HISTORY OF THE REGION OF MURCIA

ORIGINS The oldest traces of human presence in the region of Murcia seem to soar to over a million and a half years. Of them we have received only a few remnants of flint tools as a further elaboration.

The Phoenicians established a factory in Mastia (Cartagena), and so began our teritorry business relations with the rest of the Mediterranean.

Carthaginians founded Qart Hadasht in the year 229 BC and it was the second largest city of Carthage in the Punic empire.

During The Roman period, Murcia did no exist but its actual borders could have been inside of the province of Hispania Carthaginensis.

Later the Moors introduced the large- scale irrigation on which Murcian agriculture depends The kingdom of Murcia became independent as a taifa centered on the Moorish city of Murcia after the fall of the Omayyad Caliphate of Córdoba (11th century). Moorish Taifa of Murcia included Albacete and part of Almería as well. Ferdinand III of Castile received the submission of the Moorish king of Murcia in 1243.

In the usual way, the Muslims were evicted from the cities, and Ferdinand's heir Alfonso X of Castile, who benefited from rule over a largely depopulated Murcia, divided the border kingdom in three regions for administrative purposes, entrusted respectively to the “concejos de realengo”, to the ecclesiastical “señores seculares” and to the Military Orders founded in the 11th century. Alfonso annexed the Taifa of Murcia as King of Murcia and “Señorio” of Cartagena outright in 1266, and it remained technically a vassal kingdom of Spain until the reforms in the liberal constitution of Murcia became an autonomous region in 1982.

The Castilian conquest of Murcia was significant because it gave the former access to the Mediterranean for the first time and ended the expansion of the Kingdom of Aragon which had been moving south along the coast. The castle of Lorca

Murcia in the modern age After the interval the War of Spanish Succession ( ) there is a new recovery process was dramatically increased the cultivated area, expanding irrigated areas, the population increase and a great start to notice the effects of the gradual opening commercial. As in other times, the glory is reflected in an economic boom in construction. Of note is the completion of the Cathedral of Murcia, which began in 1394, and construction of the Arsenal of Cartagena.

The nineteenth century opened with a new crisis caused by a period of drought followed by major floods and the war against Napoleon. We will have to wait for half a century to reverse the situation. The business then expanded its scope to the exploitation of mineral deposits, also initiated the process of industrialization. Despite that the region would reach the twentieth century with a precarious situation, an industry based on foreign capital and trade that had not been able to pass on regional boundaries. With the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera ( ) Murcia joins the pace definitely pushing the country's industry, strengthening the areas of preserved citrus and pepper and modernize its agriculture.

Molina The Arab Origins Molina de Segura comes at a crossroads linking Alicante with Cordoba and Chinchilla in Cartagena, in addition to side with steps Mula and Fortuna. There was a house or hostel in which walkers rested. The Arabs built a fortress strengthened with the passage of time. The medieval town of Molina de Segura was located a short distance from Murcia. For centuries it was maintained the crossroads as the main route, leaving the passage Murcia in the background.

The arab wall in Molina the Segura An arab coin

Following his tenure at the hands of Christian dominion was developed greater Kingdom of Murcia With the King Alfonso X the Wise, it reached the stage where christian went to Molina through several hands. First, it was transferred to the brother of the king after the Arab riots. Later, the Infante Don Juan Manuel not only looked for good, but he also was the king ceded on loan. In the twentieth century, it was renamed as Molina de Segura, and it was the business of manufacture of paprika, preserved in small family businesses, etc.. that will be transformed into thriving businesses with the course of the century.

TOURISTIC PLACES

Costa Cálida Two seas on one coast (the Mar Menor and the Mediterranean), dramatic cliffs, secluded beaches and paradise of endless white sand beaches and bustling harbors. More than 3000 hours of sunshine a year and mild temperatures (even in winter). This is the Costa Calida, in winter or summer.

Cartagena, a city in the Mediterranean, castles and conserves batteries. The port of Cartagena is an attractive place surrounded by restaurants. Lorca, its famous castle, and its expressive Easter, marked by the appearance of their processions.

In Caravaca de la Cruz, there are beautiful churches, monasteries and shrines. It is now a reference point for many pilgrims. The city has got a piece of the true cross of the Lord.

There are cave paintings in some caves, castles, temples, churches... There are some beautiful natural places like Sierra La Pila and Sierra Espuña. Murcia is the capital of the Community.

Some pictures of Molina Some pictures of Murcia