NAME OF THE COUNTRY:

Kingdom Of Spain
CAPITAL CITY:
Madrid Is The Capital Of Spain, And The Largest Municipality Of The Community Of
Madrid. The Population Of The City Is Almost 3.2 Million With A Metropolitan
Area Population Of Approximately 6.5 Million.
LANGUAGES:
Aragonese
Astur-Leonese
Basque
Catalan
Galician
Occitan
GEOGRAPHY:
Spain is the world's fifty-second largest country and Europe's fourth largest country. It is
some 47,000 km2 (18,000 sq mi) smaller than France and 81,000 km2 (31,000 sq mi) larger
than the US state of California. Mount Teide(Tenerife) is the highest mountain peak in Spain
and is the third largest volcano in the world from its base.
Spain also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands in
the Atlantic Ocean and a number of uninhabited islands on the Mediterranean side of the
Strait of Gibraltar, known as plazas de soberana ("places of sovereignty", or territories
under [Spanish] sovereignty), such as the Chafarinas Islands and Alhucemas.

Island

Tenerife

Population

899,833

Majorca (Mallorca) 862,397

Gran Canaria

838,397

Lanzarote

141,938

Ibiza

125,053

Fuerteventura

103,107

Minorca (Menorca
92,434
)

La Palma

85,933

HISTORY:
1100 BC. Phoenician traders establish colony at Cdiz in southern Iberia.
228 BC. Carthaginians occupy southern and eastern Iberia.
218-220 BC. Romans defeat Carthage in Second Punic War and occupy Iberian peninsula.
409. Visigoths occupy Iberian peninsula.
711. Combined Arab and Berber force from northern Africa cross Strait of Gibraltar to occupy
Iberian peninsula.
913. Having re-taken territories in northern Spain, Christians establish capital in Len.
1013. Powerful Caliphate of Crdoba breaks up due to internal strife; Moorish Spain split into small
feuding kingdoms.
1212. Decisive Christian victory at battle of Navas de Tolosa spells the beginning of the end of
Moorish rule in Spain.
1492. King Fernando and Queen Isabel's army capture Granada after a long siege, the final defeat
of the Moors in Spain. Jews are forced to convert to Christianity; those who refuse are expelled
from Spain. Christopher Columbus sets sail on his voyage of discovery.
1588. Defeat of Spanish Armada sent to invade England. Spanish Empire is at the height of its
power, but is slowly declining.
1702-14. War of Spanish Succession. Bourbon dynasty accedes to Spanish throne.
1808-14. Peninsular War. Spaniards rise against Napoleon's occupying force. Combination of guerilla
tactics and support from Wellington's army end in French defeat.
1931. Spanish king is forced to abdicate. Spain becomes a republic.
1936-39. Spanish Civil War. Bloody conflict ends with General Franco's victory. Dictatorship
established.

1975. Franco dies, Juan Carlos de Borbn is proclaimed king. Spain becomes constitutional monarchy.
Democracy would bring membership of the European Community.

POLITICS:
The politics of Spain takes place under the framework established by the Constitution of
1978. Spain is established as a social and democratic state,[1] wherein the national
sovereignty is vested in the people, from which the powers of the state emanate.[1]
The form of government in Spain is a parliamentary monarchy,[1] that is, a
social representative, democratic, constitutional monarchyin which the monarch is the head
of state, while the prime minister whose official title is "president of the Government"
is thehead of government. Executive power is exercised by the government, which is
integrated by the prime minister, the deputy prime ministers, and other ministers, which
collectively form the Cabinet, or Council of Ministers.
Spain's political system is a multi-party system, but since the 1990s, two parties have been
predominant in politics, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and the People's
Party (PP).

CULTURE:
Culturally, Spain is a Western country. Almost every aspect of Spanish life is permeated by
its Roman heritage, making Spain one of the major Latin countries of Europe. Spanish
culture is marked by strong historic ties to Catholicism, which played a pivotal role in the
country's formation and subsequent identity. Spanish art, architecture, cuisine, and music
has been shaped by successive waves of foreign invaders, as well as by the country's
Mediterranean climate and geography. The centuries-long colonial era globalised Spanish
language and culture, with Spain also absorbing the cultural and commercial products of its
diverse empire.

TRADITIONS :
FOD:
Mediterranean Spain seafood such as pescato frito
Inner Spain substantial stews such as cocido madrileo.
Atlantic Spainvegetable and fish-based stews like caldo gallego and marmitako.

MUSIC:
Spanish music is often considered abroad to be synonymous with flamenco, a West
Andalusian musical genre, which, contrary to popular belief, is not widespread outside that
region. Various regional styles of folk music abound in Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, Castile,
the Basque Country, Galicia and Asturias. Pop, rock, hip hop and heavy metal are also
popular.

CLOTHERS:

Most traditional Spanish clothing is reserved for special events and celebrations. The
most common pieces, still used today, include: themantilla, the peineta and the gilet.

FAMOUS PEOPLE FROM THAT COUNTRY:

Alhambra
Part fortress, part palace and part garden the Alhambra is situated on a plateau
overlooking the city of Granada in southern Spain.

Mezquita of Cordoba
The Mezquita (Spanish for Mosque) of Cordoba is a fascinating building famous
for the forest of pillars and arches inside the main hall.

El Escorial
Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama, El Escorial was the political
center of the Spanish empire under King Philip II.