People have occupied the Iberian Peninsula since 2000 B.C. During the time of Christ, Rome controlled the entire peninsula. Muslim Moors from North Africa invaded in 711 and over the next few centuries, the Christians battled to drive them out. In 1469 Queen Isabel of Castile and King Ferdinand of Aragon married, uniting the two kingdoms, and expelling the Moors in 1492, the same year Columbus sailed to the new world.

Spain had grown to one of the most powerful empires in the world by the 16th century but by the 19th century, had lost most of its colonies. Today, Spanish territory includes the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, and Ceuta and Melilla, two cities on the northern coast of Morocco.

From 1939-1975, Spain was ruled by a dictator, Franco, but became a democratic monarchy when Franco’s successor, Juan Carlos, came to power. Spain joined the European Union in 1986.

Source: Spain CultureGram 2009