Spanish History
Spain has a long and varied history, dating back to when the country was first inhabited by Neanderthals some 800,000 years ago. Since then, the country has been through a lot – from being conquered by the Romans and Visigoths to being under Moorish rule for centuries, to being one of the most powerful empires in the world during the height of the Spanish Empire in the 16th century.
Let’s take a look at some of the key moments in Spanish history:
The first inhabitants of Spain were Neanderthals, who lived in the country around 800,000 years ago.
The first recorded settlers in Spain were the Celts, who arrived from central Europe around 1000 BCE.
Around 600 BCE, the Phoenicians founded the city of Cadiz, which became an important trading post for the Phoenician empire.
In 218 BCE, the first Punic War broke out between Rome and Carthage. Spain became embroiled in this conflict as Carthage used Spanish territory as a base from which to launch attacks on Rome.
The second Punic War broke out in 149 BCE, with Spain again being caught in the middle. This time, it was Rome that was using Spanish territory as a base from which to launch attacks on Carthage.
In 19 BCE, the Romans conquered Spain and it became a province of the Roman empire.
In 410 CE, the Visigoths sacked Rome and then moved into Spain, where they set up their own kingdom.
In 711 CE, the Moors invaded Spain from North Africa and conquered the Visigoth kingdom. Muslim rule in Spain, known as Al-Andalus, lasted for centuries.
In 1469, Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile married, uniting the two largest kingdoms in Spain.
In 1492, the Spanish empire reached its height under Ferdinand and Isabella with the conquest of Granada, the last Muslim stronghold in Spain. This was also the year that Christopher Columbus set sail from Spain on his famous voyage to the Americas.
In 1556, Philip II of Spain inherited the throne, becoming the most powerful monarch in Europe. Under his rule, Spain became even more powerful with the conquest of Portugal in 1580.
In 1609, Spain suffered a disastrous defeat at the Battle of Lepanto at the hands of a coalition of European nations led by the Pope.
In the early 1800s, Spain was ravaged by the Napoleonic Wars and lost many of its colonies in the Americas.
In 1898, Spain lost its last major colony, Cuba, in the Spanish-American War.
In 1936, the Spanish Civil War broke out, pitting the Republicans, who were loyal to the government, against the Nationalists, who were led by General Francisco Franco. Franco emerged victorious in 1939 and ruled Spain as a dictator until his death in 1975.
Since Franco’s death, Spain has been a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. In 1986, Spain joined the European Union..Official source
How to make Capriccio Sangria
Assuming you would like a recipe for Capriccio Sangria:
Ingredients:
1 (750 ml) bottle red wine
1 cup orange juice
1/2 cup brandy
1/4 cup triple sec
1/2 cup white sugar
1 orange, sliced into rounds
1 lemon, sliced into rounds
1 lime, sliced into rounds
1/2 cup maraschino cherries
Instructions:
1. In a large pitcher, combine the red wine, orange juice, brandy, triple sec, and white sugar.
2. Add the orange, lemon, lime, and maraschino cherries.
3. Stir well and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. Serve over ice.
Visit howtomakesangria.net to learn more about capriccio sangria. Disclaimer: We used this website as a reference for this blog post.