HISTORIA DE ESPAÑA (Parte 1) - Prehistoria, Prerromanos (íberos y celtas), Romanización y Visigodos

Pero eso es otra Historia2 minutes read

The history of Spain from a million years ago to 1492 covers the arrival of different hominids, the emergence of various cultures, Romanization, and the Visigothic kingdom, leading to Muslim rule after defeating the Visigoths. The Visigothic monarchy faced internal strife, power struggles, and rebellions, culminating in the overthrow of the last Visigothic king and the beginning of Muslim rule in Spain.

Insights

  • Neanderthals, not just Homo sapiens, contributed to cave art in Spain, with examples found in caves like la pasiega, maltravieso, and ardales, challenging traditional attributions of artistic expression.
  • The Iberians cultivated olive, cereals, chickpeas, peas, and lentils, excelling in mining, goldsmithing, and crafts, showcasing a diverse and advanced agricultural and artisanal culture.
  • The Romanization of the Iberian Peninsula involved the assimilation of Roman culture, establishment of colonies, and the imposition of Roman law, transforming cities like Tarraco, Caesaraugusta, and Pompaelo into prosperous Roman outposts.
  • The Visigoths in Spain faced internal strife, rebellions, and power struggles, culminating in the Battle of Guadalete where Muslims under Táriq ibn Ziyad overthrew Rodrigo, marking the end of Visigothic rule and the beginning of Muslim dominance in Hispania.

Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free

Recent questions

  • What were the major civilizations in ancient Spain?

    Various civilizations like Iberians, Romans, and Visigoths.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

"History of Spain: From Prehistory to 1492"

  • The story covers the history of Spain from a million years ago to 1492, including the conquest of the Nasrid kingdom of Granada and the arrival in America.
  • The first hominids arrived on the peninsula around 800,000 years ago, with Homo antecessor living there 400,000 years ago, followed by Homo heidelbergensis and then Homo neanderthalensis.
  • Cave paintings in Spain were traditionally attributed to Homo sapiens, but Neanderthals also contributed to art, with examples found in caves like la pasiega, maltravieso, and ardales.
  • The Paleolithic era saw Homo sapiens in Spain living in caves, hunting, gathering, and creating cave paintings like those in Altamira, Tito Bustillo, and the Castle.
  • The Neolithic period marked a transition to a more sedentary lifestyle focused on agriculture, livestock, and herding, with the emergence of cultures like the Cardial ceramics culture and the pit tombs culture.
  • The Chalcolithic period introduced metallurgy, leading to the construction of megalithic monuments like the dolmen of Menga in Malaga and others across Spain.
  • Various cultures emerged in Spain, such as the Argar culture, known for using bronze in their funerary practices, and the Bell Beaker culture that spread throughout Western Europe.
  • The Talayotic culture in the Balearic Islands constructed megalithic structures like the talayots and the torralba table, with defensive or funerary purposes.
  • The Tartessians appeared around 1200 BC in the current provinces of Seville, Cádiz, and Huelva, known for their metallurgical skills and possible Phoenician influences.
  • Phoenicians arrived on the Iberian Peninsula around 800 BC, founding cities like Gadir (Cadiz), Malaca (Malaga), and Abdera (Adra), establishing trade and cultural exchanges with local populations.

12:52

Iberians: Ancient Culture and Conquest in Spain

  • The Vascones were a tribe of uncertain origin, possibly Neolithic emigrants from the Caucasus or North Africa, or speakers of Iberian language.
  • The Iberians were a pre-Indo-European people who spread across various regions in Spain, organizing themselves in walled cities on hills called oppidum.
  • Iberians primarily cultivated olive, cereals, chickpeas, peas, and lentils, with a focus on mining, goldsmithing, crafts, textiles, and religious worship of animal figures.
  • The Iberians practiced cremation as their main funerary rite, placing ashes in urns and building stone mounds over tombs, with notable cities like Toya's sepulchral chamber in Jaén.
  • The Iberians were divided into tribes like the Loretans, Bastetans, Contestans, Edetanos, and others, known for their warrior class and devotion to their leaders.
  • The Iberians excelled in craftsmanship and artistry, influenced by other cultures, with notable works like the Lady of Elche, Lady of Baza, and Bicha of Balazote.
  • The Iberians developed three different scripts for writing their language, including the northeastern, southeastern, and Greco-Iberian alphabets.
  • The Romans and Carthaginians engaged in the First Punic War, leading to Carthaginian Hamilcar Barca's conquest of Iberia starting in 238 BC, establishing a base in southern Iberia.
  • Hannibal Barca, son of Hamilcar, led the Carthaginians in the Second Punic War, crossing the Alps to attack Rome and achieving victories like the Battle of Canas in 216 BC.
  • The Romans, led by Publius Cornelius Scipio the African, eventually defeated the Carthaginians in Hispania, culminating in the Romanization of Cartagonova and the region.

25:07

Roman Conquest and Rule in Iberia

  • Hannibal's little brother fled to the Balearic Islands after the battle of Il y Para Magón in 206 BC.
  • Scipio the African attacked Carthage directly after defeating Hannibal at the battle of Zama in 202 BC.
  • Romans faced resistance from tribes in Iberia during the Second Punic War, leading to the division of the peninsula into Hispania Citerior and Hispania Ulterior.
  • Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus, a significant praetor, conducted campaigns against the Celtiberians, establishing peace for almost 30 years.
  • Lusitanian wars in later Hispania saw resistance against the Romans, with Viriato leading the Lusitanian resistance.
  • The third Celtiberian war began due to the importance of Numancia, leading to its destruction in 133 BC.
  • Sertorian war against the Optimists in Hispania resulted in Sertorio's defeat by General Gnaeus Pompey.
  • Cantabrian wars against the Cantabrians and Asturias saw Augustus personally involved in quelling the rebellion.
  • Romanization of the Iberian Peninsula involved the assimilation of Roman culture, establishment of colonies, and the imposition of Roman law.
  • Important Roman cities in the Iberian Peninsula included Tarraco (Tarragona), Caesaraugusta (Zaragoza), and Pompaelo (Pamplona).

37:08

Roman Legacy in Ancient Hispania

  • Pamplona, ​​Iruña, founded by Pompey, transformed into a prosperous city with Roman forum, thermal baths, and temples.
  • Lucus Augustí in Galicia, known as Lugo, and Legio and Astúrica Augusta, now Astorga, on the Tajo River.
  • Toledo, Salamanca, and Valeria with significant forums and monuments like nymphaeum.
  • Saguntum, Cartagonova, Emérita Augusta (Mérida), Hispalis (Seville), and Gades (Cádiz) in various regions.
  • Construction of Segovia aqueduct, Alcántara bridge, Roman theater, and other significant structures.
  • Roman circus in Emérita Augusta, Italica amphitheater, Tarragona amphitheater, and more.
  • Roman houses in Andalusia with interior patios, mosaics, and murals, and villas with large crop fields.
  • Notable Roman intellectuals from Hispania like Seneca and Quintilian, and emperors like Trajan and Hadrian.
  • San Fermín's conversion to Christianity and the celebration of San Fermines in Pamplona.
  • Germanic invasions leading to the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the Visigoths establishing a kingdom in Aquitaine.

49:13

Visigothic Kingdom: Rise, Turmoil, and Expansion

  • The Visigoths, led by Theodoric the Second, battled the Romans and expelled a leader named Eggs, who was later captured and executed.
  • Anarchy ensued in the new kingdom, with Fo betraying Theodoric and proclaiming himself King Egg, leading to civil war.
  • The Visigothic kingdom faced turmoil, with kings being murdered, including Theodoric the Second by his brother Uric.
  • The fall of the Western Roman Empire led to the Visigoths proclaiming independence from Rome under King Euric.
  • Euric expanded the kingdom's territory, becoming the most powerful in Europe, and established a legal code based on Roman law.
  • The Visigothic kingdom was organized around a non-hereditary monarch, with kings facing violent deaths and the state being simpler when associated with a god.
  • Leovigildo succeeded Euric, marrying a Catholic princess and facing rebellion from his son Hermenegildo, who converted to Catholicism.
  • Hermenegildo's rebellion led to a civil war, with the Byzantine Empire aiding Atanagild, resulting in the establishment of a province called Spain.
  • Leovigildo faced challenges from various tribes and regions, including the Basques, and founded cities, churches, and libraries.
  • Leovigildo conquered the Suebian kingdom, integrating it into the Visigothic rule, maintaining the old kingdom's laws and customs.

01:01:19

Visigothic Monarchy: Rise, Fall, and Transition

  • Recaredo advised his son to become Catholic, leading to the Third Council of Toledo where the Visigothic kingdom adopted the creed of the Council of Nicea, unifying the Goths and the majority of the population under Catholicism.
  • Liuba, Recaredo's second son, was a short-lived ruler who was overthrown by General Peter and CCOO, who cut off the king's hand, rendering him unfit to reign due to superstitions about virility and power.
  • Viteri CCOO became a prominent figure in the neighborhood but was murdered at a banquet in 610, succeeded by Gundemaro who died naturally two years later, leading to Sisebuto's decade-long reign.
  • Suintila achieved the unification of Hispania by defeating the Byzantines and subduing the Vascons, forcing them to build the city of Olic and Cus as a defense against further Vascon threats.
  • The Visigothic monarchy faced challenges with rebellions and power struggles, leading to the Fourth Council of Toledo presided over by Saint Isidoro, known for his wisdom and writings on Gothic history.
  • Chindasvinto stood out for reestablishing the hereditary monarchy with his son as regent, while Recesvinto promulgated the Recesvinto Code, merging Roman and Gothic customary law for equal treatment of all inhabitants of Hispania.
  • Wamba, the last good king of the Visigoths, faced internal strife and external threats, including a rebellion led by Rodrigo, the final Visigothic king, who was overthrown by the Muslims under Táriq ibn Ziyad in the Battle of Guadalete, marking the end of Visigothic Hispania and the beginning of Muslim rule.
Channel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatar

Try it yourself — It’s free.