Basic	Economy	Geography
Government	History	Military
People	Tourism	Transportation

Spain's Iberian Peninsula has been settled for millennia. In fact, some of Europe's most impressive Paleolithic cultural sites are located in Spain, including the famous caves at Altamira that contain spectacular paintings dating from about 15,000 to 25,000 years ago. The Basques, Europe's oldest surviving group, are also the first identifiable people of the peninsula.

Beginning in the ninth century BC, Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, and Celts entered the Iberian Peninsula. The Romans followed in the second century BC and laid the groundwork for Spain's present language, religion, and laws. Although the Visigoths arrived in the fifth century AD, the last Roman strongholds along the southern coast did not fall until the seventh century AD. In 711, North African Moors sailed across the straits, swept into Andalusia, and within a few years, pushed the Visigoths up the peninsula to the Cantabrian Mountains. The ReconquestÑefforts to drive out the MoorsÑlasted until 1492. By 1512, the unification of present-day Spain was complete.

During the 16th century, Spain became the most powerful nation in Europe, due to the immense wealth derived from its presence in the Americas. But a series of long, costly wars and revolts, capped by the defeat by the English of the Invincible Armada in 1588, began a steady decline of Spanish power in Europe. Controversy over succession to the throne consumed the country during the 18th century, leading to an occupation by France during the Napoleonic era in the early 1800s, and led to a series of armed conflicts throughout much of the 19th century.

The 19th century saw the revolt and independence of most of Spain's colonies in the Western Hemisphere: three wars over the succession issue; the brief ousting of the monarchy and establishment of the First Republic (1873-74); and, finally, the Spanish-American War (1898), in which Spain lost Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States. A period of dictatorial rule (1923-31) ended with the establishment of the Second Republic. It was dominated by increasing political polarization, culminating in the leftist Popular Front electoral victory in 1936. Pressures from all sides, coupled with growing and unchecked violence, led to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in July 1936.

Following the victory of his nationalist forces in 1939, General Francisco Franco ruled a nation exhausted politically and economically. Spain was officially neutral during World War II but followed a pro-Axis policy. Therefore, the victorious Allies isolated Spain at the beginning of the postwar period, and the country did not join the United Nations until 1955. In 1959, under an International Monetary Fund stabilization plan, the country began liberalizing trade and capital flows, particularly foreign direct investment.

Despite the success of economic liberalization, Spain remained the most closed economy in Western Europe udged by the small measure of foreign trade to economic activity and the pace of reform slackened during the 1960s as the state remained committed to guiding the economy. Nevertheless, in the 1960s and 1970s, Spain was transformed into a modern industrial economy with a thriving tourism sector. Its economic expansion led to improved income distribution and helped develop a large middle class. Social changes brought about by economic prosperity and the inflow of new ideas helped set the stage for Spain's transition to democracy during the latter half of the 1970s.

Upon the death of General Franco in November 1975, Franco's personally designated heir Prince Juan Carlos de Borbon y Borbon assumed the titles of king and chief of state. Dissatisfied with the slow pace of post-Franco liberalization, he replaced Franco's last Prime Minister with Adolfo Suarez in July 1976. Suarez entered office promising that elections would be held within one year, and his government moved to enact a series of laws to liberalize the new regime. Spain's first elections since 1936 to the Cortes (Parliament) were held on June 15, 1977. Prime Minister Suarez's Union of the Democratic Center (UCD), a moderate center-right coalition, won 34% of the vote and the largest bloc of seats in the Cortes.

Under Suarez, the new Cortes set about drafting a democratic constitution that was overwhelmingly approved by voters in a national referendum in December 1978.

In 1979, two years after the adoption of a new democratic constitution following the death of dictator Francisco Franco, Spain held its second democratic elections. The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), led by Felipe González, won a majority of seats in the 1982 elections, marking the first time since the Spanish Civil War that a left-wing government held power.

Under the González administration (1982-1996), Spain underwent significant social, economic, and political changes. The country joined NATO in 1982 and became a member of the European Economic Community (now the European Union) in 1986. These moves signified Spain's definitive return to the international community and its alignment with Western democratic and security structures.

The González government implemented various neoliberal economic policies to modernize Spain's economy, resulting in significant economic growth. However, the PSOE was also plagued by several corruption scandals, which contributed to their electoral loss in 1996.

The People's Party (PP), under the leadership of José María Aznar, won the 1996 and 2000 elections. Aznar continued economic liberalization and maintained Spain's pro-European stance. His government supported the U.S. in the Iraq War, a move that was highly unpopular among Spaniards.

In 2004, following the Madrid train bombings and the perceived mishandling of the aftermath by the Aznar government, the PSOE, led by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, returned to power. Zapatero's government enacted several progressive social reforms, including the legalization of same-sex marriage and the implementation of gender equality laws.

The global financial crisis of 2008 hit Spain hard, causing a severe economic recession characterized by high unemployment rates. Zapatero's government implemented austerity measures in response to the crisis, which provoked widespread public protests.

In 2011, the PP, led by Mariano Rajoy, regained power amidst the economic crisis. His administration was characterized by a focus on economic recovery and further austerity measures. However, the PP government was also rocked by corruption scandals.

In 2018, a no-confidence motion ousted Rajoy, and Pedro Sánchez, the PSOE leader, became Prime Minister. Sánchez's government has focused on undoing many of the austerity measures of the previous administration and advancing a progressive social and economic agenda.

Since the 2000s, a significant issue in Spanish politics has been the Catalonian independence movement. Tensions escalated dramatically in 2017 with an independence referendum deemed illegal by the Spanish government.

In recent years, Spain has been grappling with various challenges, including economic recovery after the 2008 recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, managing internal regional tensions, and navigating the complexities of European politics post-Brexit. Despite these challenges, Spain continues to play an influential role in European and global affairs.