A Brief History of Spain

A Brief History of Spain

Prehistoric and ancient periods

• Archaeological evidence suggests that the Iberian Peninsula was inhabited by hominids as early as 1.2 million years ago and was later inhabited by various pre-Roman tribes, including the Gallaecians, Celts and the Iberians.
• 218 BCE: The Roman Republic conquers the Iberian Peninsula and establishes the province of Hispania.
• 5th century CE: The Roman Empire collapses, and the Visigoths rule the Iberian Peninsula.

Islamic period and Reconquista

• 711: The Moors, a Muslim people from North Africa, conquer the Iberian Peninsula, establishing the Islamic state of Al-Andalus.
• 1031: The Taifa kingdoms, a series of Muslim states, emerge in Al-Andalus.
• 1085: The Christian kingdoms of Castile and Aragon begin the Reconquista, a centuries-long effort to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors. The campaign is driven as much by the pursuit of land, tribute, and plunder as by Christian devotion.

Unification and empire

• 1469: The marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile unifies Spain.
• 1492: Columbus sets sail on his first voyage to the Americas, launching an era of Spanish colonisation and empire building. The same year, the Spanish Inquisition expels Jews and later Muslims from Spain, systematically confiscating their property to fund further expansion.
• 1516: Charles I of Spain is elected Holy Roman Emperor, beginning the Habsburg dynasty in Spain.
• 1588: The Spanish Armada is defeated by the English, signalling the end of Spain’s naval supremacy.
• 1648: The Treaty of Westphalia ends the Thirty Years’ War and confirms the decline of Spanish influence in Europe as decades of costly military campaigns drain the royal treasury.

Colonial wealth and crisis

• 16th–17th centuries: Massive silver imports from the Americas trigger the ‘Price Revolution’ – severe inflation that enriches Spanish nobles and landowners whilst impoverishing ordinary workers and peasants.
• 18th century: Spain experiences gradual political, social, and economic change, influenced by the Enlightenment and the American Revolution.
• 1808–1814: The Peninsular War occurs, with Spanish and Portuguese forces fighting against Napoleon’s army.
• 1873: Revolution leads to the establishment of the First Spanish Republic.
• 1874: The monarchy is quickly restored, with King Alfonso XII taking the throne.
• 1898: The Spanish-American War takes place, with Spain losing its colonies in the Americas.

20th Century

• 1923–1930: General Miguel Primo de Rivera establishes a dictatorship in Spain.
• 1936–1939: The Spanish Civil War takes place, with General Francisco Franco emerging as the victor. The conflict represents a fundamental struggle between conservative forces (landowners, military, Catholic Church) and republican forces (workers, peasants, liberals). In revolutionary areas like Catalonia, workers gain control of 75 percent of the economy before Franco’s victory.
• 1939–1952: Franco’s regime consolidates power through harsh repression, political purges, and military tribunals. The ‘Years of Hunger’ bring severe economic hardship and famine. Spain’s support for Nazi Germany during World War II leads to a period of international isolation after 1945.
• 1953: Spain signs bilateral defence and economic agreements with the United States, ending diplomatic isolation as Franco positions Spain as an anti-communist ally during the Cold War.
• 1959: The Stabilisation Plan ends Spain’s autarkic economic policy, opening the country to international investment and beginning economic liberalisation under IMF and OEEC guidance.
• 1960s: The ‘Spanish Miracle’ sees GDP growth averaging about 7 percent annually. Mass tourism explodes from 4 million visitors in 1959 to over 30 million by 1975, whilst industrial development transforms Spain into a modern European economy.
• 1975: Franco dies, and King Juan Carlos I takes the throne. The transition to democracy is carefully managed through negotiations between former regime figures and moderate opposition leaders.
• 1982: Spain joins NATO, confirmed by a referendum in 1986, cementing its integration into Western military structures.
• 1986: Spain joins the European Union.
• 1992: Spain hosts the Barcelona Olympics and Seville Expo (commemorating the 500th anniversary of Columbus’s voyage), showcasing the country’s transformation into a modern democracy and boosting international prestige.
• 1999: Spain becomes a founding member of the Eurozone, adopting the euro as its currency.

21st Century

• 2000: Spain becomes one of the first countries to ratify the Rome Statute before it comes into force in 2002; the treaty establishes the International Criminal Court.
• 2004: A series of train bombings in Madrid kills 193 people and injures approximately 2,000. Occurring three days before Spain’s national elections, this attack is attributed to Islamist terrorists for Spain’s involvement in the Iraqi invasion.
• 2005: Same-sex marriage is legalised in Spain, despite the Roman Catholic Church’s disapproval.
• 2006: The citizens of Catalonia vote for proposals aiming to give the region greater autonomy and independence from Spain.
• 2008: The country takes a blow from the global financial crisis, leading to high unemployment and economic hardship. Spain’s heavy reliance on property speculation and construction makes the crash particularly severe.
• 2013: Spain registers economic growth for the first time since 2008, formally lifting the country out of recession.
• 2020: The Covid-19 pandemic significantly impacts the country, leading to widespread economic hardship, social changes and the deaths of approximately 75,000 people by the end of the first year.
• 2021: Protests erupt in February following the arrest of Spanish rapper Pablo Hasél for glorifying terrorism.
• 2023: A general election takes place in July, followed by Pedro Sánchez forming a new coalition government in November with the hard-left Sumar party and support from Catalan separatists.
• Today, Spain enjoys robust economic growth, with GDP expanding 3.2% in 2024 – outperforming most EU countries – and unemployment falling to historic lows. However, the country faces significant challenges, including a severe housing affordability crisis, persistent regional inequalities, and political fragmentation that complicates governance. Despite these issues, Spain has successfully established itself as a modern European democracy with a diversified economy increasingly focused on services, tourism, and renewable energy.