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Spaniards

language culture Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Spaniards are an ethnic group native to the country of Spain. They belong to the larger Southern and Western European populations. This group has many different regional identities. These identities come from a very complex history. People in Spain speak many different languages and dialects. Most of these come from Latin, which was a language used by the Romans.

Spanish is also called Castilian. It is the main official language used across the whole country. Other languages like Catalan and Galician are also common. Basque is a special language because it is the only one left from the original people of the area.

Many groups moved into the land over thousands of years. Early humans lived there as far back as 40,000 years ago. Later, groups like the Iberians and Celts settled there. The Romans conquered the area during the 2nd and 1st centuries BC. They called the land Hispania. This Roman rule changed how people spoke and lived.

The Lady of Elche, once polychrome stone bust discovered by chance in 1897 at L'Alcúdia, believed to be a piece of Iberian sculpture from the 4th century BC, National Archaeological Museum of Spain, Madrid (20098349590)
The Lady of Elche, once polychrome stone bust discovered by chance in 1897 at L'Alcúdia, believed to be a piece of Iberian sculpture from the 4th century BC, National Archaeological Museum of Spain, Madrid (20098349590)

After the Romans, Germanic tribes like the Visigoths arrived. The Visigoths ruled for about three hundred years. They helped bring different parts of the land together.

In the year 711, a new group arrived in the peninsula. This was a Muslim force led by Tariq Bin Ziyad. They called their land al-Andalus. This time included a Golden Age for many people.

Reinos Antiguo Régimen
Reinos Antiguo Régimen

Small Christian kingdoms stayed in the north. These included kingdoms like León, Castile, and Aragon. For seven hundred years, these kingdoms moved south. This period is called the Reconquista. It ended in 1492 when the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada was taken. That was the same year Christopher Columbus arrived in the New World.

Spain grew into a very large and powerful empire. It was one of the first global empires in history. This left a huge mark on the world.

Imperios Español y Portugués 1790
Imperios Español y Portugués 1790

Today, over 570 million people speak Spanish. This makes it the second most spoken native language in the world. It is only behind Mandarin Chinese. During a time called the Golden Age, Spanish art and books became very famous. The painter Diego Velázquez was a great artist then. The famous book Don Quixote was also published during this era.

Spanish culture can be found far away from Spain. Many people in the Americas have ancestors from Spain. This is part of the Hispanic culture.

Map of the Spanish Diaspora in the World
Map of the Spanish Diaspora in the World

Even within Spain, the people are very diverse. Many different groups live there, such as the Andalusians and the Canarians. In recent years, many people have moved to Spain from other places. From 2000 to 2010, Spain had one of the highest rates of immigration in the world. This makes the country a place where many different traditions meet.

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🖼️ Images & Media (10)
File:Map of the Spanish Diaspora in the World.svg
Map of the Spanish Diaspora in the World.svg
File:The Lady of Elche, once polychrome stone bust discovered by chance in 1897 at L'Alcúdia, believed to be a piece of Iberian sculpture from the 4th century BC, National Archaeological Museum of Spain, Madrid (20098349590).jpg
The Lady of Elche, once polychrome stone...
File:Cabeza masculina romana de Azaila (M.A.N. 32644) 02.jpg
Cabeza masculina romana de Azaila (M.A.N....
File:Traianus Glyptothek Munich 336.jpg
Traianus Glyptothek Munich 336.jpg
File:Reinos Antiguo Régimen.svg
Reinos Antiguo Régimen.svg
File:Imperios Español y Portugués 1790.svg
Imperios Español y Portugués 1790.svg
File:Iberia 300BC-en.svg
Iberia 300BC-en.svg
File:Conversation in a Sevillan Courtyard José Jiménez Aranda.jpg
Conversation in a Sevillan Courtyard José...
File:Llengües d'Espanya.svg
Llengües d'Espanya.svg
File:FuenteDeLasCibelesp4v2.jpg
FuenteDeLasCibelesp4v2.jpg
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