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A First Impression
Spain is known for it’s phantastic beaches, plenty of sunshine, flamenco music and bullfights. But there’s much more to explore. Spain is - and has been since thousands of years - one of the cultural hubs in Europe. There are very old towns and memorials as well as futuristic architecture.
Spain Is Different
The Spanish use to say “Spain is different”. This applies not only in comparison to other European countries and the rest of the world. Even one Spanish zone can be completely different from another.
Position
Spain lies on the so-called Iberi peninsula. It borders in the west on Portugal, in the northeast on France and on Andorra, a small principality in the Pyreneeses. In the southwest, the west and the north Spain is surrounded by the Atlantic ocean. In the southeast and the east affects Spain the Mediterranean. The southernmost point of Spain is separate only by a strait (the road of Gibraltar) from Morocco.
History
At the end of the 3. Century before Christ Celts, Iberis and Basques lived on the Iberi peninsula, which were then displaced by the Romans. Starting from the 5. Century after Christ the area was christianized by the Goths. After the invasion by the Maroccans in the year 711 a booming Islamic culture developed. Christian back conquest lasted from 9. to 13. Century.
The Spanish unit under catholic rule developed 1492. It was due to a marriage between the two most powerful families of the peninsula and the final banishment of the Moors, which still governed up to then in Granada in the south. In the following century Spain acquired colonies in Central America, South America and Southeast Asia (the Philippines) and controlled a majority of Western Europe (the today’s Portugal, the Netherlands and a part of Italy).
In 1588 the Spanish king tried to conquer England and sent a fleet of 130 ships. The English fleet however triumphed over the Spanish. Until 1714 Spain had lost all European properties, 1826 it also had to give up it’s colonies in America. Only exception were Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines, which went to the USA in 1898 (after the Spanish-American war).
Politics and system of government
During the two world wars Spain remained neutrally. However a embittered civil war took place from 1936 to 1939. The result was a dictatorial regime, which remained at power until 1975. After the elections of 1977 Spain is a parliamentary democracy with a king as head of state (since 1978).
Economics
The Spanish industry concentrates around the cities Madrid and Barcelona. Several international automobile companies have manufacturing plants in Spain. In Barcelona (Mediterranean coast), La Coruna (northwest) and Cádiz (southwest) there are large shipyards. In addition the chemical industry and fishing play an important role in the Spanish economy. Approx. 10% of the employed persons work in the tourism industry.
Others
Although most Spaniards are still catholics, the influence of the church decreased strongly. While divorces in Spain occur relatively rarely, the birth rate is one of the lowest in Europe. Although unemployment is high, the Spaniards enjoy a rather high standard of living.