Spain

Table of Contents

Introduction & Quick Facts
Land
- Relief
- Drainage
- Soils
- Climate
- Plant and animal life
  - Vegetation
  - Wildlife
  - Fish
People
- Ethnic groups
  - The Romans
  - The Visigoths
  - The Muslims
  - Recent arrivals
  - The Gitano minority
- Languages
  - Castilian
  - Catalan
  - Galician
  - Euskera
- Religion
- Settlement patterns
  - Human landscape
  - Migration
  - Urbanization
- Demographic trends
Economy
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
  - Agriculture
  - Forestry
  - Fishing
- Resources and power
- Manufacturing
- Finance
- Trade
- Services
- Labour and taxation
- Transportation and telecommunications
  - Railroads
  - Roads
  - Air travel
  - Maritime transport
  - Telecommunications
Government and society
- Constitutional framework
- Regional government
- Local government
- Justice
- Political process
  - National parties
  - Regional parties
  - Minor parties
- Security
- Health and welfare
- Housing
- Education
Cultural life
- Cultural milieu
- Daily life and social customs
  - Organization of the day
  - Food and drink
  - Internationalization of culture
  - Festivals and holidays
- The arts
  - Music
  - Literature
  - Theatre
  - Visual arts
  - Architecture
  - Cinema
- Cultural institutions
  - Museums
  - Libraries and archives
  - Academies and institutes
- Sports and recreation
- Media and publishing
  - The press
  - Television and radio
History
- Pre-Roman Spain
  - Prehistory
  - Phoenicians
  - Greeks
  - Iberians
  - Celts
- Roman Spain
  - The conquest
  - Romanization
  - Administration
  - Economy
  - Religion
  - Roman remains
- Visigothic Spain to c. 500
- The Visigothic kingdom
- Christian Spain from the Muslim invasion to about 1260
  - The Christian states, 711–1035
  - The medieval empire, 1035–1157
  - The rise of Castile and Aragon
  - Society, economy, and culture
- Christian Spain, c. 1260–1479
  - Castile and León, 1252–1479
  - Castilian institutions, society, and culture
- Aragon, Catalonia, and Valencia, 1276–1479
  - Aragonese institutions and society
  - Aragonese culture
- Muslim Spain
  - The conquest
  - The independent emirate
  - The caliphate of Córdoba
  - The ṭāʾifas
  - The Almoravids
  - The Almohads
  - Granada
  - Society
  - The economy
  - Culture of Muslim Spain
    - Literature
    - Philosophy
    - Science
- United Spain under the Catholic Monarchs
  - The union of Aragon and Castile
    - Aragon and Catalonia
    - Castile
  - The Spanish Inquisition
    - The conversos
    - The statutes of limpieza
  - The conquest of Granada
  - Spain and the New World
    - Colonial policy
    - The Atlantic trade
- Spain under the Habsburgs
  - Charles I
    - The comunero movement
    - The nobility
    - Charles I’s foreign policy
  - Philip II
    - Finance and imperial policy
    - The Moriscos
    - Portugal and Aragon
  - Lepanto
  - Spain in 1600
    - Spain’s Golden Age in literature
    - The “Golden Age” in architecture and painting
  - The reign of Philip III
    - The expulsion of the Moriscos
    - Spain and Europe
  - Philip IV’s reign
    - Spain and the Thirty Years’ War
    - The government of Olivares
    - The revolt of Catalonia
    - The revolt of Portugal
    - The last years of Philip IV
  - Charles II
    - The French wars
    - The decline of Spain
- The early Bourbons, 1700–53
  - The War of the Spanish Succession
  - “American” and “Italian” policies
- The reign of Charles III, 1759–88
  - Economic revival
  - Imperial problems
  - Domestic reforms
- Charles IV and the French Revolution
- The French invasion and the War of Independence, 1808–14
  - The War of Independence
  - The Constitution of Cadiz, 1812
- Ferdinand VII, 1814–33
  - The failure of liberalism
  - The “ominous decade,” 1823–33
- Isabella II, 1833–68
  - The Carlist wars
  - Moderates, progressives, and the generals
  - Economic expansion
- The Revolution of 1868 and the Republic of 1873
- The restored monarchy, 1875–1923
  - Stability, 1875–98
  - Opposition movements, 1898–1923
- Primo de Rivera (1923–30) and the Second Republic (1931–36)
  - Primo de Rivera
  - The Second Republic
- The Civil War
- Franco’s Spain, 1939–75
- Spain since 1975
  - Transition to democracy
  - The administration of Felipe González, 1982–96
  - Spain at the beginning of the 21st century
    - The Aznar regime
    - Zapatero and a new generation of Socialist leadership
    - Economic downturn
  - Austerity, indignados, and the rise of third parties
    - The Rajoy administration
    - Economic recovery and Catalonian independence
Kings and queens regnant of Spain

References & Edit History Facts & Stats

Images, Videos & Interactives

Granada: Alhambra

Andalusia, Spain

Alcazar of Toledo

Puerta de Alcalá

Barcelona: Torre Agbar

Christopher Columbus's fleet

For Students

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Spain: Media

Videos

The art of making Spanish tapas

The art of making Spanish tapas

Overview of tapas.

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail © Igor Dutina/Dreamstime.com

How did Spain become a colonial power in America?

How did Spain become a colonial power in America?

Overview of Spain's colonial history.

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail © Heritage Pictures/Dreamstime.com

Experience the scenic landscapes and landmarks of Catalonia, Spain

Experience the scenic landscapes and landmarks of Catalonia, Spain

Time-lapse video of Catalonia, Spain.

Video: Piotr Wancerz/Timelapse Media (A Britannica Publishing Partner)

Learn about the decline of saffron farming in La Mancha, Spain

Learn about the decline of saffron farming in La Mancha, Spain

The decline of saffron farming in Spain.

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz

The future of solar power: Multi-junction solar cells

The future of solar power: Multi-junction solar cells

Learn about efforts to increase the efficiency of solar cells.

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail © Andrii Shevchuk/Dreamstime.com

Discover Columbus's voyage to America and the majestic cathedrals and basilicas bear witness to the spread of Catholicism in the South

Discover Columbus's voyage to America and the majestic cathedrals and basilicas bear witness to the spread of Catholicism in the South

From Columbus' hallowed voyage to the majestic cathedrals and basilicas, southern...

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Climbing the Sierra Nevada mountains in Spain

Climbing the Sierra Nevada mountains in Spain

Learn about the Sierra Nevada of southeastern Spain.

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz

Images

Spain

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Spain

Spain

Spain.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Granada: Alhambra

Granada: Alhambra

The Alhambra, Granada, Spain.

© neftali/Fotolia

Spain

Spain

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Andalusia, Spain

Andalusia, Spain

A village in Andalusia, Spain, showing housing typical of the region.

© David Warren/SuperStock

Alcazar of Toledo

Alcazar of Toledo

Alcazar (fortress) of Toledo, Spain.

© Getty Images

Puerta de Alcalá

Puerta de Alcalá

The Puerta de Alcalá, Madrid.

© Digital Vision/Getty Images

Barcelona: Torre Agbar

Barcelona: Torre Agbar

Torre Agbar skyscraper at night in Barcelona.

Geoff Tompkinson/GTImage.com (A Britannica Publishing Partner)

Christopher Columbus's fleet

Christopher Columbus's fleet

Illustration depicting Christopher Columbus's fleet departing from Spain in 1492.

Kean Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Ibiza

Ibiza

Ibiza city and port, Spain.

Josef Muench

La Mancha

La Mancha

Isolated farmstead in the region of La Mancha in the southern Meseta Central, south-central...

© wellych/Fotolia

Teide Peak, Canary Islands, Spain

Teide Peak, Canary Islands, Spain

Teide Peak on Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.

© vitalytitov—iStock/Getty Images

Iberian Peninsula; International Space Station

Iberian Peninsula; International Space Station

The Iberian Peninsula seen from the International Space Station, July 26, 2014.

NASA

Júcar River and a 14th-century castle

Júcar River and a 14th-century castle

The Júcar River flowing past a 14th-century castle at Cofrentes, Valencia, Spain.

Robert Frerck/Odyssey Productions

Almería, Spain

Almería, Spain

Old northwest section of Almería, Spain.

Richard Wilkie/Black Star

alley in Toledo, Spain

alley in Toledo, Spain

Alley in Toledo, Spain.

© Digital Vision/Getty Images

population density of Spain

population density of Spain

Population density of Spain.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Basque shepherds

Basque shepherds

Basque shepherds, Navarra, Spain.

Koldo Chamorro/Ostman Agency

Spain: Alhambra

Spain: Alhambra

Court of the Myrtles in the Alhambra, Granada, Spain, 13th–14th century.

Ardean Miller III/FPG

churros

churros

Plate of churros with a mug of hot chocolate for drinking or dipping, at a café in...

© Roberto Machado Noa—Moment/Getty Images

running of the bulls

running of the bulls

The running (encierro) of the bulls during the Fiesta de San Fermín, Pamplona,...

© Blaine Harrington

Antoni Gaudí: Sagrada Família

Antoni Gaudí: Sagrada Família

Antoni Gaudí's Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family (Sagrada Família), Barcelona,...

© raiwa—iStock/Getty Images

Juli, El; bullfighting

Juli, El; bullfighting

Spanish matador El Juli engaging a bull, June 6, 2010, Barcelona.

© Natursports/Shutterstock.com

Atapuerca

Atapuerca

Cave in Atapuerca, northern Spain.

byj2000

cave painting in Altamira, Spain

cave painting in Altamira, Spain

Cave painting of a bison, Altamira, Spain.

© Juan Aunion/Shutterstock.com

Alfonso VI

Alfonso VI

Alfonso VI, portrait miniature from a manuscript, 12th century; in Santiago cathedral,...

Archivo Mas, Barcelona

Court of the Lions

Court of the Lions

Court of the Lions, the Alhambra, Granada, Spain.

© Jose Ignacio Soto/Fotolia

Ferdinand and Isabella

Ferdinand and Isabella

Ferdinand II (left) and his wife, Isabella I, relief with gilt and polychromy by...

Archivo Iconografico, S.A./Corbis

Tomás de Torquemada

Tomás de Torquemada

Tomás de Torquemada.

Courtesy of the Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid

Gaspar de Guzmán y Pimental

Gaspar de Guzmán y Pimental

Gaspar de Guzmán y Pimental, conde-duque de Olivares, detail of Equestrian Portrait...

Archivo Mas, Barcelona

Diego Velázquez: painting of Philip III

Diego Velázquez: painting of Philip III

Philip III, painting by Diego Velázquez, 1631–36; in the Prado Museum, Madrid.

Archivo Iconografico, S.A./Corbis

Francisco Goya: portrait of Charles IV

Francisco Goya: portrait of Charles IV

Charles IV, oil on canvas by Francisco Goya, c. 1789; in the Prado Museum,...

Archivo Iconografico, S.A./Corbis

Antonio Cánovas del Castillo

Antonio Cánovas del Castillo

Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, detail of an engraving by Aruselio Carretero.

Courtesy of the Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid

Iberian Peninsula and Andorra, c. 1900

Iberian Peninsula and Andorra, c. 1900

Map of the Iberian Peninsula, Andorra, and nearby islands (c. 1900) from...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Miguel Primo de Rivera

Miguel Primo de Rivera

Miguel Primo de Rivera

Courtesy of the Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid

Francisco Franco

Francisco Franco

Francisco Franco, 1954.

AP

Spanish Civil War

Spanish Civil War

Gen. Francisco Franco's troops in Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War, late 1930s.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Spanish Civil War

Spanish Civil War

Spanish Nationalists in position along the rugged Huesca front in northern Spain...

AP Images

Pablo Picasso: Guernica

Pablo Picasso: Guernica

Guernica, oil on canvas by Pablo Picasso, 1937; in the Museo Nacional Centro...

© Fine Art Images/age fotostock

José María Aznar

José María Aznar

José María Aznar, 2003.

Staff Sgt. Michelle Michaud/U.S. Air Force

Madrid train bombings of 2004

Madrid train bombings of 2004

Rescue workers evacuating the bodies of victims of a terrorist train bombing near...

Paul White—AP/REX/Shutterstock.com

José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero

José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero

José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, 2011.

Chris Jackson—Chris Jackson Collection/Getty Images

Ibiza

Ibiza

Dwellings along the coastline of Ibiza, Spain.

© Goodshoot/Jupiterimages

Port of Addaya

Port of Addaya

Port of Addaya, Minorca, Spain.

Jupiterimages

European Union

European Union

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Historical Flags: Spanish

Historical Flags: Spanish

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Spain

Spain

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Audio

National anthem of Spain

The instrumental version of the national anthem of Spain.

Interactives

Spain: Ethnic composition

Spain: Ethnic composition

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Spain: Religious affiliation

Spain: Religious affiliation

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Spain: Urban-rural

Spain: Urban-rural

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Spain: Age breakdown

Spain: Age breakdown

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Spain: Major import sources

Spain: Major import sources

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Spain: Major export destinations

Spain: Major export destinations

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

The voyages of Christopher Columbus. His transatlantic journeys opened the way for European exploration and colonization of the Americas.

The voyages of Christopher Columbus. His transatlantic journeys opened the way for...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc./Kenny Chmielewski

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