Iberian Peninsula

The Iberian Peninsula (IPA: /aɪˈbɪəriən/ eye-BEER-ee-ən), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in southwestern Europe. It is mostly separated from the rest of Europe by the Pyrenees mountains.

This land holds Peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, which together make up almost all of the area. Smaller places like Andorra, Gibraltar, and a tiny part of Metropolitan France are also part of the Iberian Peninsula.

With an area of about 583,254 square kilometres (225,196 sq mi) and a population of around 53 million, it is the second-largest European peninsula by size, just after the Scandinavian Peninsula. The Iberian Peninsula has a rich history and culture that have shaped much of Europe's story.

Etymology

The name "Iberian Peninsula" comes from the River Ebro. Ancient Greeks called this river Ibēros, and Romans called it Ibērus or Hibērus. Because the river was so important, early writers used the name "Iberia" for the land nearby. Over time, this name stayed and now refers to the whole peninsula.

Ancient Greeks were the first to use the name Iberia. Later, Romans used the name Hispania for the same area. Today, we call it the Iberian Peninsula. People first used this term in 1823. Before that, it was often called the "Spanish Peninsula."

Prehistory

Main article: Prehistoric Iberia

The Iberian Peninsula has been home to humans for over a million years. Early human-like beings lived there, and later, Neanderthals arrived. Eventually, modern humans came, creating many different cultures and forms of art.

During a time called the Neolithic, large stone structures were built across the land. New people arrived from far away, bringing changes to the lives of those already there. Later, during the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age, new cultures formed, creating tools from metals and building settlements. These times brought many changes to the way people lived and worked together.

Proto-history

Main article: Pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian Peninsula

By the Iron Age, which began in the 8th century BCE, the Iberian Peninsula had many advanced societies. These included groups such as the Celtiberians, Gallaeci, Astures, Celtici, and Lusitanians, as well as the Iberians in the east and south, and the Aquitanian people near the Pyrenees.

Long ago, around the 12th century BCE, sea-faring people called the Phoenicians began visiting the coast of the peninsula. They set up a trading place called Gadir or Gades, which is now Cádiz. Later, other seafaring cultures like the Greeks and Carthaginians also established settlements along the Mediterranean coast. These groups traded with local communities and helped create early writing systems in the region.

History

Roman rule

See also: Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula

In 218 BCE, during the Second Punic War against the Carthaginians, Roman troops first entered the Iberian Peninsula, which they called Hispania. After 197 BCE, the Romans divided the lands they knew well — along the Mediterranean coast and the Guadalquivir Valley — into two parts: Hispania Ulterior and Hispania Citerior. Some local groups fought back, but Rome settled these areas.

The Romans kept control of the land for 600 years. They brought the Latin language, which later evolved into the languages spoken in the Iberian Peninsula today, except for Basque.

See also: Lusitania, Hispania Tarraconensis, and Hispania Baetica

Pre-modern Iberia

See also: Visigothic Kingdom, Al-Andalus, Spania, and Kingdom of the Suebi

In the early fifth century, groups from Germany entered the peninsula, such as the Suebi, the Vandals, and the Alans. Later, the Visigoths arrived and took control. They also took over the lands of the Suebi.

In 711 CE, a Muslim army led by Tariq ibn Ziyad crossed into the peninsula and took most of it over the next eight years. They called the land they controlled Al-Andalus. The new rulers were mostly Arabs and Berbers. Many local people gradually adopted the Muslim way of life. Christians and Jews were allowed to live under certain conditions.

The Muslim rulers faced challenges, including a big uprising by the Berbers in the 740s. Later, a new leader named Abd al-Rahman I established an independent state in Al-Andalus. Under leaders like Abd-ar-Rahman III and al-Hakam II, Al-Andalus became a center of learning and culture.

During this time, Christian kingdoms in the north, such as Castile, Aragon, Navarre, León and Portugal, grew. They often fought with the Muslim rulers but also sometimes made peace. Slowly, the Christian kingdoms moved south, taking back land from Muslim rule — a process known as the "Reconquista".

The Muslim state in Al-Andalus broke apart into smaller kingdoms called taifas. Christian kings took more land, and new Muslim groups, like the Almoravids and later the Almohads, came from Africa to support the Muslim rulers.

By the 13th century, trade between the Christian kingdoms grew stronger, especially with Genoa and Pisa. The Crown of Aragon built an empire in the Mediterranean Sea, controlling islands like the Balearics, Sicily and Sardinia.

The 14th century brought hard times. The 1348–1350 bubonic plague caused many deaths and empty settlements.

See also: Massacre of 1391

The last Muslim kingdom, Granada, fell to Christian forces in 1492. Many Muslims and Jews were ordered to leave or change their religion. Thousands moved to North Africa or other lands.

Modern Iberia

Challenging older ideas, some historians say that modern economic systems began with the Iberian expansion in the 15th century. In the 16th century, Spain built a huge empire in the Americas. Trade centers like Seville became very busy.

In 1580, Portugal joined Spain in a political union that lasted until 1640. During this time, trade grew, including the transatlantic slave trade.

By the 17th century, both Portugal and Spain faced tough economic times. Cities like Lisbon and Seville remained important, but many areas suffered from decline.

Despite both Portugal and Spain starting reforms in the early 19th century, big changes in population patterns didn’t happen until after World War II, when many people moved from rural areas to cities.

See also: History of Andorra, History of Gibraltar, History of Portugal, History of Spain, and History of France

Geography and geology

Main articles: Geography of Spain, Geography of Portugal, and Geography of Andorra

The Iberian Peninsula is the farthest west of the three big peninsulas in southern Europe. It is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the southeast and east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the north, west, and southwest. The Pyrenees mountains are along the northeast edge where it meets the rest of Europe. The southern tip, in Tarifa, is the southernmost point of Europe and is close to Africa, separated by the Strait of Gibraltar.

The peninsula is about 583,254 square kilometres in size and has many different landforms. Mountains run from west to east, with some reaching about 3,000 metres high. The land has wide valleys, flat areas, and coastlines. Important rivers such as the Ebro, Douro, Tagus, Guadiana, and Guadalquivir flow through these valleys. The area also has several mountain systems, including the Pyrenees, the Cantabrian Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada, home to the highest point on the peninsula, Mulhacén at 3,478 metres.

Political divisions

The Iberian Peninsula is mainly made up of Portugal and Spain. It also includes the small country of Andorra, a tiny part of France called French Cerdagne, and Gibraltar, which belongs to Britain. The Pyrenees mountains separate this area from the rest of Europe. Some islands and other faraway places belong to Portugal and Spain but are not part of the peninsula itself.

Cities

The Iberian Peninsula has many important cities. The three biggest cities are Barcelona, Lisbon, and Madrid. There are also four other big cities: Bilbao, Porto, Seville, and Valencia. Madrid is very important because it has many services and is easy to reach from other places.

Some areas around these cities have over one million people living in them. You can learn more about the cities in Spain and Portugal.

Ecology

Main article: Forests of the Iberian Peninsula

The Iberian Peninsula has special forests and animals that make it unique. These areas are home to different plants and creatures.

One famous animal is the endangered Iberian lynx. Scientists also found a new type of lizard called Podarcis virescens near rivers.

The Iberian Peninsula is important for birds that fly long distances. Many birds rest here when they travel from northern Europe to Africa. Millions of birds spend their winters in wet areas and near the coasts, in places like the Galicia region, the Aveiro Lagoon in Ribatejo Province, and the Sado Estuary. These areas welcome many kinds of birds each year.

Languages

Main article: Languages of Iberia

Further information: Languages of Andorra, Languages of Gibraltar, Languages of France, Languages of Spain, and Languages of Portugal

The Iberian Peninsula has many languages. Most come from an old language called Vulgar Latin. One special language is Basque, which has an unknown origin. Today, the most common languages are Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, Galician, and Basque. Spanish and Portuguese are spoken in many parts of the world. There are also smaller languages like Astur-leonese and Aragonese. In Gibraltar, English is the official language, and there is a special mix of English and Spanish called Llanito.

Transportation

Spain and Portugal use a special railroad track width that started in the 1800s. Spain has built new fast rail lines, like the one between Madrid and Seville, and others linking big cities. Portugal stopped planning fast rail lines after money problems in 2008.

There are only a few railroad connections between Spain and France because of the tall Pyrenees mountains. Spain and Portugal have several places where their railroads meet. Plans are underway to improve railroad paths to help ports in Spain and Portugal work better with the rest of Europe and the world.

Many important underwater internet wires land in the Iberian Peninsula, linking it to other parts of the world. There are also gas pipelines bringing natural gas from Morocco and Algeria to Spain.

Economy

The main money used in the Iberian Peninsula is the Euro, except in Gibraltar, where they use the Gibraltar Pound. This has the same value as the Sterling.

Important jobs on the peninsula include mining, tourism, farming small crops, and fishing. Fishing is very popular along the coast, especially for sardines, tuna, and anchovies. Most mining happens in the Pyrenees mountains and includes finding iron, gold, coal, lead, silver, zinc, and salt.

The small country of Andorra and the area of Gibraltar have some special rules about taxes.

Some parts of Spain, like Galicia, have been places where certain illegal goods have entered Europe.