Ancient history in the Iberian Peninsula

Indo-European invasions (900-600 B.C.)

Pacific arrival around 900 B.C.-600 B.C from Central Europe (lndoEuropean language). Metallurgical knowledge, incineration.

Historical colonalizations
Coming from the East of the Mediterranean to trade and to control the commerce in metals (copper, tin, silver, gold).

Phoenicians (twelfth-seventh B.C)

Origins: In the twelfth century B.C. the Phoenicians, a people of tradesmen of the near East, after having established themselves in Sicily and the Northern coast of Africa, reached the iberian Peninsula. They were representatives of the city-state Tiro. They traded in fish, metals, craftswork, also gold articles and silver ware. They exchanged precious metals with the tribes for luxury products (jewels and ceramics). They were above all very active in the eighth century. Their first foundation was in Gades (Cdiz, 1100 B.C) which means stronghold. Afterwards, they extended along the Mediterranean shore and had an important foundation in Malaca (Mlaga). They did not cross the Atlantic Ocean, probably because their ships were not apt for this trip. Their foundatons were colonial trading posts situated in ideal places for the commerce with the native populations. In the Peninsula there are now several different cultures influenced by the Phoenicians. The Phoenicians introduced new inventions like coins, the use of the alphabet, new techniques for the productions of ceramics, and they also introduced the salting of fish for its conservation.

Greek colonization
They came to the Peninsula attracted by the trade in salt, metals, fish, and agricultural products, and also by the wealth of the legendary tartesic civilization. They created several colonies along the Costa Brava, like Ampurias, Rosas, Mainake. Before the foundation of these colonies, the Greeks interested in the trading with Tartessos in Andaluca. They established relations with the tribes from the South, the centre and the East of the Peninsula. Although they did lived seperated from them. They had their own institutions, laws and judges. They competed with the Phoenicians. Between 580 and 540 B. C. they developed their most intense activities.

Carthaginians (Sixth century B. C.).

The Carthaginians are the successors of the Phoenicians and their presence meant a debilitation of the presence of the Greeks, who abandoned the Peninsula around 535 B. C. Their metropolis was Carthage (now Tunisia) a strong economical and military power of the seventh century B. C. They continued the colonies of the Phoenicians and created some new ones like Cartago-Nova (Cartagena in the region of Murcia), which was converted by them in the capital of the province. They imposed their trade dominion to control the zones of the mines, of the grain and other cereals, silver. They also were interested in horses and mercenaries. In the third century B.C. they fought with Rome the so called Punic Wars. After the first one ( 264 241 B.C.) they were expulsed from Sicily and, in consequence, intensified their presence in the Peninsula. One of their best known leaders was of course Hannibal, who organized the colonalization of the interior of the Peninsula. The beros were not very well organised politically. This brought the Romans to the Peninsula, and the beginning the the second Punic war. The end of the presence of Carthago is situated normally in the battles of Baecula and Illipa (209 B. C.), when Asdrbal had to abandon the Peninsula to bring aid to Hannibal in Italy.

Tartessos (s. VII-VI b. C)

Tartessos: territory between Huelva and Bajo Guadalquivir. Period: started at the end of the Bronze Age The information we have about Tartessos comes from Greek sources. Greek historians however, do not agree on the meaning of Tartessos. Some say it is a city, some a kingdom, some a river. So the sources must be compared with the archaeological discoveries. Nowadays lots of historians identify Tartessos with a culture. The culture of Tartessos was developed as a consequence of the assimilation by the native population of the influence which exerted the Phoenicians over them. As a result of this process, a new culture was formed.

The native population

The oldest centres of the native population were: Huelva, Mesas de Asta, Lebrija, Carmona, Montemoln, Setefilla.

The archaeological discoveries of this native culture are above all grave monuments, rests of constructions (huts) made of ephimeral material, ceramics, weapons,... Phoenician influence: trade, luxury,...

Script
The Greek author Estrabn mentions regarding the population of Tartessos that their culture was held for the most developed of the Peninsula. They not only used writing, but they had their own literature expressed in historical chronicles, poems and legends. Their script is known because of the grave monuments dating from the seventh and fifth century B. C., and is known as la escritura del Sudoeste. It has not been deciphered. It betrays the influence of the Phoenician alphabet, but it also betrays the influence of the Greeks. It is not known if the language of the people of Tartessos belonged to the Indoeuropean language

Argantonio
The Greeks established relations with Tartessos in the times of Argantonio, the only historical king of Tartessos Argantonio was interested in establishing commercial relations with the Greeks, because he did not want to depend only on the Phoenicians. However, the Greeks were attacked by the Carthaginians, and were expelled from the south of the Peninsula

The end of Tartessos

Several factors had a role in the end of the culture of Tartessos: The exhaustion of the mines Ao 573 B.C., Tiro was attacked by Nabucodonosor and fell. The commercial network created by the Phoenicians was destroyed

Iberian/Celts (Celtiberics)
Iberian
Descendants of originary people of the Peninsula, although some theories defend that they came from the North of Africa. They lived at the east of the Pennsula. They were divided in tribes as the Lacetanos, Edetanos, Bascetanos y Turdetanos. City-States that dominated its surroundings. Similar currency to the greek one. Important development of the agriculture and ganadery. Richer than the celts, because of its relation with phoenicians and greeks. We have rests of its religion as the dama de Baza or the Elche one, with funerary character

Celts (Celtiberics)

Descendants of people that came from Europe, mixed with originary people of the Peninsula. They lived at the west of the Peninsula. They were divided in tribes. At the north galaicos, astures and cntabros, in Portugal lusitanians and in the central plateau (meseta) and the valley of the Ebro, the culture of the Verracos. Poorer than the iberian, as its economy was based in agriculture and ganadery.

They created the castros, specially important in Galicia and Asturias (Coaa).

ROMAN CONQUEST
The Punic Wars (218-202 b. C.) Opposition of the different people of the Iberian Peninsula. 3 phases of the conquest: The mediterranean (218-170 b.C). Scipio, the African founded the first roman city Itlica (Sevilla). Two provinces: Ulterior and Citerior. Penetration at the plateau (2nd half of the II century b. C.) Two celtiberian wars: lusitans (147-139) and Arvacos, 153-133, Numancia (133 b. C.) The cantabrian conquest (one century later). The romanization just finished with Augustus (26-19 b.C). --Economic motivations.