Spain

GROUP 2 - REPORTERS

ABALON, RONNAGEL
AMARILA, AIROSE
MINONG, MICAH JAE
History of Spain
The Kingdom of Spain is a country whose
territory is mostly located on the Iberian
Peninsula, in the far south-west of Europe.

It comprises a total area of 504,642 km²

and includes territories on both the mainland
peninsula and nearby islands, such as the
Canary Islands and Balearic Islands, the cities
of Ceuta and Melilla and the so-called Plazas
de Soberanía [Places of Sovereignty] in North
Africa.
Given its geographic location, Spain has experienced a
rich and varied history. The first modern humans
settled in what is now Spain over 35,000 years
ago.Settlers have migrated to Spain from Europe,
Africa, and the Mediterranean since the dawn of
history.

The Phoenicians, who came in the 8th century B.C.,

called the peninsula "Span," or hidden land. By the
first century B.C. the Romans had conquered Spain.
Spain became mostly Christian under the Romans,
who were followed by the Vandals and the Visigoths,
Germanic peoples from Europe.
The Visigoth rulers fought among themselves, and in
A.D. 711 Muslims from Africa invaded Spain. The
Roman conquest began in 218 BC and led to a far-
reaching process of cultural assimilation, the
repercussions of which continue to be felt today.

Following the fall of the Western Empire, Hispania was

conquered by Germanic tribes (Visigoths, Suevi and
Vandals) and then by the Moors. The Moorish presence
on the peninsula lasted until 1492 and the fall of the
Nasrid Kingdom of Granada.
Islamic culture spread across Spain as Muslim rulers
introduced new crops and irrigation systems, and
trading increased. Mathematics, medicine, and
philosophy became more advanced, peaking in the
tenth century—the golden age of Islamic rule in Spain.

In 1492 Christian kingdoms in northern Spain conquered

the Muslims and spread the Catholic religion. Enriched
by silver from the Americas, Spain grew more powerful.
It later lost land and power in the Napoleonic Wars,
which ended in 1815.
Like Spain, Portugal suffered terribly during the
Napoleonic wars of the early 19th century. At one point
the entire Portuguese monarchy and government had
to decamp to Reo de Janeiro in Brazil and transferred
the capital of the Portuguese empire from Lisbon to Reo
de Janeiro.

The later part of the 19th century was a very turbulent

period in both Spain and Portugal with power oscillating
between liberal (in favor of a constitutional republic)
and conservative (in favor of absolute monarchy)
factions.
Spain was neutral during WW1 while Portuguese
involvements was mostly limited to clashes with
Germany in the African colonies. The decades after
WW1 saw the emergence of military dictatorships in
both countries - under Franco in Spain and Salazar in
Portugal, both of which indeed in 1975.

More than 500,000 people died in the Spanish Civil War

of the 1930s. The victorious Gen. Francisco Franco ruled
as a brutal dictator until his death in 1975. Soon after,
Spain began to transform itself into a modern, industrial,
and democratic European nation.
Topography
The surface of Spain is extremely varied
and characterised by a relatively high
average altitude; over 600 metres above
sea level.
Covering an area of 506,030 square
kilometres, Spain is among the fifty
largest countries in the world.
 The mainland territories cover an area of 493,514
square kilometres; the Balearic Islands cover 4,992
square kilometres; the Canary Islands cover 7,492
square kilometres; and the cities of Ceuta and Melilla
cover 32 square kilometres.
Spain, the third-largest country in
Europe, has a majority of its
43,484,000 citizens belonging to four
major ethnic groups: Basque,
Galician, Castilian, and Catalan. Other
ethnic minorities exist as well:
Andalusian, Gitanos, Levante,
Magyars, and Jews.
In 2024, the population of Spain was
estimated at 24.79 million women and
23.82 million men. For both genders,
the largest group was that made up of
people aged 47 years, with 412,533
females and 418,659 males.
Regions
Regions of Spain has its own unique culture,
history, and cuisine. Here are the regions of
Spain:
 Andalusia: Located in the south of Spain,
Andalusia is the largest autonomous
community in the country. It is known for its
beautiful beaches, Moorish architecture,
and flamenco music and dance.
 Aragon: Aragon is located in the northeast
of Spain. It is known for its Pyrenees
Mountains, medieval towns, and
Romanesque architecture.
 Asturias: Asturias is located in the northwest of
Spain. It is known for its green mountains, beaches,
and cider.

 Balearic Islands: The Balearic Islands are an

archipelago located in the Mediterranean Sea. They
are known for their beautiful beaches, clear waters,
and nightlife.

 Basque Country: The Basque Country is located in

the north of Spain. It is known for its unique
culture, language, and cuisine.
 Canary Islands: The Canary Islands are an
archipelago located off the coast of Africa. They are
known for their beautiful beaches, volcanic
landscapes, and year-round warm weather.

 Cantabria: Cantabria is located in the north of

Spain. It is known for its green mountains, beaches,
and Romanesque architecture.

 Castile and León: Castile and León is located in the

central part of Spain. It is known for its medieval
towns, castles, and Romanesque architecture.
Castilla-La Mancha: Castilla-La Mancha is located in the
central part of Spain. It is known for its windmills, Don
Quixote, and La Mancha cheese.

 Catalonia: Catalonia is located in the northeast of
Spain. It is known for its Barcelona city, beaches, and
Catalan culture.

 Extremadura: Extremadura is located in the west of

Spain. It is known for its Roman ruins, medieval
towns, and Extremadura cheese.
Galicia: Galicia is located in the northwest of Spain. It is
known for its green mountains, beaches, and Galician
culture.

 La Rioja: La Rioja is located in the north of Spain. It is
known for its wine, medieval towns, and Rioja
cheese.

 Madrid: Madrid is the capital city of Spain. It is

known for its museums, art galleries, and nightlife.
 Murcia: Murcia is located in the southeast of Spain.
It is known for its beaches, mountains, and
Murcian cuisine.

Navarre: Navarre is located in the north of Spain. It is

known for its Pyrenees Mountains, medieval towns,
and Navarrese cuisine.

 Valencian Community: The Valencian Community is
located in the east of Spain. It is known for its
beaches, Valencia city, and Valencian cuisine.
Cooking Methods
Traditional Spanish cuisine is typically
known to be a humble affair, consisting
mostly of locally-grown crops and
produce from the region. Incredibly rich
and often packed with dense flavours,
they boast an incredible range of variety
due to vast geological differences.
The warm climate proves to be
extremely useful in cultivating olives
all year long, so it’s no surprise that
olive oil is often used for cooking.
Since Spain is right on the coast, fish
and shellfish are also a common part
of their cuisine.
Besides fish, cured meats are one of
their more popular options to
accompany just about any dish. The
Spaniards are also particularly fond of
stewing their food, although they also
do utilise various methods of cooking
such as roasting, frying, and sautéing.
Spanish cuisine

• Spanish cuisine (Spanish: Cocina

española) consists of the traditions and
practices of Spanish cooking. It features
considerable regional diversity, with
significant differences between the
traditions of each of Spain's regional
cuisines.
 Olive oil (of which Spain is the world's
largest producer) is extensively used in
Spanish cuisine.

 It forms the base of many vegetable sauces

(known in Spanish as sofritos).

 Herbs most commonly used

include parsley, oregano, rosemary and thym
e.
 The use of garlic has been noted as common
in Spanish cooking.

 The most used meats in Spanish cuisine

include chicken, pork, lamb and veal.

 Fish and seafood are also consumed on a

regular basis.

 Tapas and pinchos are snacks and appetizers

commonly served in bars and cafes.
Thankyou for
listening!