Introduction

Spain’s history goes back to the pre-Roman times. The large part of Spain’s history is majorly characterized by several downfalls, wars, retreats, as well as great ages of empires that later led to its independence. Spain’s early development that is well-regarded today as one of its significant achievements, started with the pre-Roman, Celtic, and Iberian cultures. The Celts and the Iberians were the original inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula before the Spaniards arrived. The ancient Romans, together with the Greek, Phoenicians, and Carthaginians came afterwards and conquered the area. The ancient Romans and other clans speeded up the development of Spain based on culture, language, religion, and politics. The ancient Romans played a vital role in influencing Spanish culture based on the country’s religion and language. The Romans were able to achieve this by creating Hispania as a political, legal, and administrative unit (Moreno, 2013). Apart from the Romans’ rule, the Celts and Iberians’ settlements, alongside Moorish rule greatly influenced the rich culture of Spain. Later in the middle ages, various ethnic communities aided the development of Spain’s unique language, art, music, folk traditions, literature, and Catholicism. Also, through the global influence, the Spanish Empire grew and developed extensively between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Because of these achievements, Spain became the superpower conquering territories across Europe, America, Asia, and Africa. However, it later lost this power due to political instabilities and uncertainties (Fraser &Supalla, 2009). Thus, the history and culture of Spain give an in-depth understanding of its rise, expansion, and religion,in addition to the challenges that it faced during its growth and development from the early centuries to date.

Facts about Spain’s Language and Religion

Approximately ninety-nine percent of the Spaniards speak Spanish as their first or second language (Richerson, Christiansen, and Lupp, 2013). About nineteen percent of the Spaniards speak Catalan, and five percent speaks Galician. Apart from Spain’s spoken languages, there is no main religion in the country. Richerson, Christiansen, and Lupp (2013) hold that approximately 73% of the Spaniards are Catholics, while about 22% of the people are not associated with any religion. It is also debatable that approximately 3% of the Spaniards are Muslims. Even though there is no official language in Spain, religious freedom is completely protected.

The Spanish Colonization

The first Spaniards to arrive in Hispania, currently known as Spain, were the Phoenicians. History has it that they were amongst the famous Mediterranean traders who existed around 1,500 to 600 BC. When the Phoenicians arrived in Spain in 1,100 BC, they found the city of Gadir, also known as Cadiz, which was located in southwest Spain and decided to exploit the natural resources that were found in the area. Apart from being traders, the Phoenicians were also seafarers, and practiced fishing too. The Phoenicians were known for their expensive garments that the Romans referred to as the Puni. The Phoenicians called Spain Sphaniam, meaning the land of rabbits in Phoenician. The Phoenicians are believed to have brought the shipbuilding and food conservation techniques. Based on theory, the Spaniards also believes that Phoenicians are the ones who gave Spain its name.

The Romans, Carthaginians, andthe Greeks also arrived after Phoenicians establishing their reign over Spain. The Greeks arrived in Spain after the Phoenicians replacing them as the leading power in the Mediterranean. Due to their settlement along the Mediterranean and the power they had conquered, the Greeks colonized the people who lived along the sea. The Greeks majorly dominated the southeastern and northeastern Spain. They influenced people with their culture, as well as their techniques to cultivate olives and wine. The Phoenicians called Spain Sphaniam, while the Greeks called it Hispania, meaning the land of the West. When the Greeks moved toAmpurias, which was the largest urban center in Hispania; it grew to become a large city incurrent Spain, known as Barcelona. The Carthaginians also arrived in Hispania after the Greek conquest; they are known to have been the third significant Mediterranean power in the history of Spain. The Carthaginians focused more on colonizing Iberia, but pushed more to colonize Carthago Nova. The Carthaginians are well known for their usage of animals, harbor engineering, and innovations in naval warfare. The Carthaginians also conquered cities, such as AkraLeuke and Eivissa, currently known as Alicante and Ibiza respectively.

The Romans also arrived in Spain during the First Punic War and conquered the Greeks’ colonies in the Western Mediterranean, Italy. Also, the Romans dominated the Carthaginian land during the Second Punic War in Spain. Similarly, Rome ruled over the Carthage mainland, Greece. It then expanded its rule further into Spain. The extensive expansion of the Romans’ conquest of Spain gave them power and legacy; this era was called the Golden Age of the Roman Republic. Various big cities that belonged to the Romans included the Tarraco, Saguntum, Hispalis, Corduba, Toletum, and Segovia, among others. It is believed that during the Romans’ rule, nearly every major town in Spain adopted a common culture. According to the history of Spain, Rome is said to be the mother of the Spanish culture. Some Spaniards argue that other colonizers, such as the Phoenicians and the Greeks left some input in Spain, while Rome left the Spanish culture and identity. The Romans influenced the Spanish language, diet, lifestyle, religion, and traditions; up-to-date, the Spaniards have kept this culture intact. The Suebi, Alans, Visigoths, and Moors also colonized Spain after the Romans’ rule.

The Nature of the Tribes that Lived in Spain before the Arrival of the Spaniards

Before the Phoenicians moved to Spain, the Celts and the Iberians were the only tribes that lived in the Iberian Peninsula. The religious practices of the Celts involved worshipping many gods. The Celtic paganism, also referred to as the Celtic polytheism, contained the religious practices and beliefs that were honored by the Iron Age people,who are the Celts. Various archaeologists argue that the Celts had many gods and goddesses whom they worshipped through sacrifices to keep them happy. The Celts offered to their gods and goddesses valuable objects as sacrifices and also weapons which they threw into rivers and lakes that were considered special as a sign of sacrifice. The Iberians also recognized several gods and offered sacrifices to them just like the Celts. Before the Christianization that was brought by the Romans, the religious practices along the Iberian Peninsula were based on the traditions as mentioned above.

The material culture of the Iberians and the Celts helped them survive before the arrival of the Spaniards. The Iberians could write,and also had skills in metalworking. Further, they had unique agricultural techniques. The Celts also had the knowledge of horse trapping, as well as metalworking that included equipment of war, such as prestige weapons. Further, the Celts learned to write from the Iberians. Similarly, the political structure of the Iberians was diverse compared to that of the Celts. For instance, the former lived in more secure rural areas, whereas the latter lived in less safe villages (Berrocal-Rangel, 2005). The Iberians’ communities were based on the tribal organization that was divided into different classes that included the chieftains or the kings, priests, nobles, artisans, as well as slaves. The Iberian kings were expected to maintain their power through a major system of vassalage that was termed as fides by the Romans.

The Interaction between the first People in Spain and the Spaniards

The relationship between the tribes that lived along the Iberian Peninsula and the first Spaniards to arrive in those areas must have been exemplary, since it resulted in the extension of the Iberian settlements alongside the development of religious stratification (Fraser &Supalla, 2009). It also resulted in urbanization. The Iberians and the Celtics learned various techniques from the Phoenicians, such as food preservation, as well as shipbuilding skills. The Phoenicians, being business persons, continued to trade with other empires after they conquered the Iberian Peninsula; they gave the Iberians the opportunity to learn about trade techniques. Also, when the Romans established their rule in Spain, the Celts and the Iberians followed their religious ways and became Christians. The Celts and the Iberians stopped worshipping many gods and goddesses after being influenced by the Romans’ teachings on Christianity. The cultural interminglingbetween the two mentioned tribes, the Phoenicians,and the Romans led to Spain’s expansion based on its social, political, and religious units.

The spread of the Roman Catholicism

The Catholicism in Spain has a long history that started in the first century. Currently, in Spain, the Catholicism is the largest religion. Approximately seventy percent of the Spaniards are identified with the religion. The Romans made several attempts to establish the Catholic Church along the Iberian Peninsula from the late first to the late third century, when they succeeded. The Romans were able to establish Catholicism through colonization of the Iberian Peninsula. Around 313 AD, the Christians were at liberty to practice their religion within the Roman Empire (Moreno, 2013). Christianity spread in Spain during the Golden Age, and throughout the fourth century, the Romans built various churches around Toledo, Cordoba, and Seville, which acted as grounds for Catholic teachings through evangelism. The people that lived in Spain before the Spaniards arrived were converted into Christianity; this is the same case with the Spaniards who arrived before the Romans. The Romans influenced the Spanish people to adopt Catholicism as their religion, and many were converted before other religions such as the Protestants and Muslims came into existence.

The Nature of the Culture that Developed from this Mixture

The spread of the Roman Catholicism led to cultural diversity. For instance, as mentioned earlier, the Celts and the Iberians adored various gods and goddesses and offered sacrifices to please them before Christianization was brought by the Roman Empire. Through Roman teachings of Christianity, the Celts and the Iberians’ religious practices or ways were condemned. Consequentially, they were taught the new path of Christianity. The Christian teachings by the Romans were instrumental in influencing the Celts and the Iberian’s culture from polytheism or paganism to Christianity. Apart from the Celts and the Iberians whose culture was greatly influenced by Roman’s religion, the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and the Greeks also became part of the Roman Catholicism by following their religious ways and culture.

Protestantism in Spain

The first Protestants arrived in the mentioned country in the 16th century. During their arrival, Catholicism was the only religion that had established in Spain. The establishment of the Protestantism in Spain was influenced by several theologians who secretly spread its knowledge to the people. Despite the many attempts to establish Protestantism in Spain, the Protestants did not succeed because they faced numerous challenges due to Catholicism that was recognized as the legitimate religion in the region. During the Francoist error, the Protestants were intentionally marginalized and killed (Fraser &Supalla, 2009). For example, during the Spanish Civil War, the rebel forces killed many Protestants, while others were forced into exile.

Also, through the authoritarian rule, the non-Catholic translations were condemned and removed by the police. Besides, all Protestants’ schools were closed. In 1945, the Spanish Bill of Rights was enacted to guarantee freedom of private worship. However, Protestants did not enjoy this right, as their activities were prohibited in public. The Protestants were also forbidden to conduct mass activities in buildings that would indicate that they were in the house of worship.Catholicism was declared the official religion for the state, and any Protestantism ideas would lead to persecution and imprisonment in a Concordate jail. Currently, in Spain, the Religious Freedom Act of 1980 protects Protestants. The law guarantees religious liberty to the minorities. Consequentially, a significant number of people living in Spain today are Protestants (Fraser &Supalla, 2009).

The Relationship between Protestants and Catholics in Spain

Spain’s law of Religious Freedom of 1980 has granted the Spanish people who practice Protestantism a great chance to worship without facing imprisonment or persecution for not following the rules of Catholic Church. Although none of the religions is considered superior to others in Spain today, the Catholic Church is still the largest with approximately seventy-five percent of worshippers. Thus, the relationship between the Protestants and the Catholics is little because both are committed to their religious teachings and practices. Although there is a religious barrier between modern Protestants and Catholics, the formerhave deliberately chosen to ignore the Catholic teachings and practices.

Nature of the Continuing Tribal Languages and Cultures in Spain

The major tribal languages spoken in Spain are the Castilian, Catalan, Galician, and Basques. The four tribal languages are unique in relation to the continuity of the Spanish culture. In this country, culture and language are seen to be narrowly connected, that is, the Spanish language is perceived as a verbal expression of culture. The Spaniards believe that a significant percentage of their language is mainly used to demonstrate cultural links. Thus, language is one of the significant factors in Spain that shapes the overall culture of the Spanish people.

Present Developments in Spain and its Political Challenges

In the current world, Spain has significantly developed both economically and culturally. For instance, the country has maintained a steady development in the tourism industry in the last five years. In the global business sector, Spain is among the states that dominate theworld’s tourism industry. Consequentially, the tourism sector has extensively boosted Spain’s infrastructural development, since it continually stimulates the country’s exports and imports (Molina & Rhodes, 2017). Due to international trade between Spain and other countries, its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has steadily grown since 2016. Apart from tourism, Spain is also carrying out a lot of investments to enhance per capita income. Generally, the economy of Spain has significantly established, thus, creating more job opportunities for its citizens. As a result, the standards of living have gone high.

Moreover, Spain has had some cultural developments compared to the times of the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, and the Romans’ rule. Currently, the culture of Spanish people is not only entailed of religious or political beliefs, but rather,it involves more fun; it is entertaining to both the Spaniards and non-Spaniards. The culture of the Spaniards is known for its various fascinating beaches which are characterized by flamenco dance, in addition to other entertaining activities (Richards &Munsters, 2010). Also, the rates of marriage among the Spaniardshave declined since the mid nineteen seventies, with a significant number of couples having at most two children. The development of the Spanish culture has tremendously shaped the people’s way of life in Spain, as well as influenced the expectations of those visiting the country.

Despite these significant developments in Spain, the country still faces some political instabilities and uncertainties that have undermined its growth. For instance, political differences have tremendously affected Spain’s politics. This is because every leader is focused on achieving his or her interests. In the process, they fail to attend to the needs of ordinary citizens (Merriman, 2009). Conflicts among politicians have caused the downfall of many countries and, thus, Spain needs to establish ways that can help solve this problem. Similarly, the corrupt central government is also among the challenges that are experienced by the Spaniards. The government is more focused on doing things without considering the views of citizens. Spain is a country that has fought hard to become what it is today and, thus, its leaders ought to execute ways that can maximize its growth and development than ever before.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ and how it shaped the Roman Teachings on Christianity in Spain

According to (Mark 16:15), Catholicism had its teachings based onthe gospels of John, Mark, Mathew, and Luke.Catholics preached the gospel to the people and reminded them that there was only one God. Through the holy books, they were able to change people from worshipping gods and goddesses to acknowledging the existence of only one true God.

Conclusion

The history and culture of Spain are based on diverse historical influences. Understanding how Spain grew and developed is significant because it gives an in-depth knowledge of how the Spaniards arrived in the region, their various missions, as well as accomplishments. The arrival of the Roman Empire together with the Protestants, in addition to the Muslims, explains the past and present religious beliefs of the Spaniards. The economy of the Spanish people has shown tremendous improvement since the middle-ages to date. Also, it is evident that the culture of the Spaniards is advanced and unique compared to their traditions. Thus, it is crystal clear that the Spanish people have evolved since their first arrival into Spain, and that expansion is continuing till today.

References

Bible, H. English Standard Version. Retrieved from https://www.biblestudytools.com/esv/

Bible, H. (1995). New American Standard Bible. Grand Rapids: World.

Berrocal-Rangel, L. (2005). The Celts of the Southwestern Iberian Peninsula. e-Keltoi: Journal of Interdisciplinary Celtic Studies, 6, 1-16.

Merriman, J. (2009). A history of modern Europe: from the Renaissance to the present (Vol. 1). WW Norton & Company.

Fraser, B., &Supalla, S. (2009). Deaf history and culture in Spain: A reader of primary documents. Gallaudet University Press.

Richards, G., &Munsters, W. (Eds.). (2010). Cultural tourism research methods. Cabi.

Green, M. (2012). The Celtic World. Routledge.

Moreno, L. (2013). The federalization of Spain. Routledge.

Richerson, P. J., Christiansen, M. H., &Lupp, J. (Eds.). (2013). Cultural evolution: Society, technology, language, and religion (Vol. 12). MIT Press.

Molina, O., & Rhodes, M. (2017). The political economy of adjustment in mixed market economies: A study of Spain. Beyond Varieties of Capitalism: Conflict, Contradictions and Complementarities in the European Economy, 223-252.

Do you need high quality Custom Essay Writing Services?