Spain South European Country

A country situated in Southern Europe, Spain covers more territory than the section of the Iberian Peninsula that constitutes its bulk. Apart from the peninsular zone, Spain also includes the archipelago of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean and the Balearic Islands situated in the Mediterranean Sea. After France, it is the largest country located in the western flank of Europe, having an area of nearly half a million square kilometers – 504,030 square kilometers to be exact. The major countries adjacent to it are Portugal, France and Morocco.

Apart from its history of human settlement, Spain is equally notable for its record of primitive human settlements. Some remains of prehistoric hominids that have been discovered here are believed to be as old as 35,000 years. One of the most noteworthy discoveries is the Altamira cave situated in the northern part of the country. The paintings of this cave date back to 15,000 years B.C. The New Stone Age as well as the Bronze Age possibly witnessed human civilization in this region.

Different civilizations and cultures have established themselves in Spain, beginning from the Celts and the Iberians. Even the Carthaginians are believed to have briefly established a base in the coastal areas. The Roman Empire eventually captured these colonies and entered the Iberian Peninsula. Germanic invaders like the Visigoths subsequently occupied the territory. The Moorish invasion displaced the Germanic invaders, but the Moors were eventually defeated during the Reconquista by the Christian kingdoms.

In the years of the European Renaissance following the marriage of Prince Ferdinand to Isabella, the country of Spain burgeoned into a colonial nation engaged in constant strife with rivals England and France. The Spanish Empire witnessed an age of exploration, expansion, conquest, discovery and culture. However, the impending threats from barbarians undermined the progress of the empire, leading to an inevitable decline.

In the mid-twentieth century, Spain became a constitutional monarchic government where the succession of the monarch was determined on the basis of heredity and lineage. The monarch was assisted by the Cortes Generales with its Council of Ministers and Congress of Deputies. The introduction of the Spanish Constitution in 1978 incorporated democracy into the administration of the country.

With the ninth largest economy in the world, Spain nevertheless has a high rate of inflation in its financial sector. However, the economy is expected to progress at a steady rate without much possibility of decline. The country has practiced Roman Catholicism since the years of the European Renaissance. However, there have been a number of Muslim emigrants settling here as well.

Castilian is the principal language of Spain. The culture of the country is as heterogeneous as it is acclaimed. Spanish cuisine is popular in various parts of the world – pizza and pasta being the ideal exemplars. If one has to consider the true extent Spanish territory, one must consider the extent to which the culture and tastes of this country has spread across the globe. Spain