Why Is Mediterranean Civilization Has Been Most Important To Spain
Which Mediterranean civilization has been most influential to current Spain?
The constitutional monarchy of Spain is a country of many facets and that has been shaped throughout history by a myriad of influential civilizations. From the pre-Roman Celtic and Iberian culture, to Romans, Carthaginians, Phoenicians, Greeks, and Islam. All have left their mark on contemporary Spain. Arguably the most influential civilizations that shaped the Spanish Peninsula were the Romans and Islamic rulers. Nevertheless, important aspects of all profound civilizations must be pointed out.
Carthage was founded by the Phoenicians circa 800 BC, originally to serve as a North African trading hub. This civilization expanded out from today’s modern Tunis at the time of the fall of Phoenicia in 575 BC. Carthaginians established colonies in the south of Spain (including Ibiza), North Africa, Sardinia, Sicily, and Corsica. Colonists were divided into metal workers, land owners, traders and sea farers. Inspired by the Greeks, maritime trade opened up Spain to more remote regions of the world. Ivory was imported from India, horses from Ancient Anatolia, and copper from Cyprus. In return, Carthaginians exported tin and silver, in addition to domestically cultivating olive and wine, catching fish and collecting salt. This trade persisted for around three centuries. The largest trading center was Gades, today’s Cadiz. …show more content…
In the centuries to come, it served as a fortress for the Romans and the Moors.
Notable of this period is Hannibal, the most famous military leader during 200 BC, due to his surprise tactics in beating the Romans. Elements from the ‘father of strategy’ were adopted by the Romans and inevitably shaped the way for Trajan to expand to Roman empire to its largest
The constitutional monarchy of Spain is a country of many facets and that has been shaped throughout history by a myriad of influential civilizations. From the pre-Roman Celtic and Iberian culture, to Romans, Carthaginians, Phoenicians, Greeks, and Islam. All have left their mark on contemporary Spain. Arguably the most influential civilizations that shaped the Spanish Peninsula were the Romans and Islamic rulers. Nevertheless, important aspects of all profound civilizations must be pointed out.
Carthage was founded by the Phoenicians circa 800 BC, originally to serve as a North African trading hub. This civilization expanded out from today’s modern Tunis at the time of the fall of Phoenicia in 575 BC. Carthaginians established colonies in the south of Spain (including Ibiza), North Africa, Sardinia, Sicily, and Corsica. Colonists were divided into metal workers, land owners, traders and sea farers. Inspired by the Greeks, maritime trade opened up Spain to more remote regions of the world. Ivory was imported from India, horses from Ancient Anatolia, and copper from Cyprus. In return, Carthaginians exported tin and silver, in addition to domestically cultivating olive and wine, catching fish and collecting salt. This trade persisted for around three centuries. The largest trading center was Gades, today’s Cadiz. …show more content…
In the centuries to come, it served as a fortress for the Romans and the Moors.
Notable of this period is Hannibal, the most famous military leader during 200 BC, due to his surprise tactics in beating the Romans. Elements from the ‘father of strategy’ were adopted by the Romans and inevitably shaped the way for Trajan to expand to Roman empire to its largest