political map

Physical map

Websites

http://www.sispain.org/english/history