Spain has a long and diverse history, culture, and geography. Key facts: - Madrid is the capital city, and other major regions include Catalonia, the Basque Country, Valencia, and Andalusia. - Spain has a long history, with influences from Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths, Moors, and others. The Moors ruled much of Spain for over 700 years before being defeated in 1492. - Spanish culture is expressed through diverse regional customs, languages, art, architecture, and foods like paella, tapas, jamón serrano, and saffron-flavored rice and seafood dishes.

1. España
iEs Diferente!

2. Spain
 Geography
 History
 Culture
 Food
 Language

3. Geografía

4. Madrid-capital

5. Cataluña-Barcelona
Barça

6. La Coruña-northern Spain

7. Valencia

8. Anadalucía

9. Las Islas Canarias

10. History

11. Brief timeline of Spanish History
 1100 BC. Phoenician traders establish colony at Cádiz in southern Iberia.
 228 BC. Carthaginians occupy southern and eastern Iberia.218-220 BC. Romans
defeat Carthage in Second Punic War and occupy Iberian peninsula.
 74. Inhabitants of Iberia are granted full Roman citizenship.409. Visigoths occupy
Iberian peninsula.
 711. Combined Arab and Berber force from northern Africa cross Strait of Gibraltar to
occupy Iberian peninsula.
 756. Independent Emirate is established in Iberia, with Córdoba as its capital.
 913. Having re-taken territories in northern Spain, Christians establish capital in
León.
 1013. Powerful Caliphate of Córdoba breaks up due to internal strife; Moorish Spain
split into small feuding kingdoms.
 1212. Decisive Christian victory at battle of Navas de Tolosa spells the beginning of
the end of Moorish rule in Spain.
 1492. King Fernando and Queen Isabel's army capture Granada after a long siege,
the final defeat of the Moors in Spain. Jews are forced to convert to Christianity;
those who refuse are expelled from Spain. Christopher Columbus sets sail on his
voyage of discovery.

12.  1702-14. War of Spanish Succession. Bourbon dynasty accedes to
Spanish throne.
 1808-14. Peninsular War. Spaniards rise against Napoleon's
occupying force. Combination of guerilla tactics and support from
Wellington's army end in French defeat.
 1898. Spanish American War. Spain loses Cuba and Philippines.
 1931. Spanish king is forced to abdicate. Spain becomes a republic.
 1936-39. Spanish Civil War. Bloody conflict ends with General
Franco's victory. Dictatorship established.
 1975. Franco dies, Juan Carlos de Borbón is proclaimed king.
Spain becomes constitutional monarchy. Democracy would bring
membership of the European Community.
 1982. Spain joins NATO, becoming a member of a mainstream
European organization.
 1995. Spain joins the European Community.
 2004. Islamic terrorists strike the Atocha train station in Madrid with
bombs, killing nearly 300 and precipitating a change in government.

13. Culture

15. Foods of Spain
Olives
Mussels
Tortilla
Manchego cheese
Saffron
mushrooms

16. Foods of Spain Serrano ham
Chilies
Calamares
Camarónes
Paella
Anarajados
Flan

17. Tapas
Tapas are tiny little
dishes served in
Spanish bars as
appetizers and
snacks to fill in the
gap between lunch
and dinner. They
range from
complicated dishes
of calamares or
asparagus to simple
dishes of olives,
shrimp or almonds.

18. Regional Foods