PaleolithicPaleolithic The human remains of The human remains of

greatest importance in the greatest importance in the region come from the region come from the Mousterian or medium Mousterian or medium Palaeolithic, in which the Palaeolithic, in which the Neanderthal man dominated, Neanderthal man dominated, with deposits of the stature of with deposits of the stature of the Sima of the Pigeons of the the Sima of the Pigeons of the Cabezo Gordo (in Torre Cabezo Gordo (in Torre Pacheco); with materials Pacheco); with materials ranging from the 150,000 to ranging from the 150,000 to 35,000 BC, 2 or sets earlier in 35,000 BC, 2 or sets earlier in the Strait of the Incarnation in the Strait of the Incarnation in Caravaca (known as Cueva Caravaca (known as Cueva Negra), where experts had Negra), where experts had the certainty of being one of the certainty of being one of oldest Europe three stations oldest Europe three stations with age .with age .

Black Cave in Caravaca

NeoliticNeolitic In the 5th Millennium a. C. In the 5th Millennium a. C.

you can place the Neolitic in you can place the Neolitic in the region thanks to deposits the region thanks to deposits of the dry cave (Yecla), los of the dry cave (Yecla), los Grajos Barranco (Cieza), Grajos Barranco (Cieza), (Moratalla) or the Cajitán (Moratalla) or the Cajitán Hondo (Mule).Hondo (Mule).

A few thousand years later, A few thousand years later, both the agricultural and both the agricultural and livestock techniques were livestock techniques were spread across the entire area, spread across the entire area, which led to the which led to the sedentarisation of its sedentarisation of its inhabitants, something visible inhabitants, something visible in fields of Los Tollos in fields of Los Tollos (Mazarrón) or birds (Mazarrón) or birds (Cartagena), while Los Tiesos (Cartagena), while Los Tiesos (Jumilla) was used as a burial (Jumilla) was used as a burial place from new until the age place from new until the age of Bronze. of Bronze.

Mazarron tollos

Metal AgesMetal Ages The best-known in the The best-known in the

region is Bagil, in region is Bagil, in Moratalla. However Moratalla. However stands out as one of the stands out as one of the largest burials sites of largest burials sites of Spain, discovered in Spain, discovered in 2007 in the path of the 2007 in the path of the Molino in Caravaca, Molino in Caravaca, which housed the which housed the incredible amount of incredible amount of 1,300 individuals, 1,300 individuals, deposited in a bent deposited in a bent position and with a poor position and with a poor regalia, 11 (the deposit regalia, 11 (the deposit date between the 2,400 date between the 2,400 and 1,950 BC).and 1,950 BC).

Bronze age / Iron age Bronze age / Iron age

They have come to count up They have come to count up to 220 villages of the same to 220 villages of the same culture in the region of culture in the region of Murcia, dated between 2000 Murcia, dated between 2000 and 1,100 a. C.12 agreeing and 1,100 a. C.12 agreeing the building height, such as the building height, such as the Almoloya (specifications), the Almoloya (specifications), Cabezo of Adders (Mazarron), Cabezo of Adders (Mazarron), Hill of the vineyards (Coy, Hill of the vineyards (Coy, Lorca), .Some have walls and Lorca), .Some have walls and towers, which demonstrates towers, which demonstrates the advanced concept of the advanced concept of urbanism in this culture. urbanism in this culture.

As already noted, the passage As already noted, the passage of the end bronze to iron age of the end bronze to iron age in the region of Murcia is in the region of Murcia is lacking in studies, despite lacking in studies, despite deposits such as El Castellar deposits such as El Castellar (Librilla) or wheel Cabezo (Librilla) or wheel Cabezo (sewer). The reason is that in (sewer). The reason is that in the time in which the iron the time in which the iron metallurgy acquired some metallurgy acquired some importance on the Levantine importance on the Levantine coast landed merchants coast landed merchants Phoenician and later Greek.Phoenician and later Greek.

Hill of the vineyards in Lorca

Cabezo de Alcantarilla wheel

CarthaginiansCarthaginians In the year 227 BC, the In the year 227 BC, the

Carthaginian general Carthaginian general HASDRUBAL, belonging to HASDRUBAL, belonging to the Bárquida family, the Bárquida family, founded a city in the founded a city in the Iberian Southeast, located Iberian Southeast, located in an exceptional and in an exceptional and sheltered bay. It was sheltered bay. It was capable of housing a fleet capable of housing a fleet anchored safely and very anchored safely and very close to the mining close to the mining mountains that had already mountains that had already been appreciated at the been appreciated at the time of the Phoenicians. time of the Phoenicians. Thus was born Qart-Hadast Thus was born Qart-Hadast ((Carthage Carthage in Phoenician in Phoenician language), in memory of language), in memory of the North African capital the North African capital and birthplace of Asdrubaland birthplace of Asdrubal

Remains of the Punic wall of Cartago Nova

RomansRomans Villas of farming and livestock Villas of farming and livestock

and coastal regions where and coastal regions where canning factories that were canning factories that were established and produced established and produced garumgarum (a type of fish sauce). (a type of fish sauce). There are archaeological There are archaeological remains of these villages and remains of these villages and factories in the Torrejones factories in the Torrejones (Yecla), La Alberca, Villaricos (Yecla), La Alberca, Villaricos (Mule), the Cinquain (Lorca), (Mule), the Cinquain (Lorca), Los Cipreses (Jumilla), Los Cipreses (Jumilla), Mazarrón and Águilas.Mazarrón and Águilas.

Mula villaricos

Goths and ByzantinesGoths and Byzantines After the Visigothic reconquest of After the Visigothic reconquest of

Carthago SpartariaCarthago Spartaria (Cartagena), (Cartagena), the city began to decline.the city began to decline.

Orihuela, a territory occupied by Orihuela, a territory occupied by the present region of Murcia; the the present region of Murcia; the province of Alicante (complete); province of Alicante (complete); Castelló de Rugat (Valencia, and Castelló de Rugat (Valencia, and some doubt until Jativa, Xativa); some doubt until Jativa, Xativa); half of the province of Albacete half of the province of Albacete (from Elche de la Sierra to (from Elche de la Sierra to Chinchilla de Monte-Aragón); the Chinchilla de Monte-Aragón); the Almeria Vélez; Huercal of Almeria Vélez; Huercal of Granada and part of Jaén. To Granada and part of Jaén. To avoid any another invasion by avoid any another invasion by sea, the Visigoths formed a sea, the Visigoths formed a military province whose capital military province whose capital was Lorca. This generated a great was Lorca. This generated a great stability in the territory, which stability in the territory, which contrasted with the rest of the contrasted with the rest of the peninsula, which was in the midst peninsula, which was in the midst of civil war as the result of the of civil war as the result of the Visigothic Crown.Visigothic Crown.

Begastro site

MuslimsMuslims With the arrival of the Muslims in With the arrival of the Muslims in

the Iberian Peninsula, he agreed the Iberian Peninsula, he agreed with them the delivery of major with them the delivery of major cities of that territory to change cities of that territory to change that respect the lives and that respect the lives and properties of its inhabitants in properties of its inhabitants in exchange of the payment of an exchange of the payment of an annual tax. The Pact was signed annual tax. The Pact was signed in April 713 between Theodemir in April 713 between Theodemir and Abd al - Aziz ibn Musa (son of and Abd al - Aziz ibn Musa (son of the Christian Chronicles Muza the Christian Chronicles Muza moro) and comprised seven cities moro) and comprised seven cities included Orihuela, Lorca, Mula, included Orihuela, Lorca, Mula, Alicante, Begastri and others that Alicante, Begastri and others that offer questions to specialists, offer questions to specialists, which some identify with Elche, which some identify with Elche, Valencia, or the ancient Roman Valencia, or the ancient Roman IlunumIlunum. The signing of this Pact . The signing of this Pact resulted in a territory with total resulted in a territory with total autonomy (except for the autonomy (except for the payment of taxes and the payment of taxes and the obligation to deliver more obligation to deliver more traitors).traitors).

Muslim site of the brokers in Marcén

Christian Reconquista: the Christian Reconquista: the Kingdom of MurciaKingdom of Murcia

The King Jaime II of Aragon had begun to The King Jaime II of Aragon had begun to conquer the Kingdom of Murcia in 1296, offered conquer the Kingdom of Murcia in 1296, offered by Ferdinand de la Cerda to the King in by Ferdinand de la Cerda to the King in exchange of their support against the infant heir exchange of their support against the infant heir to the throne of Castile, Ferdinand IV.to the throne of Castile, Ferdinand IV.

Alicante was conquered in April, after a stiff Alicante was conquered in April, after a stiff resistance of the Castle alcazaba, Nicolau Peris resistance of the Castle alcazaba, Nicolau Peris took Guardamar with the support of the fleet, he took Guardamar with the support of the fleet, he negotiated with Don Juan Manuel, Lord of Elche negotiated with Don Juan Manuel, Lord of Elche and advance the Kingdom, continuing towards and advance the Kingdom, continuing towards Orihuela and Murcia, which capitulated, like the Orihuela and Murcia, which capitulated, like the rest of the murcian huerta. Alhama de Murcia rest of the murcian huerta. Alhama de Murcia was not surrendered until the 1298.was not surrendered until the 1298.

The conquest was facilitated by the abundant The conquest was facilitated by the abundant population of Aragonese origin, although it was population of Aragonese origin, although it was opposed by the Castilian garrisons of the castles opposed by the Castilian garrisons of the castles and the Bishop of Cartagena. A second and the Bishop of Cartagena. A second campaign to Murcia took place in 1298, campaign to Murcia took place in 1298, occupying Alhama de Murcia, and 21 December occupying Alhama de Murcia, and 21 December 1300 capitulated Lorca. In June 1300 James II 1300 capitulated Lorca. In June 1300 James II incorporated the lordship of Albarracín to the incorporated the lordship of Albarracín to the Crown of Aragon. Both Castile and Aragon Crown of Aragon. Both Castile and Aragon needed peace and signed the Treaty of Torrellas needed peace and signed the Treaty of Torrellas in 1304 and subsequently modifying the Treaty in 1304 and subsequently modifying the Treaty of Elche (1305), permanently changing the of Elche (1305), permanently changing the borders between Castile and Aragon, laid down borders between Castile and Aragon, laid down in the Treaty of Almizra (1244), incorporated in the Treaty of Almizra (1244), incorporated into the Crown of Aragon, namely the Kingdom into the Crown of Aragon, namely the Kingdom of Valencia, the Comarques of Vinalopó Valley, of Valencia, the Comarques of Vinalopó Valley, the Alacantí and the Vega Baja del Segura.the Alacantí and the Vega Baja del Segura.

medieval castle in Moratalla.

RenaissanceRenaissance

Once the peninsula had been Once the peninsula had been reconquered, and after the reconquered, and after the unification of the kingdoms of unification of the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon, the Kingdom Castile and Aragon, the Kingdom of Murcia entered a period of of Murcia entered a period of prosperity which resulted in a prosperity which resulted in a notable increasing in its notable increasing in its population. The factors that led to population. The factors that led to this development were the rise of this development were the rise of industry of silk, the mining of industry of silk, the mining of Cartagena and Mazarrón and Cartagena and Mazarrón and improvement of agriculture.The improvement of agriculture.The region has several examples of region has several examples of religious architecture from religious architecture from Renaissance such as the Church Renaissance such as the Church and convent of San Esteban (in and convent of San Esteban (in Murcia), are the first level of the Murcia), are the first level of the Tower of the Cathedral of Murcia Tower of the Cathedral of Murcia or the Collegiate Church of St or the Collegiate Church of St Patrick (in Lorca), done by Patrick (in Lorca), done by Jerónimo Quijano.Jerónimo Quijano.

The Collegiate Church of Saint Patrick in Lorca

BilbiografíaBilbiografía

http://www.lorca.es/ http://www.lorca.es/

http://www.turismorural.com/Ficha_Inf_Turistica.aspx?ID=8882&len_ap=002

http://www.wikipedia.org/

http://sobremurcia.com/