A Civilización Romana

Prerroman Peoples of the Territorial Lands

• 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.

Iberians

• 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).

Celts

• 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).

Colonizers

• 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.

Roman Conquest

• 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.

Roman Hispania

• 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.