Southern Europe: Spain, Italy, and Greece

SPAIN Population: 40.4 million More than ¾ of population lives in cities & towns Life expectancy: Men – 78 years Women – 84 years Ethnicity is historically Mediterranean . . . BUT . . . recently an influx of immigrants has occurred. From where???

Languages in Spain Almost all speak Castilian Spanish. Regional languages include: Catalan 17% Galician 7% Basque 2% (in Pyrenees)

Brief History of Spain As many as 17 different regions were united by the monarchs, Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon, in the 15th century to create the Spanish nation. Spain was once a great empire thanks to the help of financing from these monarchs and the courage of explorers like Christopher Columbus.

Spanish Empire By colonizing the Americas, Spain became one of the richest and most powerful countries of the 16th century. At the height of its power in 1588, the Spanish Empire included the West Indies, Cuba, Florida, Mexico, Central America, much of South America, and the Philippines. What happened in 1588? Defeat of Spanish Armada by British..end of Spanish naval authority

Regionalism Spain is a “country of different countries.” Some regions (Catalonia & Basque, in particular) still want independence & threaten to secede! Basque leaders are troublemakers!

Basque protests Valley Fog, Guipuzcoa, Basque Country Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Basque Country Basque protests In the village of Axpe, Basque Country, where you can see some of the highest peaks of the Pyrenees

Hotels in Barcelona, Catalonia Montserrat, Catalonia, w/ natural rock formations rising to 4,000 ft. Hotels in Barcelona, Catalonia Catalonian countryside A rural farmhouse in Catalonia

Spain’s government is now a Constitutional Monarchy Hereditary monarch, King Juan Carlos I (since 1975), is head of state but elected officials run the government Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (since 2011). Parliament = Cortes

94% of Spain is Roman Catholic When La Sagrada Familia (the Sacred Family) is finished, it will be over 500 feet tall, or 40% of the height of the Sears Tower in Chicago.  The central dome will be 50% taller than these spires, and will be egg-shaped.  It was started in 1882, and at one point, the estimated completion date was to be around 2200. 

More views of La Sagrada Familia

Spain’s leading seaport & industrial center Barcelona Spain’s leading seaport & industrial center

Madrid, capital of Spain has nearly 5 million people one of Europe’s leading cultural centers; faces challenges of heavy traffic & air pollution

Madrid Plaza de Toros de las Ventas Templo de Debod Church of Santa Monica

Madrid at night

Spain was a Founding Member of the EU

Spain’s Economy Manufacturing, mining of iron ore, gas & oil Dry Farming, irrigation not used Manufacturing, mining of iron ore, gas & oil Depends on Tourist Industry, employing 11% World’s leading producer of olive oil Dry farming field in summer

Culture & Tourism Running of the Bulls Parade of Giants World’s Largest Tomato Fight Castellers (Human Towers)

Arts Spanish dances, such as the bolero and flamenco have become popular throughout the world. Joaquin Cortes, flamenco dancer

Famous Spanish Actors Antonio Banderas Penelope Cruz