Hispania

• 1. Etymological Origins And Myths

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  Roman coins struck during the reign of Hadrian depict a female figure with a rabbit at her feet. Strabo called the region the land of the rabbits in his geographical writings from 29 to 7 BC. The Phoenicians referred to the area as possibly meaning land of metals or northern island. Isidore of Sevilla derived the name from Hispalis, the pre-Roman name for Seville. Eric Partridge revived this theory in his work Origins suggesting an ancient Iberian root named Hispa. Jesuit scholars like Larramendi and José Francisco de Isla tied the name to the Basque word lip meaning border or edge. Literary texts from Antiquity derive the term from an eponymous hero named Hispan mentioned by Gnaeus Pompeius Trogus in the 1st century BC. The Latin term Spania continued to be used geographically and politically in Visigothic times as shown in expressions praising Mother Hispania.

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• 2. Prehistoric Settlements And Cultures

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  Neanderthals entered Iberia and took refuge from advancing migrations of modern humans during the Paleolithic period. In the 40th millennium BC the first large settlement of Europe by modern humans occurred on the steppes of Central Asia. These nomadic hunter-gatherers retreated through Southern France into Iberia when the last ice age reached its maximum extent around 30th millennium BC. Pre-historic art such as that found in L'Arbreda Cave and in the Côa Valley thrived after Neanderthals became extinct. The Azilian culture appeared in Southern France and Northern Iberia to the mouth of the Douro river during the Mesolithic period beginning in 10th millennium BC. The Muge Culture developed in the Tagus valley alongside the Allerød Oscillation interstadial deglaciation. Agriculture began spreading across most of Europe with one of its oldest main centres located in modern Portugal during the Neolithic era from 5th millennium BC onwards. The Chalcolithic and Beaker cultures followed this agricultural revolution.

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• 3. Roman Conquest And Administration

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  Roman armies invaded the Iberian Peninsula in 218 BC using it as a training ground for officers against Carthaginians and other Celts. It was not until 19 BC that Roman emperor Augustus completed the conquest following the Cantabrian Wars. Hispania remained autonomous for two centuries before Rome managed full control over Hispania Ulterior. In 197 BC the peninsula was divided into two provinces each ruled by a praetor: Hispania Citerior and Hispania Ulterior. Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa divided Hispania into three parts in 27 BC creating Baetica Lusitania and Hispania Citerior. Emperor Augustus reorganized these provinces further leaving Baetica with capital Corduba and Lusitania with Emerita Augusta. By the 4th century Latinius Pacatus Drepanius wrote about the geography climate and inhabitants describing tough soldiers and prolific speakers. Three Roman emperors were born in Hispania including Trajan Hadrian and Theodosius who ruled between 379 and 395 AD.

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• 4. Economic Integration And Resources

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  Gold mining became the most important activity in north-western parts of the peninsula attested at archaeological sites like Las Médulas and Casais. Several metals olives oil from Baetica salted fish garum and wines were goods produced and traded throughout the Empire. Roman Spain experienced its three phases of climate variation including humid intervals in 550, 190 BC and arid periods from 190 BC to 150 AD. In 134 BC Scipio Aemilianus army had to march at night due to extreme heat causing horses and mules to die of thirst. Heavy spring rains prevented Celtiberians from relieving the Roman siege of Contrebia in 181 BC. Warm temperatures dominated particularly in mountains along the north coast during the 2nd century AD punctuated by cool spells until after 200 when temperatures fluctuated toward cooler conditions. Occupation by Carthaginians then Romans developed Hispania into a thriving multifaceted economy with abundant silver deposits driving growth.

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• 5. Social Transformation And Romanization

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  Latin was the official language of Hispania during Roman rule exceeding 600 years before Germanic invasions began. The Iberian denarii circulated until the 1st century BC after which it was replaced by Roman coins. Some peninsula population were admitted into Roman aristocratic class participating in governing both Hispania and the wider Empire. Latifundia large estates controlled by aristocracy were superimposed on existing Iberian landholding systems. Romans improved cities like Lisbon Tarragona Zaragoza Mérida and Valencia reducing other native settlements to villages. By end of 1st century Romanized Iberian populations achieved full citizenship status alongside descendants of Roman soldiers and colonists. Caesar noted that soldiers from Second Legion became Hispanicized regarding themselves as hispanici. Agricultural production increased significantly through introduction of irrigation projects some still in use today.

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• 6. Religious Shifts And The Church

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  Christianity introduced into Hispania in 1st century became popular in cities during 2nd century but made little headway in countryside until late 4th century. Priscillianism emerged as notable heretical sect though local bishops remained subordinate to Pope. Council of Bishops became important instrument of stability during Visigothic ascendancy when civil governments broke down in 5th century. Last vestiges of Western classical Roman rule ended in 472 AD. In 589 Recared renounced Arianism before Council of Bishops at Toledo accepting Chalcedonian Christianity thus assuring alliance between monarchy and native Hispano-Romans. Earliest representation of Christ in Spanish religious art found in Visigothic hermitage Santa Maria de Lara. Church stood as society's most cohesive institution shifting task of maintaining formal education from old ruling class to clergy managing higher administration with powerful notables displacing town councils.

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• 7. Germanic Invasions And Visigothic Rule

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  Four tribes crossed Rhine in 406 including Germanic Buri Suevi Vandals together with Sarmatian Alans moving into Iberia September or October 409 at request of Gerontius Roman usurper. Suevi established kingdom in Gallaecia modern Galicia and northern Portugal while Hasdingi Vandals settled another part of region. Alans established kingdom in Lusitania covering modern Alentejo and Algarve in Portugal. Silingi Vandals briefly occupied parts of South Iberia province Baetica. Western Roman emperor Honorius promised Visigoths home in southwest Gaul if they destroyed invaders in Spain. They wiped out Silingi and Alans leaving remnants joining Asding Vandals who had settled first northwest then south to Baetica. Visigoths confined Sueves to small area northwest peninsula until diocese re-established capital Mérida in 418. Romans recovered 90% peninsula until 439 when Sueves occupied Mérida coinciding Vandal occupation Carthage same year. Visigoths took Tarragona 472 establishing Toledo as capital 484 conquering Suebic Kingdom Galicia 585 controlling almost all Hispania.

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