A Civilización Romana

Study Notes

Before the Roman conquest, the Iberian Peninsula was inhabited by various peoples and cultures, which coexisted and influenced each other.
These peoples, known as prerroman peoples, lived in the peninsula from the 1st millennium BC and were characterized by their agricultural and livestock practices.
The most prominent prerroman peoples were the Iberians and Celts.

The Iberians inhabited the southern, eastern, and northeastern parts of the peninsula.
They lived in walled settlements with rectangular houses and were mainly engaged in agriculture.
The Iberians were in contact with the Phoenician and Greek civilizations, from which they adopted writing and artistic styles.
Notable Iberian tribes included the Indigetes (Xirona), Layetanos (Barcelona), Vascones/Aquitanos, Edetanos (Valencia), Contestanos (Alicante), and Turdetanos (Andalusia).

The Celts arrived in the peninsula around 1200 BC and settled in the northwest, central, and western regions.
They were primarily shepherds and warriors who controlled the pasturelands to raise their livestock.
The Celts lived in fortified settlements with circular houses and were known for their skills in metalwork and sculpture.
Notable Celtic tribes included the Galaicos, Astures, Cantabrians, Vacceos (Castile and León), Carpetanos (Central Spain), and Lusitanians (Extremadura and Portugal).

The Phoenicians, Greeks, and Carthaginians established colonies in the Iberian Peninsula from the 1st millennium BC.
These colonizers introduced writing, coinage, and sculptures to the peninsula.
The Phoenicians founded colonies in the southern coast, such as Gadir (Cádiz), Malaca, and Abdera (Adra), and introduced writing to the peninsula.
The Greeks established colonies in the eastern coast, such as Emporion (Empúries, Xirona), Rhode, and Sagunto, and introduced coinage.

The Romans conquered the Iberian Peninsula between 218 and 19 BC, dividing it into three provinces: Tarraconensis, Lusitania, and Baetica.
The Roman conquest was driven by the desire to control the Mediterranean Sea and access to its natural resources.
The Romans introduced new agricultural techniques, mining, and commerce, and developed a network of roads and cities.

The Roman province of Hispania was established in 19 BC, with its capital in Tarraco (Tarragona).
The Romans exploited the natural resources of the peninsula, including agriculture, livestock, and mining.
They developed a network of roads, bridges, and cities, and introduced their language, laws, and culture to the peninsula.
The Roman legacy in Hispania includes the development of cities, law, language, and architecture, which continue to influence the region to this day.