about 1100-1000
BC
Phoenicians began colonizing Spain. Modern cities such as C·diz
and M·laga were founded by the Phoenicians around this
time.
400s
BC
The Carthaginians conquered much of Spain.
200s
BC
Spain became an important part of the Roman Empire following the
Punic Wars.
573
AD
The Visigoths completed their conquest of the Iberian Peninsula.
711-718
The Moors conquered most of Spain. Many Spaniards converted to
Islam, and Moorish culture began to flourish.
1000s
The Christian reconquest of Spain began.
1479
AragÛn and Castile were united under Ferdinand V and Isabella
I. The following year the Spanish Inquisition was established.
1492
The Kingdom of Granada was conquered, ending Moorish rule in Spain.
Christopher Columbus initiated Spanish claims in the Americas,
where Spain quickly established a huge colonial empire.
1512
The Kingdom of Navarre was absorbed into the unified Kingdom of
Spain. Spanish culture flourished and Spain became a world power.
1588
The English navy defeated the Spanish Armada, beginning a period
of slow decline for Spain.
1714
Great Britain gained Gibraltar from Spain.
1808
Napoleon I of France invaded Spain and captured Madrid. Spanish,
English, and Portuguese forces did not drive the French from Spain
until 1814.
1810-1825
Most of Spain's American colonies won their independence.
1898
Spain lost the rest of its important overseas possessions following
the Spanish-American War.
1931
King Alfonso XIII fled from Spain, and the country became a republic.
1936-1939
Spanish Nationalist forces led by General Francisco Franco defeated
Republican forces during the Spanish Civil War.
1968
Buoyed by strong economic growth, the government eased censorship
restrictions. Protests erupted in Barcelona and Madrid, and regional
separatist groups gained strength.
1975
Franco died and was succeeded by King Juan Carlos. Spain began
the transition to a democratic government.
1980s
Spain joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and
the European Community (now the European Union), increasing its
ties with the rest of Europe.
1992
The Summer Olympic Games were held in Barcelona.
1994
Spain threatened to block expansion of the European Union until
a compromise guaranteed protection of Spanish fishing rights.
Agreements were reached in March and December giving Spain wider
access.