Spain

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is a major nation in Southern and Western Europe.

It is the largest country in Southern Europe. It also ranks as the fourth-most populous member of the European Union. Most of its territory covers the Iberian Peninsula. However, Spain also includes several other regions. The Canary Islands sit in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean. The Balearic Islands are located in the Western Mediterranean Sea. Additionally, the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla are located on the African mainland.

The geography of Spain is defined by its many borders and coastlines. To the north, the country meets France, Andorra, and the Bay of Biscay. The eastern and southern coasts are bordered by the Mediterranean Sea. To the south, it also borders Gibraltar and Morocco through its African exclaves. The western side of the peninsula is bordered by Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean. Madrid serves as the capital and the largest urban center. Other significant cities include Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, and Zaragoza.

The history of the peninsula began in deep prehistory. Archaeological finds at Atapuerca show hominids lived there 1.3 million years ago. Modern humans arrived about 35,000 years ago. They left famous cave paintings in Altamira. Later, various cultures like the Celts and Iberians inhabited the land. The Phoenicians and Greeks established trading settlements along the coasts. The name "Spain" likely comes from "Hispania," the name used by the Romans. Some believe the Phoenicians called the region "i-shphan-im," which might mean "land of rabbits."

Roman rule transformed the region for over six centuries. The Romans called the area Hispania. They used the land as a granary to feed the Roman market. Harbours exported valuable goods like gold, olive oil, and wine. This period introduced Latin, Roman law, and advanced irrigation. Christianity also spread through the province during this era. Eventually, the Western Roman Empire fell. This allowed Germanic tribes, such as the Visigoths, to establish a kingdom centered in Toledo.

A major shift occurred in the early 8th century. The Umayyad Caliphate conquered most of the peninsula. They established Al-Andalus, with its center in Córdoba. For several centuries, a frontier existed between Muslim and Christian territories. Northern Christian kingdoms began the Reconquista to reclaim land. This process continued until the fall of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada in 1492. In 1479, the union of the Crown of Castile and the Crown of Aragon unified the nation.

During the Age of Discovery, Spain became a global power. It led explorations of the New World and completed the first circumnavigation of the globe. This created one of the largest empires in history. The empire spanned all continents and used precious metals to drive global trade. However, the 19th and 20th centuries brought great struggle. Spain fought the Peninsular War against Napoleonic forces. Later, the Spanish Civil War and the Francoist dictatorship shaped the modern era.

Today, Spain is a secular parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. King Felipe VI serves as the head of state.

The nation has a highly developed and large economy. It is a major cultural superpower with global influence. The Spanish language is spoken by more than 600 million people. This makes it the world's second-most spoken native language. Spain is also the second-most visited country in the world. It holds many World Heritage Sites and attracts many European students.