Spain: Passion for the past, Inspiration for the future

Spain’s historySpain’s historyA cultural crossroads, A mosaic of A cultural crossroads, A mosaic of people, languages, and religionspeople, languages, and religions

At the crossroads between Europe and Africa: At the crossroads between Europe and Africa: Greek, Roman, German, French, and African Greek, Roman, German, French, and African

influences—influences— The varied architecture of Spain illustrates the The varied architecture of Spain illustrates the

different peoples and religions that have made their different peoples and religions that have made their contributions to Spain throughout history.contributions to Spain throughout history.

Religions: Jews, Christians and Religions: Jews, Christians and the Islamic Moorsthe Islamic Moors

There were periods There were periods in which people of all in which people of all three religions three religions coexisted peacefully, coexisted peacefully, They all left their They all left their mark in the culture mark in the culture of modern day Spain of modern day Spain and its people. and its people.

The varying geography of The varying geography of SpainSpain

High tableland plains– High tableland plains– Over 60,000 mi.Over 60,000 mi.2 2 are above 2000 ft.are above 2000 ft. Vast mountain ranges— Vast mountain ranges— The Pyrenees, Central Sierras, The Pyrenees, Central Sierras,

Iberian, Cantabrian, Betic Cordilleras, and Sierra NevadasIberian, Cantabrian, Betic Cordilleras, and Sierra Nevadas

Coastlines of the Atlantic and Mediterranean SeaCoastlines of the Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea

Queen Isabelle and King Queen Isabelle and King FerdinandFerdinand

Spain is really the combination of two kingdoms: Spain is really the combination of two kingdoms: Ferdinand’s Aragon and Isabelle’s CastileFerdinand’s Aragon and Isabelle’s Castile

Officially united in 1716 as the centralized State of SpainOfficially united in 1716 as the centralized State of Spain

Abundant Mineral Resources have Abundant Mineral Resources have helped make Spain wealthy and helped make Spain wealthy and powerful throughout its historypowerful throughout its history

Lead mine in Linares

Iron in the water at Rio Tinto

Mercury, found in association with its

ore mineral, cinnabar.

In addition to iron, lead and mercury,

Coal, zinc and lead are also important

A brief early history A brief early history of Spain’s peopleof Spain’s people

From the earliest cave paintings at Altimira to:From the earliest cave paintings at Altimira to: 500 BC: Greeks500 BC: Greeks ~200 BC: Romans~200 BC: Romans 44thth Cen. AD: Visigoths Cen. AD: Visigoths ~700 AD: Moslems~700 AD: Moslems 900-1500 AD: Moslems lose ground to Christians 900-1500 AD: Moslems lose ground to Christians

moving from North to Southmoving from North to South 1492: Moslems defeated under rule of Catholic 1492: Moslems defeated under rule of Catholic

Christian monarchs Isabella and Ferdinand, Jews Christian monarchs Isabella and Ferdinand, Jews expelled, expelled, CristCristóóbal Colonbal Colon sails for Asia and begins sails for Asia and begins Spain’s conquest of the Americas, Inquisition Spain’s conquest of the Americas, Inquisition launched.launched.

Spain’s rich heritage of scientific Spain’s rich heritage of scientific discoverydiscovery

Great Moslem scientists had schools of Great Moslem scientists had schools of astronomy and mathematics and developed astronomy and mathematics and developed cutting-edge technological Instruments by cutting-edge technological Instruments by which sailors navigated by the stars.which sailors navigated by the stars.

The tradition of great Spanish scientists The tradition of great Spanish scientists continues today: In 1906 the Nobelcontinues today: In 1906 the Nobel

Prize for medicine went to Santiago Prize for medicine went to Santiago

Ramón y Cajal. Ramón y Cajal.

Today, a modern Spanish scientist, Today, a modern Spanish scientist, MariaMaria

Blasco is winning awards for her workBlasco is winning awards for her work

in her field of genetics.in her field of genetics.

The rain in Spain… rarely falls The rain in Spain… rarely falls on the plain.on the plain.

Wet SpainWet Spain

In the North and North- In the North and North- West, it is cooler and West, it is cooler and

there is enough rain to there is enough rain to grow corn grow corn

Dry SpainDry Spain

In the inland areas, the In the inland areas, the climate is continental with climate is continental with extremes of hot and cold, extremes of hot and cold,

& unreliable rainfall. Crops & unreliable rainfall. Crops are apples and hazelnutsare apples and hazelnuts

Mediterranean Spain-Mediterranean Spain-

There it is warm and mild, and they grow There it is warm and mild, and they grow grapes, rice in irrigated fields, vegetables, grapes, rice in irrigated fields, vegetables, and citrus like the famous Valencia oranges.and citrus like the famous Valencia oranges.

Spain’s political climate Spain’s political climate today.today.

Today, Spain’s parliamentary monarchy Today, Spain’s parliamentary monarchy (similar to England’s) is on the leading (similar to England’s) is on the leading edge of democracy and tolerance in edge of democracy and tolerance in Europe, reminiscent of its earliest Europe, reminiscent of its earliest years in which Jews, Moslems and years in which Jews, Moslems and Christians coexisted peacefully.Christians coexisted peacefully.

In 1978 they signed a constitution that In 1978 they signed a constitution that banned torture and the death penalty, banned torture and the death penalty,

and legalized same-gender and legalized same-gender marriages.marriages.