Cartagena, Spain

Cartagena is a major city located in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula. It sits within the Region of Murcia in Spain. The city is positioned along the Mediterranean coastline. It occupies a natural harbor that has made it a vital maritime center for centuries. The wider metropolitan area is known as Campo de Cartagena. As of 2024, the city has a population of 219,235 people. The larger Campo de Cartagena area holds 409,586 inhabitants.

The geography of the region is defined by a large plain. This plain is called Campo de Cartagena. It tilts slightly from the northwest toward the southeast. The area is bordered by several mountain ranges. To the north and northwest, you find the Carrascoy and El Puerto ranges. To the south and southwest, coastal mountains like La Muela and Pelayo border the land.

The ground is made of metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. This includes materials like slate, marble, and limestone. The most common soil type is calcic xerosol. Other soils include leptosol along the Mediterranean coast.

Human activity in this area dates back millions of years. Evidence shows that members of the genus Homo lived in local caves 1,300,000 years ago.

Later, Neanderthals of the Mousterian culture inhabited the Cave of los Aviones. The municipality also contains many paleontological sites. These include the Abrigo de Los Déntoles cove and the Cueva de Los Mejillones. During the Neolithic period, people lived in hamlets like the one found at Cerro del Gorguel. However, a lack of rainfall and water courses limited human presence during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages.

The formal history of the city began with the Carthaginians. A military leader named Hasdrubal founded the city around 227 BC. He named it Kart-hadasht, which means "New City."

The Roman general Scipio Africanus conquered the site in 209 BC. He renamed it Carthago Nova to distinguish it from the original Carthage. Under Roman rule, the city became very wealthy. It possessed major silver mines that produced 25,000 drachmae in daily revenue. The city also produced garum, which is a fermented fish sauce.

Many different empires controlled Cartagena over the centuries. After the fall of Roman sovereignty, the Vandals and Visigoths occupied the city. The Byzantine Empire also held it and made it the capital of the province of Spania.

Later, the Islamic period saw the city called Qartayannat-al-Halfa. It was ruled by various groups, including the Umayyads and the Almohads. In 1245, the Crown of Castile took the city by force. This occurred after the city refused the terms of the Treaty of Alcaraz. Following this conquest, the city underwent a period of intense Castilianization.

In the 18th century, Cartagena became a leading naval port. It served as the capital for the Spanish Navy's Mediterranean department. The population grew rapidly from 10,000 to 50,000 inhabitants during this era. The city was heavily fortified with a modern castle and a large arsenal. In the 19th century, the development of mining changed the city again. This industrial growth led to political shifts. In 1873, the city started the Cantonal Rebellion. During the Spanish Civil War, Cartagena served as the headquarters for the Spanish Republican Navy. It was the last city in Spain to fall to the Nationalists.

Today, Cartagena is a unique mix of history and industry. It is a major destination for Mediterranean cruise ships. The city features a diverse architectural heritage. This includes Roman ruins and early 20th-century Art Nouveau buildings.

It also remains a critical military site. The city hosts an important base for the Spanish Navy. It also contains a large naval shipyard.

Despite facing a job crisis in the early 1990s due to industrial restructuring, the city remains a vital part of the Region of Murcia.