MOMENTS OF CROSSROADS IN SPAIN’S HISTORY
EUROPEAN STUDENTS: RESPONSIBLE, MOTIVATED, EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT AND USEFUL CITIZENS 2020-1-RO01-KA229-080403
Carthage Begins to Conquer Spain 241 BCE Beaten in the first Punic War, Carthage—or at least leading Carthaginians—turned their attention to Spain. Carthage's ruler Hamilcar Barca (died 228 BCE) began a campaign of conquest and settlement in Spain, establishing a capital for Carthage in Spain at Cartagena in 241 BCE. After Barca died, Carthage was led by Hamilcar's son-in-law, Hasdrubal; and when Hasdrubal died, seven years later, in 221, Hamilcar's son Hannibal (247–183 BCE) continued the war. Hannibal pushed further north but came to blows with the Romans and their ally Marseille, who had colonies in Iberia.
Second Punic War in Spain 218–206 BCE As the Romans fought the Carthaginians during the Second Punic War, Spain became a field of conflict between the two sides, both aided by Spanish natives. After 211 the brilliant general Scipio Africanus campaigned, throwing Carthage out of Spain by 206 and beginning centuries of Roman occupation.
Spain Fully Subdued 19 BCE Rome’s wars in Spain continued for many decades of often brutal warfare, with numerous commanders operating in the area and making a name for themselves. On occasion, the wars impinged on the Roman consciousness, with eventual victory in the long siege of Numantia being equated to the destruction of Carthage. Eventually, the Roman emperor Agrippa conquered the Cantabrians in 19 BCE, leaving Rome ruler of the whole peninsula.
Germanic Peoples Conquer Spain 409–470 CE
Muslim Conquest of Spain Begins 711
In the year 711, an oppressed Christian chief, went to the governor of North Africa, a man called Musa ibn Nusair, to ask for help to overthrow King Roderik. Musa was a Muslim and a representative of the Islamic Empire at the time. Musa responded by sending his finest general, Tariq bin Ziyad, with an army of 7000 troops.
Expansion of the Islamic Empire There is no doubt that Tariq invaded Spain, but it could be because the Muslims wanted to expand their empire at the time. They started with small attacks to see how would the border hold up and if they should plan a full-scale Muslim conquest of Spain. Because of the instability of the Kingdom of Visigoths, Tariq crossed and conquered a good portion of territory from the southern border of Spain.
The Reconquista c. 900–c.1250 Christian forces from the north of the Iberian Peninsula, pushed partly by religion and population pressures, fought Muslim forces from the south and center, defeating the Muslim states by the mid-thirteenth century. After this only Granada remained in Muslim hands, the reconquista finally being completed when it fell in 1492. The religious differences between the many warring sides have been used to create a national mythology of a Catholic right, might, and mission, and to impose a simple framework on what was a complicated era—a framework typified by the legend of El Cid (1045–1099).
Spain Dominated by Aragon and Castile c. 1250–1479
The 100 Years War in Spain 1366–1389
Ferdinand and Isabella Unite Spain 1479–1516
The last phase of the reconquista saw three kingdoms push the Muslims almost out of Iberia: Portugal, Aragon, and Castile. The latter pair now dominated Spain, although Navarre clung on to Independence in the north and Granada in the south. Castile was the largest kingdom in Spain; Aragon was a federation of regions. They fought frequently against Muslim invaders and saw, often large, internal conflict.
In the latter part of the fourteenth century the war between England and France spilled over into Spain: when Henry of Trastámora, bastard half-brother of the king, claimed the throne held by Peter I, England supported Peter and his heirs and France Henry and his heirs. Indeed, the Duke of Lancaster, who married Peter’s daughter, invaded in 1386 to pursue a claim but failed. Foreign intervention in the affairs of Castile declined after 1389, and after Henry III took the throne.
Known as the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile married in 1469; both came to power in 1479, Isabella after a civil war. Although their role in uniting Spain under one kingdom—they incorporated Navarre and Granada into their lands—has been downplayed recently, they nonetheless united the kingdoms of Aragon, Castile and several other regions under one monarch.
The "Golden Age" 16th and 17th Centuries An era of social peace, great artistic endeavor and a place as a world power at the heart of a world empire, the sixteenth and early seventeenth century have been described as Spain’s golden age, an era when vast booty flowed in from America and Spanish armies were labeled as invincible. The agenda of European politics was certainly set by Spain, and the country helped bankroll the European wars fought by Charles V and Philip II as Spain formed part of their vast Habsburg empire, but the treasure from abroad caused inflation and Castile kept going bankrupt.
War of the Spanish Succession 1700–1714 When Charles II died he left the throne of Spain to Duke Philip of Anjou, grandson of French king Louis XIV. Philip accepted but was opposed by the Habsburgs, family of the old king who wished to retain Spain among their many possessions. Conflict ensued, with Philip supported by France while the Habsburg claimant, Archduke Charles, was supported by Britain and the Netherlands, as well as Austria and other Habsburg possessions. The war was concluded by treaties in 1713 and 1714: Philip became king, but some of Spain’s imperial possessions were lost. At the same time, Philip moved to centralize Spain into one unit.
Independence of the Spanish Colonies c. 1800–c.1850 While there were currents demanding independence before, it was the French occupation of Spain during the Napoleonic Wars which triggered the rebellion and struggle for independence of Spain’s American empire during the nineteenth century. Northern and southern uprisings were both opposed by Spain but were victorious, and this, coupled with damage from the Napoleonic era struggles, meant Spain was no longer a major military and economic power.
The Glorious Revolution 1868 In September 1868 a new pronunciamiento took place when the generals and politicians denied power during previous regimes took control. Queen Isabella was deposed and a provisional government called the September Coalition formed. A new constitution was drawn up in 1869 and a new king, Amadeo of Savoy, was brought in to rule.
First Republic and Restoration 1873–1874 King Amadeo abdicated in 1873, frustrated that he could not form a stable government as the political parties within Spain argued. The First Republic was proclaimed in his stead, but concerned military officers staged a new pronunciamiento to, as they believed, save the country from anarchy. They restored Isabella II’s son, Alfonso XII to the throne; a new constitution followed.
The Spanish-American War 1898 The remainder of Spain’s American empire—Cuba, Puerto Rica and the Philippines—was lost in this conflict with the United States, who were acting as allies to Cuban separatists. The loss became known as simply “The Disaster” and produced debate inside Spain about why they were losing an empire while other European countries were growing theirs.
Rivera Dictatorship 1923–1930 With the military about to be the subject of a government inquiry into their failures in Morocco, and with the king frustrated by a series of fragmenting governments, General Primo de Rivera staged a coup; the king accepted him as a dictator. Rivera was supported by elites who feared a possible Bolshevik uprising. Rivera only meant to rule until the country had been “fixed” and it was safe to return to other forms of government, but after a few years other generals became concerned by forthcoming army reforms and the king was persuaded to sack him.
Creation of the Second Republic 1931 With Rivera sacked, the military government could barely keep power, and in 1931 an uprising dedicated to overthrowing the monarchy occurred. Rather than face civil war, King Alfonso XII fled the country and a coalition provisional government declared the Second Republic. The first true democracy in Spanish history, the Republic passed many reforms, including women’s right to vote and separation of church and state, greatly welcomed by some but causing horror in others, including a (soon to be reduced) bloated officer corps.
Return to Democracy 1975–1978 When Franco died in November 1975 he was succeeded, as planned the government in 1969, by Juan Carlos, an heir to the vacant throne. The new king was committed to democracy and careful negotiation, as well as the presence of a modern society looking for freedom, allowed a referendum on political reform, followed by a new constitution which was approved by 88% in 1978. The swift switch from dictatorship to democracy became an example for post-communist Eastern Europe.
ERASMUS+ PROJECT KA229 School Exchange Partnerships 2020-2022 Project Number: 2020-1-RO01-KA229-080403 European Students: Responsible, Emotionally Intelligent and Useful
PROJECT'S PARTICIPANTS: E10063391 - Liceul Tehnologic Costesti, Romania E10106363 - Zubeyde Hanim Mesleki ve Teknik Anadolu Lisesi, Turkey E10206818 - ISTITUTO D'ISTRUZIONE SUPERIORE "R. PIRIA", Italy E10171942 - INS Enric Borràs, Spain
Coordinator Teachers: Mrs. Violeta Drăguț, Secondary School Teacher University Doctor Ion Stoia, Romania Mr. Mutlu Altay, School Teacher at Zubeyde Hanim Mesleki ve Teknik Anadolu Lisesi, Turkey Mr. Michelle Oliva, School Teacher at ISTITUTO D'ISTRUZIONE SUPERIORE "R. PIRIA", Italy Mrs.Mónica Ramos Caballero, School Teacher at INS Enric Borràs, Spain Collaborators Teachers: Alba Martínez, Aurora Pérez, Raúl Bujardón. Editor Students: Ingrid Florin, Aadesh Pokharel, Aroa Rodríguez Reyero, Carla Pérez Esteban, Iker Alejandro Vélez
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, in any form or any means, without permission in writing from the authors. The European Commission is not responsible for any uploaded or submitted content. The content reflects the views only of the European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. Material made within the Erasmus project European Students: Responsible, Emotionally Intelligent and Useful Project Number: 2020-1-RO01-KA229-080403 PROJECT FUNDED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION