The Early Peoples of Spain

Ancient Greek (500 to 300 B.C.)

The ancient Greek civilization lasted from about 480 to 323 B.C. They had no king and were self-governed. They loved their freedom often philosophizing and warring against each other as to how they should govern themselves. Their primary interest was to colonize land as opposed to trade. The seas were more efficient to travel than the dirt trail roads for the ancient Greeks. Ships were faster and carried more cargo. Access to the sea was so important that most of the settlement they founded were a few miles off its coast. In all the ancient Greeks inhabited about 700 communities clustered around the Mediterranean Sea. They inhabited lands from the Middle East to the Iberian Peninsular, south to the coast of North Africa.

This period was the period of their highest prosperity. Ancient Greece most significant contribution to their settlements was in their cultural accomplishments, study and ideas of ancient Greek philosophers, elements of ancient Greek architecture, and foundation of political principles of democracy. The Greeks invented the idea “west.” They were the “west” living west of the powerful nations of Egypt, Phoenicia and Babylon. Ancient Greek is known as the “cradle of western civilization.”

Carthaginians (400.BC. to 100B.C.)

The Carthage controlled the coast of North Africa during 900 and 600 B.C. It was this time in power they extended settlements forming a scattered empire. Their settlements included the invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. They conquered most of the land from the Phoenicians and established an economy, which strived on commerce. Their contribution to Spain’s economy included mining of silver, manufacture of beds, a lumber industry and production of simple pottery, jewelry and glassware for trade. They also exported wild African animals, fruits and nuts, and ivory and gold. They were not famous for literature and art. Most of their art works were a replica of Egyptians, Greek, and Phoenician originals. They continued to engage in war with Greece and with Rome for 150 years over the Iberian Peninsular.

In the 1st Punic War (264-241B.C.) the Carthaginian General, Hamilcar Barca, invaded Spain. By the second Punic War, (218-201B.C.), the General’s son, Hannibal, was defeated by the Romans under Publius Correlius Scipio Aemiliazus, Africanus Numantius. The North African Carthaginians’ defeat resulted in the loss of Spain with a victory for the Romans. When the Romans conquered the Carthaginians by the third Punic War (149-146B.C.), the city of Carthage was completely destructed and inhabitants sold into slavery. The Romans now ruled for the next 600 years. During the Second Punic War, the Iberian Peninsula was divided into Hispania Citerion and Hispania Ulterior.