Tag Archives: Study in Spain

The Kingdom of Spain is a democracy in southwest Europe with the capital Madrid. The country extends over large parts of the Iberian Peninsula. It also has extensive coastlines in the northwest on the Atlantic and in the east and south on the Mediterranean. The Canary Islands in the Atlantic and the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean are also part of the national territory. According to COUNTRYAAH, Spain is a nation in Southern Europe, the capital city of which is Madrid. The latest population of Spain is 46,754,789. MYSTERYAROUND: Lists and descriptions of main religions and beliefs in Spain, including religion demographics and statistics on Christianity, Islam, Judaism, etc.

The country consists mainly of the vast plateau of central Spain (Meseta). In addition, in the north (Pyrenees) and in the south (Betic Cordilleras) rise over 3,000 m high mountains. With Andalusia on the south coast, Spain is one of the driest and hottest regions in Europe. The mild climate of Spain allows fruit and vegetables to be grown all year round. The country is known worldwide for its olive oil.

With the discovery of America in 1492, Spain rose to become a global colonial and trading power. More recently, during the military coup in 1981, the Spanish royal family gained great popularity among the Spanish population. However, when numerous scandals about ex-King Juan Carlos I became known , the crown lost its reputation. His successor King Felipe VI. tries to restore the prestige and dignity of the royal family with the Spaniards through his social commitment.

Many different groups of people live in Spain, including Castilians, Catalans, Basques, Galicians and Andalusians, each with their own culture and language. Because these different groups want more political autonomy and independence, this diversity is always a cause for controversy with the Spanish government. With a gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.25 trillion. € (2019), Spain is the fourth largest economy in the euro zone. The metropolises of Madrid and Barcelona are important economic centers in Spain and attract many large international companies.

Landscape, cultural diversity and historical monuments make Spain very popular as a holiday destination worldwide. Many millions of people visit Spain every year. Therefore, tourism is very important to Spain’s economy.
History
Spain’s history is very varied. Centuries of global ascent were repeatedly followed by periods of decline. Originally under the rule of the Romans and Visigoths, the country fell to the Moors in the 8th century (Moorish age). The Reconquest (Reconquista) by Christian Klein realms of the North starting ended only in the 15th century. The discovery of America (1492) by Christopher Columbus laid the foundation for the Spanish colonial empire. At its greatest extent it extended over large areas in North and South America as well as in Africa and the Pacific.

For several centuries Spain was a global maritime and trading power (so-called “Golden Age”; Spanish: Siglo de oro). In the 18th and 19th centuries, Spain’s world power collapsed as a result of the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714) and the War of Independence against the French occupation (1808-1814). From 1923 onwards, a military dictatorship followed by uprisings from the military, which reached its climax under General Francisco Franco .

After his death, Juan Carlos I became king. The first free elections took place in 1977; In 1978 Spain received a democratic constitution. As a staunch supporter of the democratization of the country, King Juan Carlos I repulsed the attempted coup of February 23, 1981 with the following words: “The Spanish crown, symbol of the stability and unity of our fatherland, can in no way tolerate actions that intend the democratic process to disturb with violence. ”

In the recent history of Spain, aspirations for independence, such as in the Basque Country or in Catalonia, gained in importance. The conflict over the Basque Country was carried out using terrorist means such as bombings and attacks on politicians. In 2014, however, the Basque underground organization ETA announced its partial disarmament before it completely disbanded in 2018. In contrast, the struggle for independence over Catalonia continues to this day. The preliminary high point was the independence referendum on October 1st, 2017, which was carried out despite a ban by the highest Spanish court. In terms of foreign policy, Spain has recently strengthened its position as a UN member (since 1955), as NATO Member (1982) and as an EU member (1986) its integration into the world community.