Romans in Iberia
The presence of the romans in Spain began about 200 B.C. with the battle of controling the western Mediterranean Sea. The iberic peninsula was very popular because of it’s ideal geographic position between the Atlantic and the Mediteranean Sea and also it’s agriculture and mineral in the southern part of the country. The Roman conquest of the peninsula lasted from 218 till 15 B.C.
Important dates are:
200 B. C.
Rome conquered and colonialized Spain. The roman language, the roman civilization and later also Christianity were introduced. The Romans called their first two provinces outside Italy Hispania Citerior and Hispania Ulterior (197 B.C.).
154 - 133 B. C.
Rebellions of the Celtibers (Viriatus and the Lusitans), who refused to surrender to the Romans, against Rome.
27 B. C.
Romans made peace between the different cultures at the island and divided it into 3 provinces: Tarraconense, Baetica and Lusitana. The Roman presence in Hispania lasted 7 centuries. In this period of time the borderline to other European countries was formed. The Romans didnīt only leave the administration of the state, but also their administration of the town. This meant a big change, that finally put the peninsula into a Greek-Latin oriented and later into a Jewish-Christian oriented world.
98 A. C.
Beginning of the government of Trajan, the first Roman emperor of Spanish origin.
264 A. C.
Alemannics and Suebs entered the country by force and occupied Tarragona.
411 A. C.
The barbaric tribes signed an alliance with Rome which allowed them to establish military colonies in Spain.
568-586 A. C.
The Westgothic king Leovigild tried to unite the island. That was the end of the Roman empire in Spain. Now it was ruled by Westgothics and Suebs.
711 A. C.
The Arabs defeated the Westgothics and Suebs at Xeres de la Frontera. Begin of the arabic rule in Spain.
