Who discovered spain: La Moncloa. History of Spain [Spain/History]

Spain profile – Timeline – BBC News

• Published

  12 December

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption,

Spain’s parliament building in Madrid

A chronology of key events:

1492 – The Christian Kingdoms of Castile and Aragon conquer the Emirate of Granada, ending nearly 800 years of Muslim rule in the south and founding modern Spain as a united state.

Christopher Columbus arrives in the Americas, heralding the conquest of much of South and Central America. Jews and later Muslims are expelled from Spain during the Inquisition.

Spanish Empire

16th-17th Centuries – Spanish Empire at its height, with Spain the predominant European power. The rise of Protestant states in northern Europe and the Ottoman Empire in the Mediterranean begin the country’s gradual decline.

18th Century – The War of the Spanish Succession loses Spain its European possessions outside the Iberian Peninsula. Bourbon dynasty, originally from France, centralises the Spanish state, shutting down many regional autonomous assemblies and modernising government and the military.

1807-1814 – Napoleon’s France occupies Spain, which has been a French satellite since 1795. Fierce nationalist resistance and British intervention in the Peninsular War gradually forces French troops out.

19th Century – Napoleonic legacy of political division and economic dislocation leaves Spain weak and unstable, with frequent changes of government and a low-level insurgency by Carlist supporters of a rival branch of the royal family.

All Latin American colonies win their independence, with Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines in Asia lost during a disastrous war with the United States in 1898.

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption,

US troops advance on Manila during the Spanish-American War, when Spain lost some of its colonies

1910s – Spain seeks compensation in conquering colonies in Africa, most significantly northern Morocco and the Spanish Sahara.

1920s – The trade boom achieved by neutrality in World War One is squandered through fighting Moroccan rebels in the Rif War 1921-26 and the financial mismanagement of the Primo de Rivera dictatorship at home.

Civil war and dictatorship

1931 – The return of democratic government leads to an electoral backlash against the monarchy and its allies, and a republic is declared. Radical policies of land reform, labour rights, educational expansion and anti-Church legislation deepen the political divide.

1936 – After two years of right-wing government, a Popular Front coalition of left-wing and liberal parties narrowly wins parliamentary elections and seeks to reintroduce the radical policies of 1931.

1936-39 – Spanish Civil War: A coup by right-wing military leaders captures only part of the country, leading to three years of bitter civil war. More than 350,000 Spaniards die in the fighting. Italy and Nazi Germany intervene on the side of the Nationalists. The USSR aids the Republicans.

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption,

Republican propaganda poster from the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in July 1936

1939 – General Francisco Franco leads the Nationalists to victory, and then purges the country of all remaining Republicans.

Spain remains neutral throughout World War Two, although the government is sympathetic to the Axis powers.

1946-50 – Francoist Spain is ostracised by United Nations and many countries sever diplomatic relations.

1950s – As the Cold War deepens the US gradually improves relations with Spain, extending loans in return for military bases.

Spain is admitted to the UN in 1955 and the World Bank in 1958, and other European countries open up to the Franco government.

El Milagro Español – the economic miracle of the late 1950s – sees Spain’s manufacturing and tourism industries take off through liberalisation of state controls.

1959 – The Eta armed separatist group is founded with the aim of fighting for an independent homeland in the Basque region of Spain and France. Its violent campaign begins with an attempt to derail a train carrying politicians in 1961.

1968 – West African colony of Spanish Guinea gains independence as Equatorial Guinea.

1973 December – Eta kills Prime Minister Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco in retaliation for the government’s execution of Basque fighters. Subsequent attempts to liberalise the Franco government founder on internal divisions.

Move to democracy

1975 November – Franco dies, and is succeeded as head of state Spain profile by King Juan Carlos. Spain makes transition from dictatorship to democracy, and withdraws from the Spanish Sahara, ending its colonial empire.

1977 June – First free elections in four decades. Ex-Francoist Adolfo Suárez’s Union of the Democratic Centre manages a relatively smooth transition to stable democracy.

1980 – 118 people are killed in one of Eta’s bloodiest years.

1981 February – Right-wing coup attempt fails after King Juan Carlos makes a televised address demanding the plotters surrender.

1982 – Socialists under Felipe González win elections and govern until 1996. Free education, an expanded welfare state and liberalisation of abortion laws are key policies. Spain joins Nato.

1986 – Spain joins the European Economic Community, later to become the European Union.

Aznar years

1996 March – Conservative José María Aznar becomes prime minister.

1997 July – Eta kills Basque councillor Miguel Ángel Blanco, sparking national outrage and bringing an estimated six million people onto the streets in protest.

1997 December – 23 leaders of Eta’s political wing Herri Batasuna are jailed for seven years for collaborating with Eta – the first time any members of the party are jailed as a result of Eta links.

1998 April – Crops destroyed and wildlife wiped out when an iron pyrite mine reservoir belonging to a Canadian-Swedish company bursts its banks causing toxic waste spillage. Waterways feeding Europe’s largest wildlife reserve, the Donana national park, are severely contaminated.

1998 September – Eta announces its first indefinite ceasefire since its campaign of violence began.

2000 March – Aznar’s Popular Party (PP) wins landslide in general elections.

2002 January – Spain adopts the euro.

2002 November – North-west coastline suffers ecological disaster after oil tanker Prestige breaks up and sinks about 210km out to sea.

Madrid attacks

2004 March – A total of 191 people are killed in explosions on packed rush-hour trains in Madrid in near-simultaneous pre-election attacks by an Islamic group with links to al-Qaeda.

With Spain still in mourning, the Socialists under José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero defy earlier opinion polls and win a general election.

2004 April – Prime Minister Zapatero orders Spanish troops withdrawn from Iraq in May.

2005 June – Parliament defies Roman Catholic Church by legalising gay marriage and granting homosexual couples same adoption and inheritance rights as heterosexual ones.

2005 September-October – At least 11 die and many more are injured in a series of mass attempts by African migrants to enter the enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta from Morocco in a bid to reach Spain.

Catalan autonomy demands

2006 January – Lt Gen Jose Mena Aguado sacked as head of army ground forces after suggesting that the military might take action in Catalonia if the region gains too much autonomy.

2006 June – Voters in Catalonia back proposals to give the region greater autonomy as well as the status of a nation within Spain.

2007 October – Twenty-one people, mainly North Africans, are found guilty and given long jail sentences for the Madrid train bombings in 2004.

2007 November – Parliament passes a bill formally denouncing General Franco’s rule and ordering the removal of all Franco-era statues and symbols from streets and buildings.

2008 March – The Socialists win re-election with an increased margin, but falls short of an absolute majority.

Economic crisis

2009 January – Spanish economy enters recession for first time since 1993.

2009 July – Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos visits Gibraltar – the first visit by a Spanish minister in 300 years.

2010 February – Thousands of workers demonstrate against government spending cuts and plans to raise the retirement age by two years to 67 – the first mass labour protests since the Socialists came to power in 2004.

2010 May – Unemployment rate climbs to over 20% for first time in nearly 13 years. Parliament approves 15bn-euro (£13bn) austerity package.

2011 November – Conservative Popular Party wins resounding victory in parliamentary election.

2011 December – New government headed by Mariano Rajoy takes office. Announces new round of austerity measures to slash public spending by 16.5bn euros (£14bn) and nearly halve the public deficit from about 8% of GDP in 2012.

2012 November – The Basque armed group Eta issues a statement that it is ready to disband, disarm and enter talks with the French and Spanish governments.

2013 April – Spain’s unemployment rate soars to new record of 27.2% of the workforce in the first quarter, passing six million figure, although the rate of increase slows.

2013 September – Economy registers 0.1% growth in July-September, formally lifting it out of recession.

2014 June – King Juan Carlos abdicates, succeeded by the crown prince as Felipe VI.

2014 November – Spanish government dismisses the result of a symbolic independence referendum in Catalonia.

New political forces

2015 December – Popular Party government loses majority in general election that sees populist anti-austerity movement Podemos and new liberal Cuidadanos movement perform well.

2016 October – Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy forms minority government and ends 10 months of political deadlock after repeat elections in June.

2017 August – Two Islamic State terror attacks kill 16 people in Barcelona and the nearby resort of Cambrils.

2017 October – Madrid imposes direct rule in Catalonia after voters in a referendum back separation from Spain.

2018 May – Basque separatist former armed group Eta announces it is ceasing all political activities.

2018 June – Mariano Rajoy loses a vote of confidence. Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez takes over as prime minister.

2019 April – Snap election boosts Socialists, but they remain short of a majority. Vox becomes first far-right party to win seats since the death of Francisco Franco in 1975.

2019 October – Thousands of protesters take to the street after Supreme Court sentences nine Catalan leaders to long jail terms for sedition over the failed 2017 independence bid.

2019 October – Franco’s remains are exhumed from the Valley of the Fallen and reburied along with his wife in a Madrid cemetery, as part of efforts to remove all public veneration of his dictatorship.

2019 November – Fourth general election in as many years leaves Socialists still short of a majority, while Vox more than doubles its seats to become the third-largest party.

2020 January – Pedro Sánchez forms minority coalition government with left-wing Podemos party after winning a narrow parliamentary vote of confidence.

History Of Spain – Espanol Through The Ages

Spain is a country. But it is also an epic tale. A victim of various foreign invasions, it has seen leadership change hands multiple times in the past. From Muslim rulers to Christian reconquests, it has seen it all.

In addition to foreigners taking over their motherland, Spain has also been prey to civil wars and dictatorships. The transition to democracy hasn’t been easy. The tumultuous history of the country is remembered by the people and helped shape the nation into what it is today.

If you’re planning on taking a trip to this historic part of the Iberian peninsula, you’ll come across various museums and monuments that depict stories from the turbulent past. As well as some fascinating Spanish folklore.

Who Founded Spain?

Spain was founded in around the 15th century BC when the marriage between Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castille led to the merger of two major kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula.

The unification of the country of Spain is marked from the date when the last Moorish kingdom of Granada fell to the Christians in 1492, although the Spanish kingdoms continued to exist for much longer.

All About Spain – A Brief History

The Iberian peninsula has been in existence for at least a million years. But it wasn’t always of interest from a historical point of view. It was only when foreign traders started arriving on its shores and capturing territory that the country entered the spotlight, some 3000 years ago.

Ancient Spain History

Ancient Spain is characterized by a series of invasions from various civilizations, who eventually ended up fighting each other to maintain their control over the Iberians. Several positive outcomes came of these conquests and Spain owes a lot of its development to its uninvited guests.

The Phoenicians

The Phoenicians were people from what is known as today’s Lebanon. They were essentially traders and often set out on sea voyages in pursuit of trading opportunities. They reached the Spanish shores sometime in 1000 BC, in the hope of selling items such as jewelry, oil, perfumes, ivory, textile, and wine. In return, the Iberians gave them bronze and silver coins.

As the Phoenicians became more and more successful in their trade with the Iberians, they established settlements along the coasts at Cadiz, Huelva, Malaka, and Almunecar. The locals were increasingly influenced by the culture the traders had brought along with them.

In addition to the now widely adopted Spanish culture, the Phoenicians brought with them the know-how of using iron, the art of writing, poultry, and several other things that are considered to have originated in Spain. A lot of these intellectual gifts overlapped with the arrival of the Greek traders and it is uncertain as to which skill was passed on to the Iberians by which people.

The Greeks

The Greeks started arriving in Spain around the 7th century, BC. Just like their Phoenician counterparts, they too set up colonies along the coast of the Mediterranean sea, the most important one being in Catalonia at L’Escala. It was called the Emporion.

The Celts

While the Phoenicians and Greeks were busy settling in the southern parts of the Iberian peninsula, the Celts were playing the same role in the north. They lived together with the northern people on the Meseta and gave them something that they were probably forever indebted to the Celts for – beer.

The Romans

From among all the colonies set up by the Phoenicians, one colony, in particular, Carthage in Ibiza, became extremely powerful. It pushed the former colonizers out of the western Mediterranean region. However, it was defeated by the Romans in 241 BC.

But the Carthaginians were not ones to give up easily. They marched back in and founded New Carthage in 227 BC. Realizing that Rome was far too powerful, they made a pact to stop their expansion beyond River Ebro.

In 119 BC, breaching the terms of the pact, the Carthaginians attacked Roman Allies in Saguntum and captured the city. A second Punic war ensued and Rome emerged victorious, driving the Carthaginian General Hannibal and his army out of Spain by 206 BC.

The Iberian Peninsula remained under the rule of the Romans for 600 years. These centuries were considered to be a golden era for Spain. The Hispanics were given temples, amphitheatres, a road system, and many other intangible assets by the Romans. Christianity, under the influence of the Romans, became the new religion for the Hispanics.

The various different languages and dialects spoken all across the country today are versions of the Latin spoken by the colonists. The conquerors also began extensive deforestation resulting in mining and the use of timber, weapons, and fuel, giving a boost to industrialization.

The Visigoth People

The Romans were attacked by Germanic tribes like the Alans, Vandals, and Sueves in 409 AD. Another Germanic tribe, the Visigoth, allied itself to the Romans in 410 AD. By 476 AD, entire Spain had come under the rule of the Visigoths, who chose to preserve the Roman culture. So much so that they incorporated Roman values in their own way of life.

The Visigoth kingdom of Spain slowly suffered cracks from within. The top leaders didn’t see eye to eye. As a result, Spain fell prey to the Moors.

Moorish Spain

It wasn’t just the Christians that set foot on Spanish soil with the intention of conquering. The Muslims came after the Romans and spread their influence throughout the country, making it culturally different from the rest of Europe.

So many Moorish monuments can be found across Spain now, such as the Granada Palace.

The Arrival of The Muslims

The Visigoth kingdom was vulnerable to attacks and the Muslims took advantage. After spreading their religion in the Middle East, by 682 AD they had set their eyes on Spain. The Visigoth king, Roderic, was defeated by the Muslim Governor of Tangier and his men, all Berbers, in 711 AD.

The Berber tribes were called the Moors and they captured the entire Iberian peninsula within a few years. With the exception of the extreme north-west region, behind the Cordillera Cantabrica mountains. Mountains are, after all, famously difficult to conquer!

Al-Andalus

The Islamic people that ruled over the Iberians were called the Al-Andalus. The initial years of the rule were crucial and volatile. But in 756 AD, Abd-er-Rahman became the Emir of Al-Andalus and Spain became more powerful than ever, with Cordoba as its capital.

The country flourished under Moorish rule. The irrigation systems installed by the Romans were improved, establishing a strong agricultural sector. Some of the main products grown in Spain today were introduced back then, such as apricots, oranges, lemon, saffron, silk, cotton, and rice.

Jews and Christians lived in harmony with the Muslims, as they were given the freedom to follow their religion. Although there was a small tax on practising Christianity, leading to many conversions to Islam. New structures were built, from parks and mosques to universities.

Advanced fields like medicine, astronomy, and mathematics were at their peak and Cordoba found itself on the intellectual map of Europe.

In the 10th century AD, general Al-Mansur came into the picture and started raiding Christian territories in the north.

After the death of Al-Mansur, chaos ensued in the region. By 1031, a civil war had caused the caliphate of Cordoba to split into various smaller kingdoms, known as taifas. The north that had been captured by the now-deceased general was back under the influence of the Christians.

In 1091, the Almoravids, another Muslim sect invaded Spain and neutralizedm internal conflicts. Eventually, the Christians took over Seville in 1248 AD. The only region that now remained with the Moors was the Emirate of Granada.

Medieval Spain – Spain Through The Middle Ages

The Medieval era in Spain started when the Visigoths arrived, overthrowing the Germans, and continued all the way up to the early 16th century. It saw the Muslims take over the Spanish world until it was reconquered by the Christians.

The Spanish Reconquest – La Reconquista

In 722 AD, Christians under the leadership of Pelayo had started their battle against the Muslims in Covadonga. By 757, they had reconquered three-fourths of Iberia.

The patron Saint of Spain Santiago’s tomb was discovered in Galicia in 820 AD. As a result, it was extremely significant for the Christians and became one of their most popular pilgrimage sites, second only to Rome and Jerusalem.

The Christians had started foraying into Spain in 722 AD, almost a year prior to this historical find. But their resolve was strengthened further with the blessings of the holy saint from his tomb.

In the 10th century AD, general Al-Mansur launched an offensive against the Christians. Castilla became the new fighting ground for the latter and they captured Toledo in 1085. The Almoravids were then called in by the Seville Muslims as reinforcements.

But the Christians were determined. Their victory was inevitable. Armies from different kingdoms united and collectively attacked the Moors. In 1230, the towns of Extremadura and Valencia fell into the hands of the Christians. Cordoba and Seville fell in 1236 and 1248 respectively. The sole surviving Moorish state was now Granada.

The Final Nail In The Coffin – The Fall Of Granada

In 1476, the Emir of Granada, Abu-al-Hasan, refused to bow down before Castilla. This galvanized the Catholic queen and her husband, Isabella and Ferdinand II (or Fernando) into attacking the last Moorish town. By 1492, the emirate surrendered and the Moors were completely wiped out from Spain.

The Spanish Inquisition

Under the new rulers, the subjects were not free to practice the religion of their choice. The Spanish Inquisition was formed under the command of Tomas De Torquemada to enforce the supremacy of the Catholic Church.

The anti-semitic sentiment was strong and Jews were targeted. They were accused of secretly practising Judaism despite having converted to Christianity. Their properties were seized and they were forced to walk across town in nothing but a yellow shirt, exposing their genitals.

Eventually, they were whipped and burned alive. This was one of the darkest periods under the rule of Isabella and Fernando.

In 1492, those Jews who did not want to adopt Christianity were expelled from the region.

Commander Tomas De Torquemada’s successor turned his focus to the Muslims, who were eventually expelled in the period 1609 to 1614.

Expansion Of The Spanish Empire

Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of America, was entrusted with the responsibility of finding new trade routes by the Spanish Monarchy in 1492. Having set out in the quest for Asia, he died in 1506, under the delusion that he had, in fact, reached his intended destination.

Before reaching America, Columbus had also discovered Jamaica and a few other islands in the Caribbean. By 1600, the Spanish rulers had under their belt Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Mexico. The riches found in these regions were sent back home, where the crown enjoyed a major share in the trade revenues.

The successors of Isabella and Fernando were less content than their ancestors. Seeking more wealth, they ended up making greedy choices that led to their downfall. The state’s wealth bore the brunt of their affluent lifestyles and the country was pushed into poverty.

The growing conflict for the succession to the throne added to the monarchy’s problems. In 1793, Spain attacked the French who were reeling under the after-effects of the French Revolution. Only to form a coalition with them a couple of years later.

In 1807, the French used Spain as a rest-stop en route to Portugal but ended up colonizing the area.

The Spaniards took up arms and defeated the French in 1913. But this victory against the foreigners could not keep them united. Internal conflicts tore up the country and eventually led to its decline.

The Spanish Civil War

When the world was involved in the cataclysmic World War I, Spain remained neutral. But that didn’t ensure that peace was prevalent in the country. Socialism was on the rise and in direct conflict with anarchism. Thousands of soldiers were killed by the Berbers in 1921. In 1931, the then king Alphanso III was forced into exile.

The ever-growing conflict between the left-wing and the right-wing groups had engulfed Spain. The country was split. Everyone picked sides. In 1934, Catalonia declared independence, and violence was at its peak. Around 350 000 people from both sides lost their lives in this power struggle.

By 1939, the second World War had grabbed the planet. But just as Hitler was launching the offensive, the Nationalist groups in Spain found support from his troops against the Republicans.

The Civil war was declared over when Nationalist General Francisco Franco captured Madrid in March 1939.

The Transition To Democracy

During the Second World War, Spain was not directly involved and this irked the Allied powers. They boycotted trade with the country in the years that followed but eventually made peace during the Cold War. In 1955, the country found itself a seat in the UN.

Under the leadership of Franco, Spain flourished. The economy was booming and development remained a priority. But when he died in 1975, chaos ensued. People wanted democracy.

In 1978, Spain became a parliamentary monarchy. The government became more liberal and people were free to live as they pleased.

Historic Facts About Spain

Spain is an intriguing country. There’s so much to know that you’ll be left wondering as to where to start. Below are a few interesting Spain facts.

• The official name of Spain is actually the Kingdom of Spain

• There are 47 World Heritage sites in Spain

• The stapler, that is so widely used today, was invented in Spain in the 18th century

• A Spanish sailor, Gabriel de Castilla, was the first-ever man to see Antarctica, in 1603

• There are no words in the national anthem of Spain

• You can cross over from Spain into Portugal in under 60 seconds, through a zipline

• Spain is the second-largest country in Europe, after France

• In 2005, Spain passed a law to legalize same-sex marriage

• The bucket and the mop is Spain’s gift to the world

• Spain has four official and three unofficial languages, and seven additional dialects

• The spacesuit used by the first astronauts was first made in Spain, in 1935

You can find more interesting facts about Spain here.

Final Thoughts – Historical Information About Spain

With such a vast history, Spain is a fantastic destination for tourists interested in knowing the story behind every structure.

In addition to being historically rich, the country is endowed with a colourful and multifaceted culture. It bears influences from various different rulers belonging to various different religions. This is evident in the way of life of the people.

With great emphasis on family values and a liberal outlook towards life, the Spaniards are an interesting bunch to interact with. And hearing first-hand stories from the historical archives makes for the most memorable experiences.

If you’re interested in Spanish culture, check out these traditional Spanish festivals, held throughout the year!

Spanish cuisine. History

History is everywhere. Let’s see how the discovery of new lands and conquests affected traditional Spanish cuisine.

This is part of the interactive lessons prepared by the Level One educational platform in collaboration
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Another 500 lessons in 15 areas, from history
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Author of the lesson

Egor Matveev

Chef of culinary studio CULINARYON. Has been working in a professional kitchen for over 15 years

The history of Spanish cuisine is the history of the influence of different countries. In different eras, products and traditions were brought here, which gradually formed the recipes we know. Let’s see how it all started 👇

🌿 The first stage of history is the period of the reign of Carthage and Phoenicia. nine0022 The Phoenicians and Greeks brought olives and grapes to Spain and taught the local people how to grow wheat.

🍷 After the Romans came to the Iberian Peninsula . They added onions, garlic, lentils and cabbage to the Spaniards’ diet. They also developed winemaking in Spain.

🍚 In the 8th century A.D. e. The Moors captured the Iberian Peninsula. They brought here rice, almonds, quince, apricots, oranges, carrots, pistachios and spices: cloves, nutmeg, star anise, saffron. From the Jews, the Spaniards adopted recipes for sweet dishes and desserts: puddings, milk desserts.
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Gazpacho soup

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Let’s prepare a light cold vegetable puree soup, which is very popular in the hot season. Usually gazpacho does not contain animal products, therefore it is classified as a vegan and vegetarian dish.
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📖 Gazpacho for 2 servings

⏲ ​​ Cooking time: 30 minutes.

🛒 What you need: 4 ripe tomatoes or 600 g tomatoes in their own juice, 1 small cucumber, 1/2 red bell pepper, 1 celery stalk, 1 garlic clove, 2 tbsp. l. olive oil, 2 slices of white bread (only the crumb is needed), 1/4 tsp. tabasco, 1 tsp wine vinegar, 1 sprig of basil for decoration.

🔪 Cooking

1️⃣ Cut. Peel cucumbers, remove seeds. Cut the tomatoes crosswise and scald with boiling water, remove the skin. Remove the seeds from the pepper. Roughly chop all vegetables. Mix them in a bowl, add breadcrumbs, drizzle with vinegar and leave to marinate for 20 minutes.

2️⃣ Grind. Transfer the mixture to a blender, add the Tabasco sauce, olive oil and a couple of ice cubes. Grind until smooth. Serve in a deep bowl, garnish with basil leaves.
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👅 What you get: is a cool tomato soup that you must try to get a taste of Spanish cuisine.

Let’s see what happened to Spanish cuisine in the Middle Ages 👇

During the Crusades, the cultures of different states mixed especially strongly. In those days, the confrontation between Spanish and French cuisine was born. It can be seen in the dishes, the origin of which is now disputed. Typical examples are mayonnaise and aioli sauce, churros and profiteroles.
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In 1492, the Spanish traveler Christopher Columbus discovered America. This event brought tomatoes, potatoes, corn, sweet peppers, cocoa, cereals to Spanish cuisine. Today, gazpacho tomato soup seems to be an integral part of Spain, but it appeared on the menu not so long ago.

At the same time, the Spaniards and the Portuguese conquered the peninsula from the Arabs. This period is called the Reconquista: the kingdoms of Aragon and Castile united and the Spanish Empire emerged. After the formation of a united Spain, there were practically no global changes in Spanish cuisine, but with the development of trade, science, technology and travel, some new recipes appeared, old ones were modified and unusual combinations were created, shifting to the Spanish style.
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🧑‍🍳 Spain has influenced cuisines around the world. The Spaniards brought products from America to Europe, and traditional Spanish dishes to America. Today, the cuisines of Europe or Russia are hard to imagine without tomatoes, potatoes or chocolate.

What else you need to know in order to understand what modern Spanish cuisine has evolved from 👇

Spain was born from several kingdoms – the same thing happened with the kitchen. Each of the kingdoms had its own traditions and products and contributed something of its own to the development of cooking. The regions of Spain are separated by mountains – they have become a natural barrier to the spread of traditions, including culinary ones.
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🥬 Most dishes are prepared according to the same principles, recipes and technologies as 200-300 years ago. Some dishes have Arabic influences, others have Roman, European and American influences. But all innovations have been adapted to the region and traditions.

🌿 Regional cuisine based on local products. It is not customary to add exotic ingredients that do not grow in Spain to dishes – each region prepares fresh dishes from local products.
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🍲 The Spaniards carefully study the composition of products, its aromatics and properties. It is important for them to understand how products change during cooking, how two products are combined. In Spain, there are large institutions that study culinary science in terms of science. Large-scale research is being carried out jointly with chefs, physicists and chemists.

Spain in brief – BBC News nine0003

Spain is located at the crossroads of Europe and Africa between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, a country whose history and culture is striking in its diversity.

Centuries of expeditions and conquests greatly strengthened the country’s military power, and in the 16th century Spain became a world power. Spain is also historically known as a powerful colonial empire, the status of which it held until the beginning of the 19th century.

One of the most important events in the new history of Spain was the bloody civil war 1936- 1939 and the subsequent right-wing dictatorship of Francisco Franco, which lasted 36 years.

SUMMARY

Photo Caption,

Flag of Spain

After the death of General Franco in 1975, already under the rule of King Juan Carlos, Spain emerged from an endless cycle of coups, uprisings and civil wars and moved towards democracy.

The constitution of 1978, which is still in force to this day, enshrined not only the idea of ​​the indestructible unity of the Spanish nation, but also a respectful attitude towards the diversity of cultures and languages ​​represented on the territory of the state. The constitution also defines the rights of each of the 17 autonomous regions within the country. nine0003

Each region has its own degree of autonomy. So, for example, Catalonia, the Basque Country and Galicia have a special status of autonomous communities and have the same official languages ​​along with their own rights and powers.

Andalusia, Valencia and the Canary Islands, in turn, also have special powers. While Asturias and Aragon are making attempts to consolidate the rights to use the local language.

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In 2006, the people of Catalonia, where a referendum was held on the question of expanding autonomy, voted for greater independence from Madrid.

As a result of the referendum, the Catalans received the status of an independent nation within Spain. In addition, the parliament of the region received more rights in taxation and the legal sphere. nine0003

In addition to resolving the issue of autonomy of the regions, one of the most serious internal political tasks of Spain is to resolve the situation in the Basque region.

ETA separatists reportedly killed more than 800 people during the group’s 40-year struggle to create an independent Basque state.

In March 2006, ETA declared a ceasefire in an attempt to promote the democratic process in the region. This move led to a split in public opinion. nine0003

Hopes for a peaceful resolution of the conflict were dashed when, on the eve of 2007, ETA broke the March truce and claimed responsibility for bombings at Madrid’s Barajas International Airport. In June 2007, the ceasefire was finally terminated.

Until 2008, the Spanish economy was considered one of the most prosperous in the EU. The country’s main source of government revenue was the booming housing market and tourism, which in 2008-09years were hit by the global crisis, thereby significantly slowing down the pace of the country’s economic development.

By the end of 2009, Spain officially entered a recession and unemployment rose to 20%, almost double the EU average.

Spain shares the Iberian Peninsula with neighboring Portugal. In addition to the mainland, the Spanish territories include the Balearic and Canary Islands, as well as Melilla and Ceuta – two enclaves on the northern coast of Africa. nine0003

Spain can rightfully be proud of the diversity of centuries-old traditions and styles of fine art. The works of such great artists as Velasquez, Goya and Picasso are masterpieces of world art.

Spanish music and cinema are equally popular.

• Official name: Kingdom of Spain
• Population: 45 million people (UN data, 2009)
• Capital: Madrid
• Area: 505 988 sq.