Ancient Iberian Peninsula: Iberians and Celts Quiz

Early Inhabitants of Iberian Peninsula

• Iberians were the first inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula, living in tribes and thriving during the Metal Ages.
• They were farmers, traders, and warriors who developed writing and currency.

Celts in Iberian Peninsula

• Celts arrived from North Europe and settled in the north of the peninsula.
• They lived in tribes, raised cattle, and were skilled in metallurgy, but lacked a written language and a monetary system.
• They were fierce warriors who lived in fortified villages called "castros."

Celtiberians

• Celts and Iberians mixed in the center of the peninsula, creating a new culture, the Celtiberians.
• Celtiberians lived in tribes, farmed, and were fierce warriors and riders.
• They were skilled in metallurgy and lived in fortified villages.

Phoenicians and Tartessian

• Phoenicians, sailors and traders from Tyre and Sidon, arrived in the 11th century B.C.
• They founded cities like Gadir (Cadiz) and Malaca (Malaga) and traded with the Tartessian kingdom.
• Tartessian was rich in metals and trade, attracting Phoenician attention.

Greeks in Iberian Peninsula

• Greeks established colonies at the western end of the peninsula, such as Emporion and Roses.
• Greek colonies had autonomous city-states (Polis), a rich culture, and invented philosophy.
• Each Polis had a government; Athens had democracy, but only for free men.

Carthaginians in Iberian Peninsula

• Carthage, an old Phoenician colony, developed due to its strategic Mediterranean position.
• Carthaginians took control of Phoenician cities, created new ones, and hired Iberians and Celts as warriors.
• Hannibal, a Carthaginian general, started the Second Punic War, which led to Carthage's defeat and loss of territory in the peninsula.