Spain

Where the name comes from

Spain comes from Latin Hispania, of disputed origin; one suggested Punic root, “island of hyraxes”, may reflect Phoenicians mistaking local rabbits for hyraxes.

First people

Early humans lived at Atapuerca more than 800,000 years ago, and the cave paintings of Altamira are about 36,000 years old.^1,2

Known for

Spain is known for flamenco, for Gaudí’s Sagrada Família in Barcelona and for the running of the bulls in Pamplona.³

Outside contact

Roman, Visigothic and Muslim-ruled societies shaped the peninsula in turn, and Muslim rule ended with the fall of Granada in 1492.^4,5

The modern country

The marriage of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon in 1469 joined two royal houses, though their lands kept separate institutions; today’s state still includes several lasting languages and regional identities.^6,7,8