Cala Major Live Cam

Located at the crossroad between Europe and Africa, Spain has always been a target for invaders. From around 8000 to 3000 BC people from North Africa known as the Iberians crossed the Straight of Gibraltar and settled there. By 1000 BC Celtic tribes entered north Spain, while Phoenician merchants were establishing trading settlement along the Mediterranean coast. The Greeks and Carthaginians arrived around 600 and 500 BC followed by the Romans.

By the year 409 AD Spain was invaded by Germanic tribes, among them the Christian Visigoths who established a kingdom that lasted until 711 when the Moors (Muslim and Arabs from North Africa) defeated Roderic, the Visigoth king. By 714 the Moors armies had occupied the entire peninsula, which domination lasted 800 years in some part of the region. During this period, arts and sciences prospered, news crops and agriculture techniques were introduced and palaces, mosques, schools and gardens were built.

The recovery (or Reconquista) started in 1085 when Alfonso VI, king of Leon and Castile, regained control of Toledo prompted the Moors leader to request help from Africa. They recaptured much territory and ruled until the 1140, but by the end of the 15th century the last Muslim ruler of Granada surrendered, making the completion of the Reconquista.

In 1492, while searching for an alternative route to India, Columbus ended up in the Bahamas and claimed the Americas for Spain. It was the beginning of a period of exploration an exploitation that brought to Spain wealth while destroying the ancient American empires. Gold and silver from the New World were used to finance the rapid expansion of the Spanish empire that by 1519 used to include Austria, southern Germany, the Netherlands and the Americas colonies. Then Spain got involved in a series of expensive wars that ultimately bankrupted the country.