1. Spain: Passion for the past, Inspiration for the future

2. Spain’s history A cultural crossroads, A mosaic of people, languages, and religions

3. At the crossroads between Europe and Africa: Greek, Roman, German, French, and African influences— The varied architecture of Spain illustrates the different peoples and religions that have made their contributions to Spain throughout history.

4. Religions: Jews, Christians and the Islamic Moors There were periods in which people of all three religions coexisted peacefully, They all left their mark in the culture of modern day Spain and its people. There were periods in which people of all three religions coexisted peacefully, They all left their mark in the culture of modern day Spain and its people.

5. The varying geography of Spain High tableland plains– Over 60,000 mi. 2 are above 2000 ft. High tableland plains– Over 60,000 mi. 2 are above 2000 ft. Vast mountain ranges— The Pyrenees, Central Sierras, Iberian, Cantabrian, Betic Cordilleras, and Sierra Nevadas Vast mountain ranges— The Pyrenees, Central Sierras, Iberian, Cantabrian, Betic Cordilleras, and Sierra Nevadas Coastlines of the Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea Coastlines of the Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea

6. Queen Isabelle and King Ferdinand Spain is really the combination of two kingdoms: Ferdinand’s Aragon and Isabelle’s Castile Officially united in 1716 as the centralized State of Spain

7. Abundant Mineral Resources have helped make Spain wealthy and powerful throughout its history Lead mine in Linares Iron in the water at Rio Tinto Mercury, found in association with its ore mineral, cinnabar. In addition to iron, lead and mercury, Coal, zinc and lead are also important

8. A brief early history of Spain’s people From the earliest cave paintings at Altimira to: From the earliest cave paintings at Altimira to: 500 BC: Greeks 500 BC: Greeks ~200 BC: Romans ~200 BC: Romans 4 th Cen. AD: Visigoths 4 th Cen. AD: Visigoths ~700 AD: Moslems ~700 AD: Moslems 900-1500 AD: Moslems lose ground to Christians moving from North to South 900-1500 AD: Moslems lose ground to Christians moving from North to South 1492: Moslems defeated under rule of Catholic Christian monarchs Isabella and Ferdinand, Jews expelled, Cristóbal Colon sails for Asia and begins Spain’s conquest of the Americas, Inquisition launched. 1492: Moslems defeated under rule of Catholic Christian monarchs Isabella and Ferdinand, Jews expelled, Cristóbal Colon sails for Asia and begins Spain’s conquest of the Americas, Inquisition launched.

9. Spain’s rich heritage of scientific discovery Great Moslem scientists had schools of astronomy and mathematics and developed cutting-edge technological Instruments by which sailors navigated by the stars. Great Moslem scientists had schools of astronomy and mathematics and developed cutting-edge technological Instruments by which sailors navigated by the stars. The tradition of great Spanish scientists continues today: In 1906 the Nobel The tradition of great Spanish scientists continues today: In 1906 the Nobel Prize for medicine went to Santiago Prize for medicine went to Santiago Ramón y Cajal. Ramón y Cajal. Today, a modern Spanish scientist, Maria Blasco is winning awards for her work Blasco is winning awards for her work in her field of genetics. in her field of genetics.

10. The rain in Spain… rarely falls on the plain. Wet Spain In the North and North- West, it is cooler and there is enough rain to grow corn Dry Spain In the inland areas, the climate is continental with extremes of hot and cold, & unreliable rainfall. Crops are apples and hazelnuts Mediterranean Spain- There it is warm and mild, and they grow grapes, rice in irrigated fields, vegetables, and citrus like the famous Valencia oranges.

11. Spain’s political climate today. Today, Spain’s parliamentary monarchy (similar to England’s) is on the leading edge of democracy and tolerance in Europe, reminiscent of its earliest years in which Jews, Moslems and Christians coexisted peacefully. In 1978 they signed a constitution that banned torture and the death penalty, and legalized same-gender marriages. and legalized same-gender marriages.