Spain

Spain is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Its history is rich and diverse, shaped by various civilizations and cultures. The region was initially inhabited by ancient Iberians and Celts, but came under Roman rule in 218 BC. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Visigoths established their kingdom in Spain. In 711, a Muslim invasion led to the creation of Al-Andalus, an Islamic state that flourished until the Christian Reconquista began in the 11th century. By the 15th century, Christian kingdoms gradually reconquered the entire peninsula. This period marked the beginning of the Spanish Golden Age, a period of significant cultural and economic growth. In the following centuries, Spain became a dominant global power through colonization, primarily in the Americas. However, political decline and economic instability along with the loss of multiple colonies led to a tumultuous 19th and 20th century for Spain. The country experienced a civil war (1936-1939) and endured a dictatorship under Francisco Franco until 1975. Today, Spain is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy and a member of the European Union.