In this unit you will learn about:

People in the Peninsula before

Romans.

The Roman conquest.

The Romanisation

History began when

writing was invented

about 5,000 years ago.

Around the year 1,000 BC many different

cultures lived on the Iberian Peninsula:

o Tartessians

o Celts

o Iberians

Tartessos is still a mystery.

Tartessos was a wealthy city near the modern city

of Cadiz, which was called Gades in ancient times.

Their ships were on the Atlantic side of the Pillars

of Hercules, known as modern Gibraltar.

The last and most famous king was Argantonio.

They lived in the northern and central part of the

peninsula.

They worked at crop and farming, but they never built

cities.

They were also very clean. They invented the soap!

Around 500 BCE, the ancient Celts migrated to modern

Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and the Isle of Man.

Their culture lives on today in music, dance, story, and

They lived in the eastern and southern

parts of the Peninsula.

They knew how to learn and write.

They cultivated cereals, vines and olive

trees

Also during the first millenium before

Christ, Phoenicians, Greeks and

Carthaginians, great travellers and

traders, arrived from the other side of the

Mediterranean.

They heard wonders of the new lands!

• They came from Phoenicia

(today, Libanon).

• They came to the Iberian

Peninsula only for

TRADING.

• They exchanged

manufacturated products

(like textiles or pottery for

metals).

• Phoenicians founded

GADIR (later, Cádiz)

• They came from

Greece.

• They came to the

Iberian Peninsula only

for TRADING.

• They introduced olive

trees and money.

• Greeks founded

AMPURIAS.

• They came from

CARTHAGE (today,

Tunisia).

• They came to the Iberian

Peninsula for conquering

new lands.

• Colonies founded:

- Ebussus (Ibiza)

- Cartago Nova

(Cartagena).

Romans gave the Iberian Peninsula the name of Hispania.

Romans wanted to conquer Hispania because they wanted to dominate trade in

the Mediterranean and , this way, build a great Empire.

However…

…Carthaginians also wanted to gain control over the

Mediterranean and build their own great empire!!!

The wars between Carthaginians and Romans are

known as

There were three Punic Wars. The second of

them took place on the Iberian Peninsula.

Rome declared the war to Carthago, when

Hannibal invaded the city of Sagunto (an ally of

Rome).

General Publio Cornelio Escipión arrived at the

Iberian Peninsula to fight the Carthaginians.

Therefore, the conquest of the Iberian peninsula

began.

In spring, 218 B.C., Hannibal marched through the

Pyrenees with more than 100,000 troops and 40 war

elephants.

Hannibal finally exited the Alps with just 20,000 infantry,

6,000 cavalry and only one of the elephants.

.

The process of acquiring language, customs, culture and economy from Rome is

called Romanization.

This process means the unification of most European nations and peoples

Now, let´s see TOP 10

roman contributions.Drum roll please…

Number 10ROADS

o The Roman roads were essential for the growth of the Roman empire, by

enabling the Romans to move armies.

o A proverb says that "all roads lead to Rome."

o At its peak, the Roman road system spanned 52,819 miles.

Number 9LAW

o The concept in a trial by jury was created by the Romans.

o The Romans realized the importance of the “innocent until proven guilty”

method of justice.

o Latin can be seen in the treaties of International Law today.

Number 8ARQUITECTU

REo In the first century BC, a new material

was invented. It was the concrete, a

strong substitute for stone.

o Concrete quickly supplanted marble as the

primary building material, with great

pillars supporting broad arches.

Number 7MASS

ENTERTAIMENTo Romans gave us stadiums & amphitheatres. They are the ancestors of

modern stadiums!

Number 6ALPHABET

o The Roman alphabet and Latin language is the

basis for most European languages.

o Latin is used today for scientific and medical

Terminology. Spanish, French, Portuguese,

Romanian, and Italian are all based on Latin.

English and the other European (Germanic)

languages have many Latin root words.

Number 5BRIDGES

The Romans built bridges that could span long rivers. Many of these bridges are still

standing today.

ALCANTARA BRIDGE, SPAIN

Number 4AQUEDUCTS

To carry water from the high ground to a village or town the Romans were masters of

building aqueducts that would transport much needed water.

Number 3POLITICAL SYSTEM

o The pax romana: which allowed free trade and a free exchange of ideas and

information.

o The Republic and Senate, which have been inspiration for modern democracies.

Number 2 CALENDARS

o The Romans first created a calendar to record and keep track of time.

Number 1:FAST FOOD

Believe it or not, there have been found numerous

fast food restaurants in Pompeii and other parts of

ancient Rome!!