Misplaced Pages

Spain: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 12:18, 13 August 2010 view sourceJoao Xavier (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users4,241 editsmNo edit summary← Previous edit Revision as of 14:40, 13 August 2010 view source 135.196.172.178 (talk) ←Replaced content with 'spain is the rainiest county in the world and is currently going through its monsoon season with an average rain fall of 15 inches per day anyone who has booked...'Tag: repeating charactersNext edit →
Line 1: Line 1:
spain is the rainiest county in the world and is currently going through its monsoon season with an average rain fall of 15 inches per day anyone who has booked a holiday to spain is a fooooooool
{{About|the country}}
{{Infobox Country
|native_name = ''Reino de España''
|conventional_long_name = Kingdom of Spain
|common_name = Spain
|image_flag = Flag of Spain.svg
|image_coat = Escudo de España (colores THV).svg
|image_map = EU-Spain.svg
|map_caption = {{map_caption |location_color=dark green |region=] |region_color=dark grey |subregion=the ] |subregion_color=light green |legend=Location Spain EU Europe.png}}|national_motto = {{lang|la|"]"}}{{spaces|2}}<small>(]) <br />"Further Beyond"</small>
|national_anthem = {{lang|es|"]"}}</sup>{{spaces|2}}<small>(])<ref group=note>Also serves as the ]</ref><br />"Royal March"
|official_languages = ]<ref group=note>In some ], ], ], ], ] and ] (]) are co-official languages. ], ] and ] have some degree of official recognition</ref>
|regional_languages = ], ], ] and ]
|officially_recognised_languages = ], ] and ]
|ethnic_groups = 87.8% ], 12.2% (], ], ], ]ian, ]) other (2010)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diariocritico.com/2010/Abril/nacional/205552/ine-poblacion-inmigrantes-ue.html |title=Spain |publisher=www.diariocritico.com |date=2010-05-22}}</ref>
|demonym = ], ]
|capital = ]
|latd=40 |latm=26 |latNS=N |longd=3 |longm=42 |longEW=W
|largest_city = capital
|government_type = ] and ]
|leader_title1 = ]
|leader_title2 = ]
|leader_name1 = ]
|leader_name2 = ] (])
|sovereignty_type = Formation
|sovereignty_note = 15th century
|established_event1 = {{spaces|2}}Traditional date
|established_date1 = ] (Ascension to the throne of ])
|established_event2 = {{spaces|2}}]
|established_date2 = ]
|established_event3 = {{spaces|2}}'']''
|established_date3 = ]
|established_event4 = {{spaces|2}}'']''
|established_date4 = ]
|established_event5 = {{spaces|2}}]
|established_date5 = ]
|accessionEUdate = 1 January 1986
|EUseats = 54
|area_km2 = 504,030
|area_sq_mi = 195,364 <!--Do not remove per ]-->
|area_rank = 51st
|area_magnitude = 1 E11
|percent_water = 1.04
|population_estimate = 46,030,109<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.es/jaxiBD/tabla.do?per=01&type=db&divi=EPOB&idtab=2|title=Official Population Figures of Spain. Population on the 1 April 2010|publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística de España|accessdate=2010-07-05}}</ref>
|population_estimate_year = 2010
|population_estimate_rank = 27th
|population_density_km2 = 93
|population_density_sq_mi = 231 <!--Do not remove per ]-->
|population_density_rank = 106th
|GDP_PPP_year = 2009
|GDP_PPP = $1.360 trillion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2010/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2007&ey=2010&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=184&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=39&pr.y=11 |title=Spain|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=2010-04-21}}</ref>
|GDP_PPP_rank =
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $29,689<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank =
|GDP_nominal = $1.464 trillion<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_rank =
|GDP_nominal_year = 2009
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $31,946<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank =
|HDI_year = 2007
|HDI = {{increase}} 0.955
|HDI_rank = 15th
|HDI_category = <span style="color:#090;">very high</span>
|Gini = 32<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2172.html|title=CIA World Factbook|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref>
|Gini_year = 2005
|currency = ] (])<ref group=note>Prior to 1999 (by law, 2002) : ].</ref>
|currency_code = EUR
|time_zone = ]<ref group=note>Except in the ], which are in the ] time zone (], ]+1 in summer).</ref>
|utc_offset = +1
|time_zone_DST = ]
|utc_offset_DST = +2
|date_format = dd.mm.yyyy (Spanish; ])
|drives_on = right
|cctld = ]<ref group=note>The ] domain is also used, as it is shared with other ] member states. Also, the ] domain is used in Catalan-speaking territories.</ref>
|calling_code = ]
}}
'''Spain''' ({{pron-en|ˈspeɪn|en-us-Spain.ogg}} {{respell|spayn}}; {{lang-es|'''España'''}}, {{IPA-es|esˈpaɲa|pron|Es-España.ogg}}), officially the '''Kingdom of Spain''' ({{lang-es|Reino de España}}), is a ] and ] located in ] on the ].<ref group=note>The ] does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though ''España'' (Spain), ''Estado español'' (Spanish State) and ''Nación española'' (Spanish Nation) are used interchangeably. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in an Ordinance published in 1984, declared that "''denominations "Spain" and "Kingdom of Spain" are equally valid to designate the Spain in international treaties...''"</ref> Its mainland is bordered to the south and east by the ] except for a small land boundary with the ] of ]; to the north by ], ], and the ]; and to the northwest and west by the ] and ].

Spanish territory also includes the ] in the Mediterranean, the ] in the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast, and two ] in ], ] and ], that border ]. Furthermore, the town of ] is a Spanish ] situated inside French territory. With an area of 504,030&nbsp;km², it is the second largest country in ] and the ] after France.

Because of its location, the territory of Spain was subject to many external influences since ] and through to its dawn as a country. Conversely, it has been an important source of influence to other regions, chiefly during the ], when it became a ] that has left a legacy of over ] today, making it the world's ].

Spain is a democracy organised in the form of a parliamentary government under a constitutional ]. It is a ] with the ] by nominal GDP, and very high ] ], including the tenth-highest ] in the world, as of 2005. It is a member of the ], ], ], ], and ].

{{TOC limit|limit=3}}

== Etymology ==
The true origins of the name ''España'' and its ]s "Spain" and "Spanish" are disputed. The ] name for Iberia, '']'', may derive from poetic use of the term ''Hesperia'' to refer to Spain, reflecting ] perception of ] as a "western land" or "land of the setting sun" (''Hesperia'') and Spain, being still further west, as ''Hesperia ultima''.<ref name=anthon>{{cite book
| last = Anthon
| first = Charles
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = A system of ancient and mediæval geography for the use of schools and colleges
| publisher = Harper & Brothers
| year = 1850
| location = New York
| page = 14
| url = http://books.google.com/?id=hm0rAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA14&dq=hesperia&q=hesperia
| doi =
| id =
| isbn = }}</ref>

It may also be a derivation of the ] ''Ispanihad'', meaning "land of rabbits" or "edge", a reference to Spain's location at the end of the Mediterranean; Roman coins struck in the region from the reign of ] show a female figure with a rabbit at her feet.<ref name=burke>{{cite book
| last = Burke
| first = Ulick Ralph
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = A History of Spain from the Earliest Times to the Death of Ferdinand the Catholic, Volume 1
| publisher = Longmans, Green & Co
| date = 2nd edition, 2008
| location = London
| page = 14
| url = http://books.google.com/?id=DuiyyWGg-KEC&pg=PA410&dq=spain+hispania&q=hispania
| doi =
| id =
| isbn =978-1-4437-4054-8 }}</ref> There are also claims that ''España'' derives from the ] word ''Ezpanna'' meaning "edge" or "border", another reference to the fact that the Iberian peninsula constitutes the southwest of the European continent.<ref name=anthon />

The humanist ] proposed that the word ''Hispania'' evolved from the ] word ], meaning "city of the western world". According to new research by Jesús Luis Cunchillos published in 2000 with the name of ''Gramática fenicia elemental'' (''Basic Phoenician grammar''), the root of the term ''span'' is ''spy'', meaning "to forge metals". Therefore ''i-spn-ya'' would mean "the land where metals are forged".<ref># ↑ Linch, John (director), Fernández Castro, María Cruz (del segundo tomo), Historia de España, El País, volumen II, La península Ibérica en época prerromana, pg. 40. Dossier. La etimología de España; ¿tierra de conejos?, ISBN 978-84-9815-764-2</ref>

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Spain}}
], the highest mountain in Spain (], ])]]
] (]), in the ]]]

At {{convert|504782|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on|lk=out}}, Spain is the world's ]. It is some {{convert|47000|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} smaller than ] and {{convert|81000|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} larger than the ] of ]. The ] (], ]) is the highest peak of Spain and the third largest volcano in the world from its base.

], in ] (])]]
On the west, Spain borders ]; on the south, it borders ] (a ]) and ], through its ]s in North Africa (], ], and ]). On the northeast, along the ] mountain range, it borders France and the tiny ] of ].

Spain also includes the ] in the ], the ] in the ] and a number of uninhabited islands on the Mediterranean side of the ], known as {{lang|es|'']''}}, such as the ] islands, the ], ], and the tiny ]. Along the Pyrenees in ], a small exclave town called ] is surrounded by France. The little ] in the River ] is a Spanish-French ].

Mainland Spain is dominated by high ]s and mountain ranges, such as the ]. Running from these heights are several major rivers such as the ], the ], the ], the ] and the ]. ]s are found along the coast, the largest of which is that of the Guadalquivir in ].

=== Climate ===
])]]

Due to Spain's geographical situation and ] conditions, the ] is extremely diverse<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iberianature.com/material/spainclimates.html |title=Description of Spain's climate |publisher=Iberianature |date=2010-08-13}}</ref>; discounting the mountain climate, it can be roughly divided into five areas:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clima.meteored.com/clima-en-Europa-Espana-SP.html |title=Historical climatic data |publisher=Meteored |date=2010-08-13}}</ref>
* A ] in the inland areas of the Peninsula (largest city, ]).
* An ] in the Galician mountains and the coastal strip near the Bay of Biscay or (largest city, ]). This area is often called ].
* A ] or arid Mediterranean in the southeast (largest city, ]).
* A ] region extends from the Andalusian plain along the southern and eastern coasts up to the Pyrenees, on the seaward side of the mountain ranges that run near the coast. Also in Ceuta and Melilla (largest city, ]). Localized ] areas exist in the coasts of Granada and Málaga (]). According to Köppen's classifications, the Galician coast has a mediterranean climate too (Csb), though with less hot summers than the central and southern peninsula.
* A ] in the Canary Islands (largest city, ] and ]).

] does ''not'' fall mainly in the plain. It falls mainly in the northern mountains.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://maps.howstuffworks.com/spain-annual-precipitation-map.htm |title=HowStuffWorks "Maps of Spain Annual Precipitation" |publisher=Maps.howstuffworks.com |date= |accessdate=2010-01-27}}</ref>

== History ==
{{Main|History of Spain}}
After a long and hard conquest, the Iberian Peninsula became a region of the Roman Empire known as Hispania. During the early Middle Ages it came under Germanic rule but later was conquered by Muslim invaders. Through a very long and fitful process, the Christian kingdoms in the north gradually rolled back Muslim rule, finally extinguishing its last remnant in Granada in 1492, the same year Columbus reached the Americas. A global empire began which saw Spain become the strongest kingdom in Europe and the leading world power in the 16th century and first half of the 17th century.

Continued wars and other problems however, eventually led to a diminished status. The French invasion of Spain in the early 19th century led to chaos, triggering independence movements that tore apart most of the empire and left the country politically unstable. In the 20th century it suffered a devastating civil war and came under the rule of an authoritarian government, leading to years of stagnation, but finishing in an impressive economic surge. Democracy was restored in 1978 in the form of a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. In 1986, Spain joined the European Union, experiencing a cultural renaissance and steady economic growth.

=== Prehistory and pre-Roman peoples ===
{{Main|Prehistoric Iberia}}
] paintings,<ref name="timesonline.co.uk">{{Dead link|date=January 2010}}</ref> in ]]]
Archaeological research at ] indicates the Iberian Peninsula was populated by ]s 1.2 million years ago.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6256356.stm|title='First west Europe tooth' found|publisher=BBC|date=30 June 2007|accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref> Modern humans first arrived in Iberia, from the north on foot, about 32,000 years ago.<ref>Typical ] items were found in Cantabria (Morín, El Pendo, Castillo), the Basque Country (Santimamiñe) and Catalonia. The radiocarbon datations give the following dates: 32,425 and 29,515 BP.</ref> The best known artifacts of these prehistoric human settlements are the famous paintings in the ] of Cantabria in northern Iberia, which were created about 15,000 ] by ]s.<ref name="timesonline.co.uk"/>

Archaeological and genetic evidence strongly suggests that the Iberian Peninsula acted as one of several major refugia from which northern Europe was repopulated following the end of the last ].

The two main historical peoples of the peninsula were the ] and the ], the former inhabiting the Mediterranean side from the northeast to the southwest, the latter inhabiting the Atlantic side, in the north and northwest part of the peninsula. In the inner part of the peninsula, where both groups were in contact, a mixed, distinctive culture known as ] was present. In addition, ] occupied the western area of the Pyrenees mountains. Other ethnic groups existed along the southern coastal areas of present day ].

Among these southern groups there grew the earliest urban culture in the Iberian Peninsula, that of the semi-mythical southern city of ] (c. 1100&nbsp;BC) in the location of the present-day triangle between ], ] and ]. The flourishing trade in gold and silver between the people of Tartessos and ]ns and ] is documented in the history of ] and in the biblical book of king Solomon. Between about 500&nbsp;BC and 300 BC, the seafaring Phoenicians and Greeks founded ] all along the Mediterranean coast. The ]s briefly exerted control over much of the Mediterranean coastal areas in the course of the ], until their rule was defeated and replaced by that of the ].<ref name="country"/>

=== Roman Empire and the Gothic Kingdom ===
{{Main|Hispania}}
], in ]]]
During the ], an expanding ] captured Carthaginian trading colonies along the Mediterranean coast from roughly 210&nbsp;BC to 205 BC, leading to eventual Roman control of nearly the entire Iberian Peninsula. This control lasted over 500 years, bound together by law, language, and the ].<ref name="hispania">{{cite web |last=Payne |first=Stanley G. | title = A History of Spain and Portugal; Ch. 1 Ancient Hispania |publisher=The Library of Iberian Resources Online |year=1973 |url=http://libro.uca.edu/payne1/spainport1.htm |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>
], in ]]]

The base Celt and Iberian populations were gradually ] at differing rates in different parts of Hispania. Local leaders were admitted into the Roman aristocratic class.<ref group=note>The '']'' (sing., ''latifundium''), large estates controlled by the aristocracy, were superimposed on the existing Iberian landholding system.</ref><ref name="country">{{cite web |last=Rinehart |first=Robert |coauthors=Seeley, Jo Ann Browning | title = A Country Study: Spain – Hispania |publisher=Library of Congress Country Series |year=1998 |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/estoc.html |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref> Hispania served as a granary for the Roman market, and its harbors exported ], ], ], and ]. Agricultural production increased with the introduction of irrigation projects, some of which remain in use. Emperors ], ], and the philosopher ] were born in Hispania.<ref group=note>The poets ], Quintilian and ] were also born in Hispania.</ref>

] was introduced into Hispania in the 1st&nbsp;century CE and it became popular in the cities in the 2nd&nbsp;century CE.<ref name="country"/> Most of Spain's present languages and religion, and the basis of its laws, originate from this period.<ref name="hispania"/>

Rome's loss of jurisdiction in Hispania began in 409, when the ] ] and ], together with the ] ] crossed the ] and ravaged ] until the ] drove them into Iberia that same year. The Suevi established a kingdom in what is today modern ] and northern ]. As the western empire disintegrated the social and economic base became greatly simplified: but even in modified form, the successor regimes maintained many of the institutions and laws of the late empire, including Christianity.

The Alans' allies, the ] Vandals, established a kingdom in ], too, occupying largely the same region but extending farther south to the ] river. The ] Vandals occupied the region that still bears a form of their name –''Vandalusia'', modern ], in Spain. The ]s established an enclave, ], in the south, with the intention of reviving the Roman empire throughout Iberia. Eventually, however, Hispania was reunited under ].

=== Muslim Iberia ===
{{Main|Al-Andalus}}
], in ].]]
In the 8th&nbsp;century, nearly all of the ] was ] (711–718) by largely ] ] armies from North Africa. These conquests were part of the expansion of the ] ]. Only a small area in the mountainous north-west of the peninsula managed to resist the initial invasion.<!--see next section on the reconquista: citation not needed here-->

Under ], Christians and ] were given the subordinate status of ]. This status permitted Christians and Jews to practice their religions as '']'' but they were required to pay a special tax and to be subject to certain discriminations.<ref>Dhimma provides rights of residence in return for taxes. H. Patrick Glenn, ''Legal Traditions of the World''. Oxford University Press, 2007, pg. 218-219.</ref><ref>Dhimmi have fewer legal and social rights than Muslims, but more rights than other non-Muslims.Lewis, Bernard, The Jews of Islam. Princeton: Princeton University Press (1984). ISBN 978-0-691-00807-3 p. 62</ref>

Conversion to ] proceeded at a steadily increasing pace. The '']es'' (Muslims of ethnic ] origin) are believed to have comprised the majority of the population of Al-Andalus by the end of the 10th century.<ref>, Thomas F. Glick</ref><ref name="chap2">{{cite web |last=Payne |first=Stanley G. | title = A History of Spain and Portugal; Ch. 2 Al-Andalus |publisher=The Library of Iberian Resources Online |year=1973 |url=http://libro.uca.edu/payne1/spainport1.htm |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>

], the bell tower of ]]]
The Muslim community in the Iberian peninsula was itself diverse and beset by social tensions. The ] of North Africa, who had provided the bulk of the invading armies, ] from the ].<ref group=note>The Berbers soon gave up attempting to settle the harsh lands in the north of the ] handed to them by the Arab rulers.</ref> Over time, large ] populations became established, especially in the ] valley, the coastal plain of ], the ] valley and (towards the end of this period) in the mountainous region of ].<ref name="chap2"/>

], the capital of the ], was the largest, richest and most sophisticated city in ]. Mediterranean trade and cultural exchange flourished. Muslims imported a rich intellectual tradition from the Middle East and North Africa. Muslim and Jewish scholars played an important part in reviving and expanding classical ] in Western Europe. The ] cultures of the Iberian peninsula interacted with Muslim and Jewish cultures in complex ways, thus giving the region a distinctive culture.<ref name="chap2"/> Outside the cities, where the vast majority lived, the land ownership system from Roman times remained largely intact as Muslim leaders rarely dispossessed landowners, and the introduction of new crops and techniques led to a remarkable expansion of agriculture.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}

In the 11th&nbsp;century, the Muslim holdings fractured into rival ] kingdoms, allowing the small Christian states the opportunity to greatly enlarge their territories.<ref name="chap2"/> The arrival from ] of the Islamic ruling sects of the ] and the ] restored unity upon the Muslim holdings, with a stricter, less tolerant application of ], and saw a revival in Muslim fortunes. This re-united Islamic state, after more than a century of successes, including the conquest of a large part of the peninsula's northeast, finally fell to a Christian alliance in the 13th century.<ref name="country"/>

=== Fall of Muslim rule and unification ===
{{Main|Reconquista}}
], in ]]]]]]] city walls]]] and ]: the ].]]
The '']'' ("Reconquest") is the centuries-long period of expansion of Iberia's Christian kingdoms. The Reconquista is viewed as beginning with the ] in 722 and was concurrent with the period of Muslim rule on the Iberian peninsula. The Christian army's victory over Muslim forces led to the creation of the Christian ] along the northwestern coastal mountains. Muslim armies had also moved north of the Pyrenees, but they were defeated by Frankish forces at the ], ].

Subsequently, they retreated to more secure positions south of the Pyrenees with a frontier marked by the ] and ] valleys. In 739 Muslim forces were driven from ], which was to host one of medieval Europe's holiest sites, ]. A little later, ] forces established Christian counties on the southern side of the Pyrenees; ] were to grow into kingdoms. These territories included Navarre, Aragon and Catalonia.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rinehart |first=Robert |coauthors=Seeley, Jo Ann Browning | title = A Country Study: Spain – Castile and Aragon |publisher=Library of Congress Country Series |year=1998 |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/estoc.html |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>

The breakup of Al-Andalus into the competing Taifa kingdoms helped the Christian kingdoms. The capture of the strategically central city of ] in 1085 marked a significant shift in the balance of power in favour of the Christian kingdoms of Iberia. After a great Muslim resurgence in the 12th&nbsp;century, the great Moorish strongholds in the south fell to Christian Spain in the 13th&nbsp;century—] in 1236 and ] in 1248—leaving only the Muslim enclave of ] as a ] in the south.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://libro.uca.edu/rc/rc1.htm|title=Ransoming Captives in Crusader Spain: The Order of Merced on the Christian-Islamic Frontier|accessdate=2008-08-13}} See also: {{cite web |last=Payne |first=Stanley G. | title = A History of Spain and Portugal; Ch. 4 Castile-León in the Era of the Great Reconquest |publisher=The Library of Iberian Resources Online |year=1973 |url=http://libro.uca.edu/payne1/spainport1.htm |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>

In the 13th and 14th&nbsp;centuries the ]s Muslim sect based in North Africa invaded and established some enclaves on the southern coast but failed in their attempt to re-establish Muslim rule in Iberia and were soon driven out. The 13th&nbsp;century also witnessed the ], centred in Spain's north east, expand its reach across islands in the Mediterranean, to ] and even Athens.<ref>{{cite web |last=Payne |first=Stanley G. | title = A History of Spain and Portugal; Ch. 5 The Rise of Aragón-Catalonia |publisher=The Library of Iberian Resources Online |year=1973 |url=http://libro.uca.edu/payne1/spainport1.htm |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref> Around this time the universities of ] (1212/1263) and ] (1218/1254) were established. The ] of 1348 and 1349 devastated Spain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/a-b/blackdeath.html|title=The Black Death|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=]}}</ref>

In 1469, the crowns of the Christian kingdoms of ] and ] were united by the ] of ] and ]. 1478 commenced the completion of the conquest of the ] and in 1492, the combined forces of the Castile and Aragon captured the Emirate of Granada, ending the last remnant of a ] of Islamic rule in Iberia. The ] guaranteed religious tolerance toward ]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyberistan.org/islamic/treaty1492.html|title=The Treaty of Granada, 1492|publisher=Islamic Civilisation|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref>

The year 1492 also marked the arrival in the ] of ], during a voyage funded by Isabella. That same year, ] were ] to ] or face ] from Spanish territories during the ].<ref>. New Scientist. December 4, 2008.</ref> A few years later, following social disturbances, Muslims were also expelled under the same conditions.<ref group=note>For the related expulsions that followed see ].</ref><ref name="cong">{{cite web |last=Rinehart |first=Robert |coauthors=Seeley, Jo Ann Browning | title = A Country Study: Spain – The Golden Age |publisher=Library of Congress Country Series |year=1998 |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/estoc.html |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>

As ] ], Isabella and Ferdinand centralized royal power at the expense of local nobility, and the word ''España'', whose root is the ancient name ''Hispania'', began to be commonly used to designate the whole of the two kingdoms.<ref name="cong"/>
With their wide-ranging political, legal, religious and military reforms, Spain emerged as a ].

=== Imperial Spain ===
{{Main|Spanish Empire}}
]'s historical influence]]
The unification of the crowns of ] and ] laid the basis for modern Spain and the Spanish Empire.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/eurvoya/Imperial.html|title=Imperial Spain|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=University of Calgary}}</ref> Spain was Europe's leading power throughout the ] and most of the ], a position reinforced by trade and wealth from colonial possessions. It reached its apogee during the reigns of the first two ] – ] (1516–1556) and ] (1556–1598). This period saw the ], the ], the ], the ], clashes with the ], the ] and wars with ].<ref>{{cite web |last=Payne |first=Stanley G. | title = A History of Spain and Portugal; Ch. 13 The ] |publisher=The Library of Iberian Resources Online |year=1973 |url=http://libro.uca.edu/payne1/spainport1.htm |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>

The Spanish Empire expanded to include great parts of the ], islands in the Asia-Pacific area, areas of ], cities in ], as well as parts of what are now France, Germany, ], ], and the ]. It was the first empire of which it was said that ].

This was an ], with daring explorations by sea and by land, the opening-up of new ]s across oceans, conquests and the beginnings of European ]. Along with the arrival of ]s, spices, luxuries, and new agricultural plants, Spanish explorers brought back knowledge from the ], and played a leading part in transforming the European understanding of the globe.<ref>{{cite book |last=Thomas |first=Hugh |authorlink=Hugh Thomas | title = Rivers of gold: the rise of the Spanish Empire |publisher=George Weidenfeld & Nicholson |year=2003 |location=London |pages=''passim''|isbn=978-0-297-64563-4}}</ref> The cultural efflorescence witnessed is now referred to as the ]. The rise of ], the Protestant Reformation and new geographical discoveries raised issues addressed by the influential intellectual movement now known as the ].

].]]
In the late 16th century and first half of the 17th&nbsp;century, Spain was confronted by unrelenting challenges from all sides. ] under the aegis of the rapidly growing ], disrupted life in many coastal areas through their ] raids and renewed the threat of an ].<ref>According to Robert Davis between 1 million and 1.25 million Europeans were captured by ] Muslim pirates and sold as slaves during the 16th and 17th centuries.</ref> This at a time when Spain was often at war with France.

The ] schism from the Catholic Church dragged the kingdom ever more deeply into the mire of religiously charged wars. The result was a country forced into ever expanding military efforts across Europe and in the Mediterranean.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://libro.uca.edu/payne1/payne15.htm|title=The Seventeenth-Century Decline|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=The Library of Iberian resources online}}</ref>

By the middle decades of a ]- and ]-ridden 17th&nbsp;century Europe the Spanish Habsburgs had enmeshed the country in the continent-wide religious-political conflicts. These conflicts drained it of resources and undermined the European economy generally. Spain managed to hold on to most of the scattered ] empire, and help the imperial forces of the ] reverse a large part of the advances made by Protestant forces, but it was finally forced to recognise the ] (with whom it had been ] in a ] from 1580 to 1640) and the ], and eventually suffered some serious military reverses to France in the latter stages of the immensely destructive, Europe-wide ].<ref>{{cite web |last=Payne |first=Stanley G. | title = A History of Spain and Portugal; Ch. 14 Spanish Society and Economics in the Imperial Age |publisher=The Library of Iberian Resources Online |year=1973 |url=http://libro.uca.edu/payne1/spainport1.htm |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>
], built in ]'s reign, near Madrid.]]

In the latter half of the 17th&nbsp;century, Spain went into a gradual relative decline, during which it surrendered a number of small territories to France. However it maintained and enlarged its vast overseas empire, which remained intact until the beginning of the 19th&nbsp;century.

The decline culminated in a controversy over succession to the throne which consumed the first years of the 18th&nbsp;century. The ] was a wide ranging international conflict combined with a civil war, and was to cost the kingdom its European possessions and its position as one of the leading powers on the Continent.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rinehart |first=Robert |coauthors=Seeley, Jo Ann Browning | title = A Country Study: Spain – Spain in Decline |publisher=Library of Congress Country Series |year=1998 |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/estoc.html |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>

During this war, a new dynasty originating in France, the ], was installed. Long united only by the Crown, a true Spanish state was established when the first Bourbon king, ], united the crowns of Castile and Aragon into a single state, abolishing many of the old regional privileges and laws.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rinehart |first=Robert |coauthors=Seeley, Jo Ann Browning | title = A Country Study: Spain – Bourbon Spain |publisher=Library of Congress Country Series |year=1998 |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/estoc.html |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>

The 18th&nbsp;century saw a gradual recovery and an increase in prosperity through much of the empire. The new ] monarchy drew on the French system of modernising the administration and the economy. ] ideas began to gain ground among some of the kingdom's elite and monarchy. Military assistance for the rebellious British colonies in the ] improved the kingdom's international standing.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gascoigne |first=Bamber | title = History of Spain: Bourbon dynasty: from AD 1700 |publisher=Library of Congress Country Series |year=1998 |url=http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?HistoryID=ab50&ParagraphID=iss#iss |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>

=== Napoleonic rule and its consequences ===
{{Main|Mid-nineteenth century Spain}}
]
In 1793, Spain went to war against the new ], which had overthrown and executed its Bourbon king, ]. The war polarised the country in an apparent reaction against the ] elites. Defeated in the field, peace was made with France in 1795 and it effectively became a ] of that country; In 1807, the secret ] between Napoleon and the deeply unpopular ] led to a declaration of war against Britain and Portugal. French troops entered the kingdom unopposed, supposedly to invade Portugal, but instead they occupied Spanish fortresses. This invasion by trickery led to the ] of the ridiculed Spanish king in favour of ] brother, ].

This foreign ] was widely regarded with scorn. The ] was one of many ] uprisings against the Bonapartist regime across the country.<ref>David A. Bell. "". TheHistoryNet.com</ref> These revolts marked the beginning of what is known to the Spanish as the War of Independence, and to the British as the ].<ref>(Gates 2001, p.20)</ref> Napoleon was forced to intervene personally, defeating several badly coordinated Spanish armies and forcing a British army to retreat. However, further military action by Spanish ]s, armies and ] British-Portuguese forces, combined with Napoleon's disastrous ], led to the ousting of the French imperial armies from the Spain in 1814, and the return of ].<ref>(Gates 2001, p.467)</ref>

The French ]s devastated the economy, and left Spain a deeply divided country prone to political instability. The power struggles of the early 19th&nbsp;century led to the ] in the ] (which stretched from ] to ]), with the sole exception of ] and ].

=== Spanish–American War ===
{{Main|Spanish–American War}}
Amid the instability and economic crisis that afflicted Spain in the 19th&nbsp;century there arose nationalist movements in the Philippines and Cuba. Wars of independence ensued in those colonies and eventually<!--for whatever reasons; it is not for here to go into contentious explanations!--> the United States became involved. Despite the commitment and ability shown by some military units, they were so mismanaged by the highest levels of command that the ], fought in the Spring of 1898, did not last long. "El Desastre" (The Disaster), as the war became known, helped give impetus to the ] who were already conducting much critical analysis concerning the country. It also weakened the stability that had been established during Alfonso XII's reign.

=== Spanish Civil War ===
The 20th&nbsp;century brought little peace; Spain played a minor part in the ], with the colonisation of ], ] and ]. The heavy losses suffered during the ] in Morocco helped to undermine the monarchy. A period of authoritarian rule under General ] (1923–1931) ended with the establishment of the ]. The Republic offered political autonomy to the Basque Country, Catalonia and Galicia and gave voting rights to women.
] and ] ] in ] (])]]
The ] (1936–39) ensued. Three years later the ] forces, led by General ], emerged victorious with the support of ] and ]. ] side was supported by the Soviet Union and Mexico and ], including the American ], but it was not supported officially by the Western powers due to the British-led policy of ].

The Civil War claimed the lives of over 500,000 people<ref>, Telegraph, October 16, 2008</ref> and caused the flight of up to a half-million citizens.<ref>, BBC News, February 23, 2003</ref> Most of their descendants now live in Latin American countries, with some 300,000 in Argentina alone.<ref>"". Telegraph.co.uk. December 28, 2008.</ref> The Spanish Civil War has been called the ] of the ]; ] the country was neutral in the Second World War, although ] to ].

The only legal party under Franco's post civil war regime was the ], formed in 1937; the party emphasised ], ] and ]. Given Franco's opposition to competing political parties, the party was renamed the National Movement ('']'') in 1949.

After World War II Spain was politically and economically isolated, and was kept out of the ]. This changed in 1955, during the ] period, it became strategically important for the U.S. to establish a military presence on the Iberian peninsula as a counter to any possible move by the U.S.S.R into the Mediterranean basin. In the 1960s, Spain registered an unprecedented rate of economic growth in what became known as the ], which resumed the much interrupted transition towards a modern economy. ]]]

With Franco's death in November 1975, ] assumed the position of ] and ] in accordance with the law. With the approval of the new ] and the ], the State ] much authority to the regions and created an internal organization based on ].

In the Basque Country, moderate ] has coexisted with a radical nationalist movement led by the terrorist group ]. The group was formed in 1959 during Franco's rule but has continued to wage its violent campaign even after the restoration of democracy and the return of a large measure of regional autonomy.

On 23 February 1981, rebel elements among the security forces seized the Cortes in an attempt to impose ]. King Juan Carlos took personal command of the military and successfully ordered the coup plotters, via national television, to surrender.

On the 30 May 1982 Spain joined ], following a referendum. That year the ] (PSOE) came to power, the first left-wing government in 43 years. In 1986 Spain joined the ]; what became the ]. The PSOE was replaced in government by the ] (PP) after the latter won the 1996 General Elections; at that point the PSOE had served almost 14 consecutive years in office.

=== 21st century ===
{{See|Spanish society after the democratic transition}}
]]]

On 1 January 2002, Spain ceased to use the ] as currency replacing it with the ], which it shares with 15 other countries in the ]. Spain has also seen strong economic growth, well above the ] average, but well publicised concerns issued by many economic commentators at the height of the boom that the extraordinary property prices and high foreign trade deficits of the boom were likely to lead to a painful economic collapse were confirmed by a severe property led recession that struck the country in 2008/9.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2002/07/11/a10_18.php|title=Economy reaps benefits of entry to the 'club' : Spain's euro bonanza|publisher=International Herald Tribune|accessdate=2008-08-09|date=11 July 2002|author=Pfanner, Eric}} See also: {{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=9118701|title=Spain's economy / Plain sailing no longer|publisher=The Economist|date=3 May 2007|accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>

A ] in commuter trains in Madrid, Spain on 11 March 2004. After a five month trial in 2007 it was concluded the bombings were perpetrated by a local Islamist militant group inspired by ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3509426.stm|publisher=BBC|title=Al-Qaeda 'claims Madrid bombings'|accessdate=2008-08-13 | date=2004-03-14}} See also: {{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7070827.stm|publisher=BBC|title=Madrid bombers get long sentences|accessdate=2008-08-13 | date=2007-10-31}}</ref> The bombings killed 191 people and wounded more than 1800, and the intention of the perpetrators may have been to influence the outcome of the ], held three days later.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/rielcano/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/Elcano_es/Zonas_es/Imagen+de+Espana/ARI+132-2004|title=Del 11-M al 14-M: estrategia yihadista, elecciones generales y opinión pública|accessdate=2008-08-09|publisher= Fundación Real Instituto Elcano}}</ref>

Though initial suspicions focused on the Basque group ], evidence soon emerged indicating possible ] involvement. Because of the proximity of the election, the issue of responsibility quickly became a political controversy, with the main competing parties ] and ] exchanging accusations over the handling of the aftermath.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3509744.stm|publisher=BBC|title=Spain votes under a shadow|accessdate=2008-08-13 | date=2004-03-14}}</ref> At the 14 March elections, PSOE, led by ], obtained a ], enough to form a new cabinet with Rodríguez Zapatero as the new ''Presidente del Gobierno'' or ], thus succeeding the former PP administration.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3512222.stm|publisher=BBC|title=Spain awakes to socialist reality|accessdate=2008-08-13 | date=2004-03-15}}</ref>

== Government ==
{{Main|Politics of Spain}}
=== Constitution ===
{{Main|Spanish Constitution of 1978}}
]]]
], Prime Minister.]]
The '''Spanish Constitution of 1978''' is the culmination of the ].
The constitutional history of Spain dates back to the constitution of 1812. Impatient with the pace of democratic political reforms in 1976 and 1977, Spain's new King Juan Carlos, known for his formidable personality, dismissed ] and appointed the reformer ] as Prime Minister.<ref name="From Dictatorship to Democracy">John Hooper, ''The New Spainards'', 2001, ''From Dictatorship to Democracy''</ref><ref name="Spain's fast-living king turns 70"> BBC News Friday, 4 January 2008 Extracted 18 June 2009</ref> The resulting ] convened the '']'' (the Spanish Parliament, in its capacity as a constitutional assembly) for the purpose of drafting and approving the constitution of 1978.<ref>http://www.senado.es/constitu_i/index.html|Spanish Constitution in English</ref> After a national a referendum on 6 December 1978, 88% of voters approved of the new constitution.

As a result, Spain is now composed of 17 ] and two ] with varying degrees of autonomy thanks to its Constitution, which nevertheless explicitly states the indivisible unity of the Spanish nation as well as that Spain has today no official religion but all are free to practice and believe as they wish.

=== Branches of government ===
Spain is a ], with a hereditary ] and a ], the '']''. The ] consists of a ] presided over by the ], ] by the ] and ] by the Congress of Deputies following legislative elections. By ] established by King Juan Carlos since the ratification of the 1978 Constitution, the king's nominees have all been from parties who maintain a ] of seats in the Congress.

The ] is made up of the ] (''Congreso de los Diputados'') with 350 members, elected by popular vote on block lists by proportional representation to serve four-year terms, and a ] (''Senado'') with 259 seats of which 208 are directly elected by popular vote and the other 51 appointed by the regional legislatures to also serve four-year terms.
* '''Head of State'''
** ] ], since 22 November 1975
* '''Head of Government'''
** ] (Spanish ''Presidente del Gobierno'' literally ''President of the Government''): ], elected 14 March 2004.
*** ] and Minister of Presidency: ].
*** ] and ]: ].
*** Third Vice President and Minister of Territorial Policy: ].
* '''Cabinet'''
** ] (Spanish ''Consejo de Ministros'') designated by the Prime Minister.

The Spanish nation is organizationally composed in the form of called ''Estado de las Autonomías'' ("]"); it is one of the most ] countries in Europe, along with Switzerland, Germany and Belgium;<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/06/18/catalonia.vote/index.html|publisher=CNN|title=Catalonians vote for more autonomy|date=18 June 2006|accessdate=2008-08-13}} See also: {{cite web|url=http://www.oecd.org/document/57/0,2340,en_2649_201185_34578361_1_1_1_1,00.html|title=Economic Survey: Spain 2005|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development}} and {{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/countries/Spain/profile.cfm?folder=Profile-FactSheet|title=Country Briefings: Spain|accessdate=2008-08-09|publisher=The Economist}} and {{cite web|url=http://www1.worldbank.org/wbiep/decentralization/Swiss%20Expertise/Muralt.pdf|title=Swiss Experience With Decentralized Government|format=PDF|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=]}}</ref> for example, all Autonomous Communities have their own elected parliaments, governments, public administrations, budgets, and resources; therefore, health and education systems among others are managed regionally, besides, the Basque Country and Navarre also manage their own public finances based on ] provisions. In Catalonia and the Basque Country, a full fledged autonomous police corps replaces some of the State police functions (see ], ], ] and ]).

{{See also|List of Spanish monarchs|Monarchs of Spain family tree}}

=== Gender equality in Government ===
As of November 2009, the Government of Spain keeps a balanced gender equality ratio. Nine out of the 18 members of the Government are women. Under the administration of ], Spain has been described as being "at the vanguard" in gender equality issues and also that "o other modern, democratic, administration outside Scandinavia has taken more steps to place gender issues at the centre of government".<ref>, ], 10 May 2008.</ref> The Spanish administration has also promoted gender-based ] by approving gender equality legislation in 2007 aimed to provide equality between genders in the Spanish political and economic life (Gender Equality Act).<ref>, IPS News, 13 March 2007.</ref><ref>, IPS News, 31 January 2008</ref> However, in the legislative branch, as of July 2010 only 128 out of the 350 members of the Congress are women (36.3%).<ref></ref> Nowadays, it positions Spain as the 13th country with more women in its ]. In the Senate, the ratio is even lower, since there are only 79 women out of 263 (30.0%).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/classif.htm |title=Women in National Parlaments |publisher=Ipu.org |date=2010-02-28 |accessdate=2010-05-01}}</ref> The ] of Spain in the United Nations ] is 0.794, the 12th in the world.<ref>, p.330.</ref>

=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Autonomous communities of Spain|Provinces of Spain}}

{{Autonomous communities of Spain|float=right}}
The basic institutional law of the autonomous community is the ]. The Statutes of Autonomy establish the denomination of the community according to its historical identity, the limits of their territories, the name and organization of the institutions of government and the rights they enjoy according the constitution.<ref>. ''Spanish Constitution of 1978''. Accessed: 10 December 2007</ref>

The government of all autonomous communities must be based on a division of powers comprising:
* a Legislative Assembly whose members must be elected by ] according to the system of ] and in which all areas that integrate the territory are fairly represented;
* a Government Council, with executive and administrative functions headed by a president, elected by the Legislative Assembly and nominated by the ];
* a Supreme Court of Justice, under the Supreme Court of the State, which head the judicial organization within the autonomous community.

Besides Andalusia, Catalonia, the Basque Country and Galicia, which identified themselves as nationalities, other communities have taken that denomination in accordance to their historical regional identity, such as the Valencian Community,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trobat.com/recursos/estatut-valencia.pdf |title=Estatut |format=PDF |language={{es icon}} |date= |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> the Canary Islands,<ref>{{Dead link|date=July 2009}}</ref> the Balearic Islands,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.caib.es/webcaib/govern_illes/estatut_autonomia/doc/estatut2007.ca.pdf |title=BOCAe32.QXD |format=PDF |language={{ca icon}} |date= |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> and Aragon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://narros.congreso.es/constitucion/estatutos/estatutos.jsp?com=64&tipo=2&ini=1&fin=10&ini_sub=1&fin_sub=1 |title=Estatuto de Autonomía de Aragón |publisher=Narros.congreso.es |date= |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref>

The autonomous communities have wide legislative and executive autonomy, with their own ]s and regional governments.
The distribution of powers may be different for every community, as laid out in their Statutes of Autonomy. There used to be a clear '']'' distinction between so called "historic" communities (Basque Country, Catalonia, Galicia, Andalusia) and the rest. The "historic" ones initially received more functions, including the ability of the regional presidents to choose the timing of the regional elections (as long as they happen no more than four years apart).

As another example, the Basque Country, Navarre and Catalonia have full-range police forces of their own: ] in the ], ] in ] and ] in ]. Other communities have more limited forces or none at all (like the ''Policía Autónoma Andaluza''<ref name="cartujo">{{cite web |url=http://www.cartujo.org/pag(a9).htm | title=Unidad de Policía de la Comunidad Autónoma de Andalucía| author=Cartujo.org| accessdate=2007-10-23}} {{Es icon}}</ref> in ] or the ] in ]).

However, the recent amendments made to their respective Statute of Autonomy by a series of "ordinary" Autonomous Communities such as the Valencian Community or Aragon have weakened this original de facto distinction.

==== Subdivisions ====
Autonomous communities are composed of ] (''provincias''), which serve as the territorial building blocks for the former. In turn, provinces are composed of ] (''municipios''). The existence of these two subdivisions is granted and protected by the constitution, not necessarily by the Statutes of Autonomy themselves. Municipalities are granted autonomy to manage their internal affairs, and provinces are the territorial divisions designed to carry out the activities of the State.<ref>. Spanish Constitution of 1978</ref>

The current fifty province structure is based—with minor changes—on ] by ]. The communities of Asturias, Cantabria, La Rioja, the Balearic Islands, Madrid, Murcia and Navarre are counted as provinces as well, but were granted autonomy as single-provinces for historical reasons.

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Spain}}
] in 1993 and signed the Maastricht Treaty.]]

After the return of ] following the death of ] in 1975, Spain's ] priorities were to break out of the diplomatic isolation of the ] and expand ], enter the ], and define security relations with the West.

As a member of ] since 1982, Spain has established itself as a major{{Clarify|date=May 2010}} participant in multilateral international security activities. Spain's EU membership represents an important part of its foreign policy. Even on many international issues beyond ], Spain prefers to coordinate its efforts with its EU partners through the European political cooperation mechanisms.

With the normalization of diplomatic relations with ] in 2001, Spain completed the process of universalizing{{Clarify|date=May 2010}} its diplomatic relations.

Spain has maintained its special identification with ]. Its policy emphasizes the concept of an ]n community, essentially the renewal of the historically liberal concept of ''hispanoamericanismo'', or Hispanism as it is often referred to in English, which has sought to link the Iberian peninsula with Latin America through language, commerce, history and culture. Spain has been an effective example of transition from dictatorship to democracy for formerly non-democratic Latin American states, as shown in the many trips that ] and ] have made to the region.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}

==== Territorial disputes ====
===== Territory claimed by Spain =====
], a 6 square km ] in the southernmost part of the ]. Then a Spanish town, it was conquered by an Anglo-Dutch force in 1704 during the ] on behalf of the ], pretender to the Spanish throne.
]]]

The legal situation concerning Gibraltar was settled in 1713 by the ], in which Spain ceded the territory in perpetuity to the British Crown<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mgar.net/docs/utrech.htm|title=Tratado de Utretch – Gibraltar (Spanish)|accessdate=2008-08-09|publisher=mgar.net}}</ref> stating that, should the British abandon this post, it would be offered to Spain first. Ever since the 1940s Spain has called for the return of ]. The overwhelming majority of ] strongly oppose this, along with any proposal of shared sovereignty.<ref>
{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2400673.stm
|title=Q&A: Gibraltar's referendum|work=BBC News
|publisher=BBC|date=8 November 2002
|accessdate=19 February 2010
}}
</ref> UN resolutions call on the United Kingdom and Spain, both EU members, to reach an agreement over the status of Gibraltar.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/218/33/IMG/NR021833.pdf?OpenElement
|title=Resolution 2070: Question of Gibraltar|date=16 December 1965|format=PDF
|publisher=]
|accessdate=19 February 2010
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/005/34/IMG/NR000534.pdf?OpenElement
|title=Resolution 2231: Question of Gibraltar|date=20 December 1966|format=PDF
|publisher=]
|accessdate=19 February 2010
}}
</ref>

However, the Spanish claim handles in a different way the Rock and the city of Gibraltar, ceded by the Treaty of Utrecht, and, on the other hand, the ] that connects the Rock to the Spanish mainland. Spain notes that this territory was not ceded by said Treaty and therefore asserts that the "occupation of the isthmus is illegal and against the principles of the ]".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.maec.es/subwebs/Embajadas/Londres/es/MenuPpal/Gibraltar/Documents/000.001.002.003%20Título.%20Prefacio.Índice.%20Informe%20(27.02.08).doc | title=La cuestión de Gibraltar | publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain | date=January 2008 | accessdate=2010-01-03 | language=]}}</ref> The United Kingdom relies on ''de facto'' arguments of possession by ] in relation to the isthmus,<ref>{{cite book | title=Gibraltar: British or Spanish? | author=] | publisher=Routledge | year=2005 | isbn=978-0-415-34795-2 | url=http://books.google.com/?id=u9YH_fLPu1MC |page=4}}</ref> as there has been "continuous possession over a long period".<ref>{{cite web | author=UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | year=1999 | url=http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/OT13.pdf | title=Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories. Appendix 1: Profiles for Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands & Gibraltar | format=PDF | work=Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories | accessdate=2005-12-19}}</ref>

Spain claims the sovereignty over the ], a small, uninhabited rocky ] located in the South shore of the ]. The island lies 250&nbsp;meters just off the coast of ], 8&nbsp;km from ] and 13.5&nbsp;km from mainland Spain. Its sovereignty is disputed between Spain and ]. It was the subject of an armed incident between the two countries in 2002. The incident ended when both countries agreed to return to the ] which existed prior to the Moroccan occupation of the island. The islet is now deserted and without any sign of sovereignty.

===== Spanish territories claimed by other countries =====
] claims the Spanish cities of ] and ] and the ] islets off the northern coast of Africa. ] does not recognise Spain's sovereignty over the territory of ].
]]]

=== Military ===
{{Main|Spanish Armed Forces}}
The ] of Spain are known as the Spanish Armed Forces ({{lang-es|Fuerzas Armadas Españolas}}). Their ] is the ], ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.casareal.es/laCorona/laCorona-iden-idweb.html|title=Article 62 of the Spanish Constitution of 1978|publisher=Official site of the Royal Household of HM the King|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref>

The ] are divided into three branches:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.senado.es/constitu_i/index.html|title=Article 8 of the Spanish Constitution of 1978|publisher=Official site of the Spanish Senate|accessdate=2008-11-29}}</ref>
* ]
* ]
* ]
<!--Do not add the Civil Guard. According to the Spanish Constitution: "The mission of the Armed Forces, comprising the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, is to guarantee the sovereignty and independence of Spain and to defend its territorial integrity and the constitutional order."-->

== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Spain}}
{{wrapper}}
|]: ]]]
|-
|]: finance centre]]
|-
|]]]
|-
|] on the Ebro, at sunset.]]
|}

Spain's ] ] is the ] worldwide and the fifth largest in Europe. It is also the third largest world investor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ottawaregion.com/media_lib/Doing_Business_Archive_Presentations/Doing_Business_in_Spain_Legal_Environment.pdf |title=Doing Business in Spain |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref>

The centre-right government of former prime minister ] worked successfully to gain admission to the group of countries launching the ] in 1999. ] stood at 7.6% in October 2006, a rate that compared favorably to many other European countries, and especially with the early 1990s when it stood at over 20%. Perennial weak points of Spain's economy include high inflation,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oecdobserver.org/news/fullstory.php/aid/1592/Spain%92s_economy_.html|title=Spain's Economy: Closing the Gap|publisher=] Observer|month=May | year=2005|accessdate=2008-08-15}}</ref> a large ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=3E2579A7-6002-4048-97BB-46679C5D8A88|title=Going Underground: America's Shadow Economy|publisher=FrontPage magazine|month=January | year=2005|accessdate=2008-08-15}}</ref> and an education system which OECD reports place among the poorest for developed countries, together with the United States and UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/51/21/37392840.pdf|title=OECD report for 2006|format=PDF|accessdate=2008-08-09|publisher=OECD}}</ref>

However, the property bubble that begun building from 1997, fed by historically low interest rates and an immense surge in immigration, imploded in 2008, leading to a rapidly weakening economy and soaring unemployment. By the end of May 2009 unemployment already reached 18.7% (37% for youths).<ref>. CBCNews.ca. July 2, 2009.</ref><ref>. Telegraph. July 4, 2009.</ref>

Before the current crisis, the Spanish economy was credited for having avoided the virtual zero growth rate of some of its largest partners in the EU.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.oecd.org/WBOS/ViewHTML.aspx?QueryName=198&QueryType=View&Lang=en|title=OECD figures|publisher=OECD|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref> In fact, the country's economy created more than half of all the new jobs in the European Union over the five years ending 2005, a process that is rapidly being reversed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/jul/26/spain.gilestremlett|title=Economic statistics|publisher=Guardian|accessdate=2008-08-13 | location=London | first=Giles | last=Tremlett | date=2006-07-26}}</ref> The Spanish economy has been until recently regarded as one of the most dynamic within the EU, attracting significant amounts of foreign investment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.la-moncloa.es/NR/rdonlyres/2E85E75E-E2D9-4148-B1DF-950B06696A6C/74823/Chapter_2.PDF|title=Official report on Spanish recent Macroeconomics, including tables and graphics|format=PDF|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=La Moncloa}}</ref>

The most recent economic growth benefited greatly from the ], with construction representing an astonishing 16% of GDP and 12% of employment in its final year.<ref name="guru"/> According to calculations by the German newspaper '']'', Spain was on course to overtake countries like Germany in per capita income by 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europeanfoundation.org/docs/id210.pdf|title=No camp grows on both Right and Left|format=PDF|publisher=European Foundation Intelligence Digest|accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref> However, the downside of the now defunct real estate boom is a corresponding rise in the levels of personal debt: as prospective home owners struggled to meet asking prices, the average level of household debt tripled in less than a decade. This placed especially great pressure upon lower to middle income groups; by 2005 the median ratio of indebtedness to income had grown to 125%, due primarily to expensive boom time mortgages that now often exceed the value of the property.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bde.es/informes/be/boleco/2005/be0507e.pdf|title=Bank of Spain Economic Bulletin 07/2005|format=PDF|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=Bank of Spain}}</ref>

In 2008/2009 the credit crunch and world recession manifested itself in Spain through a massive downturn in the property sector. Fortunately, Spain's banks and financial services avoided the more severe problems of their counterparts in the USA and UK, due mainly to a stringently enforced conservative financial regulatory regime. The Spanish financial authorities had not forgotten the country's own banking crisis of 1979 and an earlier real estate precipitated banking crisis of 1993. Indeed, Spain's largest bank, Banco Santander, took part in the UK government's bail-out of part of the UK banking sector.<ref>], article: "Spain", in Wankel, C. (ed.) ''Encyclopedia of Business in Today's World'', California, USA, 2009.</ref>

A European Commission forecast predicted Spain would enter a ] by the end of 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cf5d0f08-7f49-11dd-a3da-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1|title=Recession to hit Germany, UK and Spain|publisher=]|date=2008-09-10|accessdate=2008-09-11}}</ref> According to Spain’s Finance Minister, “Spain faces its deepest recession in half a century”.<ref>, Spanish News, January 18, 2009</ref> Spain's government forecast the ] rate would rise to 16% in 2009. The ] business school predicted 20%.<ref>, The Economist, January 22, 2009</ref>

=== Tourism ===
{{Main|Tourism in Spain}}
During the last four decades the Spanish tourism industry has grown to become the second biggest in the world, worth approximately 40 billion Euros, about 5% of GDP, in 2006.<ref name="guru">{{cite web|url=http://www.theglobalguru.com/article.php?id=60&offer=GURU001|title="Global Guru" analysis|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=The Global Guru}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bde.es/informes/be/boleco/coye.pdf|format=PDF|publisher=]|title=Economic report|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref> Today, the ], historical and cultural monuments and its geographic position together with its facilities make tourism one of Spain's main national industries and a large source of stable employment and development. The Spanish hotel ] system has requirements much more demanding than other European countries, so at a given rating Spanish accommodations worth higher.<ref></ref>

=== Renewable energy ===
] ] solar power tower]]
{{Main|Renewable energy in Spain}}
Spanish territory lacks petroleum so alternative sources of energy is a strategic point. It has reached important records. In 2010 Spain overtakes United States as the ] world leader, with a massive power station plant called ].<ref></ref><ref></ref> In ] ], more than 50% of the produced energy in Spain was generated by wind mills, and the highest total production record was reached with 11.546 eolic Megawatts.<ref name="Graber2005">{{cite news
|last=Méndez
|first=Rafael |url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/sociedad/eolica/supera/primera/vez/mitad/produccion/electrica/elpepusoc/20091109elpepisoc_2/Tes |title=La eólica supera por primera vez la mitad de la producción eléctrica |language=Spanish |date=9 November 2009
|work=El País |publisher= Ediciones El Pais
|accessdate=8 August 2010
}}</ref>

== Transportation ==
{{Main|Transport in Spain}}
The Spanish road system is mainly centralized, with 6 highways connecting ] to the ], ], ], ], ] and ]. Additionally, there are highways along the Atlantic (] to ]), Cantabrian (] to ]) and Mediterranean (] to ]) coasts.

Spain currently has a total of 1272&nbsp;km of high speed train linking ], ], ], ] and ]. Should the aims of the ambitious ] program (Spanish high speed trains) be met, by 2020 Spain will have 7000&nbsp;km (4300&nbsp;mi) of high-speed trains linking almost all provincial cities to Madrid in less than 3 hours and Barcelona within 4 hours.

The busiest airport in Spain is the airport of ] (Barajas), with 50.8 million passengers in 2008, being the ]. The airport of ] (El prat) is also important, with 30 million passengers in 2008. Other airports are located in ], ], ], ], ] (near ]) and ].

Spain aims to put 1 million ]s on the road by 2014 as part of the government's plan to save energy and boost ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.triplepundit.com/pages/algae-based-biofuels-in-plain--003362.php |title=Algae Based Biofuels in Plain English: Why it Matters, How it Works. (algae algaebiofuels carbonsequestration valcent vertigro algaebasedbiofuels ethanol) |publisher=Triplepundit.com |date=July 30, 2008 |accessdate=2008-11-19}}</ref> The Minister of Industry ] said that "the electric vehicle is the future and the engine of an industrial revolution."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.triplepundit.com/pages/spain-to-put-1-million-electri-003363.php |title=Spain to Put 1 million Electric Cars on the Road|publisher=Triplepundit.com |date=July 30, 2008 |accessdate=2008-11-19}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Spain}}
{{See also|List of Spanish autonomous communities by population}}
]

In 2008 the population of Spain officially reached 46 million people, as recorded by the ''Padrón municipal''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.es/jaxi/menu.do?type=pcaxis&path=%2Ft20/e260&file=inebase&L=1|publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística (National Statistics Institute)|title=Population Figures|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref> Spain's population density, at 91/km² (235/sq mi), is lower than that of most Western European countries and its distribution across the country is very unequal. With the exception of the region surrounding the capital, ], the most populated areas lie around the coast. The population of Spain doubled during the 20th&nbsp;century, principally due to the spectacular demographic boom in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Native ] make up 88% of the total population of Spain. After the ] plunged in the 1980s and Spain's population growth rate dropped, the population again trended upward, based initially on the return of many Spaniards who had emigrated to other European countries during the 1970s, and more recently, fuelled by large numbers of immigrants who make up 12% of the population. The immigrants originate mainly in ] (39%), ] (16%) ] (15%), and ] (4%).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.es/inebase/cgi/axi?AXIS_PATH=/inebase/temas/t20/e245/p04/a2005/l0/&FILE_AXIS=00000010.px&CGI_DEFAULT=/inebase/temas/cgi.opt&COMANDO=SELECCION&CGI_URL=/inebase/cgi/|publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística|title=Población extranjera por sexo, país de nacionalidad y edad|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref> In 2005, Spain instituted a three-month amnesty program through which certain hitherto undocumented aliens were granted legal residency.

In 2008, Spain granted citizenship to 84,170 persons, mostly to people from Ecuador, Colombia and Morocco.<ref>"" (PDF). ]. July 6, 2010.</ref> A sizeable portion of foreign residents in Spain also comes from other Western and Central European countries. These are mostly British, French, German, Dutch, and Norwegian. They reside primarily on the Mediterranean ''costas'' and Balearic islands, where many are choosing to live their retirement or ].

Substantial populations descended from ] colonists and immigrants exist in other parts of the world, most notably in Latin America. Beginning in the late 15th century, large numbers of Iberian colonists settled in what became Latin America and at present most ]s (who make up about one-third of Latin America's population) are of Spanish or Portuguese origin. In the 16th century perhaps 240,000 Spaniards emigrated, mostly to ] and ].<ref>. Universiteit Leiden.</ref> They were joined by 450,000 in the next century.<ref>{{Cite journal|url= http://www.millersville.edu/~columbus/data/art/AXTELL01.ART |title= The Columbian Mosaic in Colonial America |first= James |last= Axtell |journal= Humanities |date= September/October 1991 |volume= 12 |issue= 5 |pages= 12–18 |accessdate= 2008-10-08|postscript= <!--None--> }}</ref> Between 1846 and 1932 nearly 5 million Spaniards went to the Americas, especially to ] and ].<ref>. Britannica Online Encyclopedia.</ref> From 1960 to 1975, approximately two million Spaniards migrated to other Western European countries. During the same time period, about 300,000 people left Spain for Latin America.<ref>. Focus–Migration.</ref>

=== Metropolitan areas ===
]
{{wrapper}}
|].]]
|-
|]]]
|-
|].]]
|-
|].]]
|-
|].]]
|-
|].]]
|-
|].]]
|-
|].]]
|}

''See also ]''
Source: ], 2007<ref>
{{cite book |publisher=] |author=IGEAT |coauthors=IGSO, LATTS, TSAC |title=ESPON project 1.4.3: Study on Urban Functions: Final Report |date=March 2007 |isbn=978-2-9600467-2-4 |url=http://www.espon.eu/mmp/online/website/content/projects/261/420/file_2420/fr-1.4.3_April2007-final.pdf |accessdate=2009-04-09 }}
</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="text-align:right;"
!Pos.|| City || Region || Prov. || population
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 1 || ''']''' || ] || Madrid ||5,263,000
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 2 || ''']''' || ] || Barcelona || 4,251,000
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 3 || ''']''' || ] || Valencia || 1,499,000
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 4 || ''']''' || ] || Seville || 1,262,000
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 5 || ''']''' || ] || Biscay || 947,000
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 6 || ''']''' || ] || Málaga || 844,000
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 7 || ''']–]''' || ] || Asturias || 844,000
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 8 || ''']–]''' || ] || Alicante || 793,000
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 9 || '''] ||''' ] || Las Palmas || 640,000
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 10 || '''] ||''' ] || Zaragoza || 639,000
|}

=== Main cities ===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="text-align:right;"
!Pos.|| City || Region || Prov. || population
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 1 || ''']''' || ] || Madrid || 3,213,271
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 2 || ''']''' || ] || Barcelona || 1,615,908
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 3 || ''']''' || ] || Valencia || 810,064
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 4 || ''']''' || ] || Seville || 699,759
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 5 || ''']''' || ] || Zaragoza || 666,129
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 6 || ''']''' || ] || Málaga || 566,447
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 7 || ''']''' || ] || Murcia || 430,571
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 8 || ''']''' || ] || Balearic Islands || 396,570
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 9 || '''] ||''' ] || Las Palmas || 381,123
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 10 || ''']''' || ] || Biscay || 353,340
|}

=== Islands ===
Islander population:<ref>La superficie de las islas vendrá dada en hectáreas salvo la de las mayores islas de los archipiélagos canario y balear, así como las Plazas de Soberanía.</ref>
{|
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|
* 1. ] 886,033
* 2. ] 846,210
* 3. ] 829,597
* 4. ] 132,366
* 5. ] 113,908
* 6. ] 94,386
* 7. ] 86,697
* 8. ] 85,933
* 9. ] 22,259
* 10. ] 10,558
* 11. ] 7,957
* 12. ] 4,889
* 13. ] 658
* 14. ] 105
* 15. ] 61
|}

=== Peoples ===
{{Main|Spanish people|Nationalisms and regionalisms of Spain}}
The ], in its second article, recognises historic entities ("nationalities", a carefully chosen word in order to avoid the more politically charged "nations") and regions, within the context of the Spanish nation. For some people, Spain's identity consists more of an overlap of different regional identities than of a sole Spanish identity. Indeed, some of the regional identities may even conflict with the Spanish one.{{Clarify|date=February 2009}} Distinct traditional regional identities within Spain include the ], ], ] and ], among others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2878.htm|title=Kingdom of Spain: People|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=US Department of State}}</ref>

It is this last feature of "shared identity" between the more local level or Autonomous Community and the Spanish level which makes the identity question in Spain complex and far from univocal.

=== Minority groups ===
Spain has a number of descendants of populations from former colonies (especially ]) and immigrants from several ] and ] countries have been recently settling in Spain. There are also sizeable numbers of ]n immigrants, most of whom are of ], ]n, ], ]ern and ] origins; the population of Latin Americans(who can also be of Spaniard descent) is sizeable as well and a fast growing segment. Other growing groups are ], 760,000 in 2006, ] and other immigrants from the rest of Europe.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6161705.stm|title=Immigration statistics|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-08-13 | date=2006-12-11}}</ref>

The arrival of the '']'', a ], began in the 16th&nbsp;century; estimates of the Spanish Gitano population fluctuate around 700,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eumap.org/reports/2002/eu/international/sections/spain/2002_m_spain.pdf|format=PDF|title=The Situation of Roma in Spain|accessdate=2008-08-14|publisher=Open Society Institute}}</ref> The '']s'' (also Quinquis) are a minority group, formerly nomadic, that share a lot of the way of life of Gitanos. Their origin is unclear.

=== Immigration ===
{{Main|Immigration to Spain}}
According to the Spanish government there were 4.5 million foreign residents in Spain in 2007; independent estimates put the figure at 4.8 million people, or 11% of the total population.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifrc.org/publicat/wdr2006/|title=World Disasters Report 2006|publisher=Red Cross|accessdate=2008-08-14}}</ref> According to residence permit data for 2005, about 500,000 were ], another 500,000 were ]ian, more than 200,000 were ]n, and 260,000 were ]n. Other sizeable foreign communities are ] (8%), French (8%), ] (6%), German (6%) and ]n (3%). Spain has more than 200,000 migrants from West and Central Africa.<ref>"". The Earth Times. November 18, 2009.</ref> Since 2000, Spain has experienced high ] as a result of immigration flows, despite a birth rate that is only half the replacement level. This sudden and ongoing inflow of immigrants, particularly those arriving clandestinely by sea, has caused noticeable social tension.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.es/prodyser/pubweb/anuario06/anu06_02demog.pdf|publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística|title=Avance del Padrón Municipal a 1 de enero de 2006. Datos provisionales|format=PDF|accessdate=2008-08-13}} See also: {{cite web|url=http://www.imdiversity.com/villages/hispanic/world_international/pns_immigration_shift_1204.asp|title=Immigration Shift: Many Latin Americans Choosing Spain Over U.S.|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=IMDiversity, Inc}} and {{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_21/b4035066.htm|title=Spain: Immigrants Welcome|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=Business Week}} and {{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14628564/site/newsweek/print/1/displaymode/1098/|title=Immigrants Fuel Europe's Civilization Clash|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=MSNBC}} and {{cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/22/news/spain.php|title=Spanish youth clash with immigrant gangs|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=International Herald Tribune}}</ref>

Within the EU, Spain has the second highest immigration rate in percentage terms after ], but by a great margin, the highest in absolute numbers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-NK-06-001/EN/KS-NK-06-001-EN.PDF|publisher=Eurostat|title=Population in Europe in 2005|format=PDF|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref> There are a number of reasons for the high level of immigration, including Spain's cultural ties with ], its geographical position, the porosity of its borders, the large size of its underground economy and the strength of the agricultural and construction sectors, which demand more low cost labour than can be offered by the national workforce.

Another statistically significant factor is the large number of residents of EU origin typically retiring to Spain's Mediterranean coast. In fact, Spain was Europe's largest absorber of migrants from 2002 to 2007, with its immigrant population more than doubling as 2.5 million people arrived.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.es/inebase/cgi/um?M=%2Ft20%2Fe245%2Fp08%2F&O=pcaxis&N=&L=0|title=Population series from 1998|publisher=] Spanish Statistical Institute|accessdate=2008-08-14}}</ref> According to the Financial Times, Spain is the most favoured destination for West Europeans considering a move from their own country and seeking jobs elsewhere in the EU.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://international.ibox.bg/news/id_1406161495|publisher=News.bg|title=Europeans Favour Spain for Expat Jobs|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref>

The number of immigrants in Spain has grown up from 500,000 people in 1996 to 5.2 million in 2008 out of a total population of 46 million.<ref>, October 10, 2007</ref><ref>, September 17, 2008</ref> In 2005 alone, a regularisation programme increased the legal immigrant population by 700,000 people.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/may/09/spain.gilestremlett |title=Spain grants amnesty to 700,000 migrants |publisher=Guardian |date= 2005-05-09|accessdate=2009-07-20 | location=London | first=Giles | last=Tremlett}}</ref> ] among immigrants has risen 67% in 2007. Spain's new ''Plan of Voluntary Return'' encourages immigrants to leave Spain for three years and offers up to €25,000, but so far, only 186 Ecuadorans have signed up to return.<ref>, TIME, October 20, 2008</ref><ref>, globeandmail.com, October 9, 2008</ref> In the program's first two months last year, just 1,400 immigrants took up the offer.<ref>, The Wall Street Journal, January 24, 2009</ref>

[[File:Languages of Spain.svg|thumb|right|300px|'''The languages of Spain''' (simplified)
{| style="width:100%; background:none;"
| align=top |{{legend|#f30000|''']''' official and spoken all over the country}}
{{legend|#e090e0|''']''', co-official}}
{{legend|#356585|''']''', co-official}}
{{legend|#ffffbb|''']''', co-official}}
| align=top |
{{legend|#55ee99|''']''', co-official (dialect of ])}}
{{legend|#009f00|''']''', recognised}}
{{legend|#2070ff|''']''', recognised}}
{{legend|#eee400|''']''', unofficial}}
{{legend|#107010|''']''', unofficial}}
{{legend|#906010|''']''', unofficial}}
|}]]

=== Languages ===
{{Main|Languages of Spain}}
] ({{lang|es|''español''}} or {{lang|es|''castellano''}}, ''Castilian'') is spoken all over the country and so is the only language with official status nationwide. But a number of ] have been declared co-official, along with Spanish, in the constituent communities where they are spoken:
* ] ({{lang|eu|''euskera''}}) (2%)<!-- citation follows --> in the ] and ];
* ] ({{lang|eu|''català''}}) (17%)<!-- citation follows --> in ] and the ]; ] (''valencià''), a distinct variant of Catalan, is official in the ];
* ] ({{lang|gl|''galego''}}) (7%)<ref></ref> in ].

There are also some other surviving ] ]s such as the Astur-Leonese group, which includes two languages in Spain: ] (officially called "]") which has protected status in ], and ], which is protected in Castile and León. Aragonese is vaguely recognized in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jgpa.es/portal.do?TR=C&IDR=45|title=Junta General del Principado de Asturias|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=Junta General del Principado de Asturias}}</ref> Unlike Basque, Catalan/Valencian and Galician, these languages do not have any official status. This might be due to their very small number of speakers, a less significant written tradition in comparison to Catalan or Galician, and lower self-awareness of their speakers which traditionally meant lack of strong popular demand for their recognition in the regions in which they are spoken.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.proel.org/lenguas2.html|title=Languages of Spain map|accessdate=2008-08-15|publisher=Proel}}</ref>

In the ]n Spanish city of ], ] is spoken by a significant part of the population. In the tourist areas of the Mediterranean coast and the islands, ] and ] are widely spoken by tourists, foreign residents, and tourism workers.

== Culture ==
], Valencia]]
{{Main|Culture of Spain|UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Spain}}
Spain is known for its culturally diverse heritage, having been influenced by many nations and peoples throughout its history. Spanish culture has its origins in the ], ], ], ], ], and ]ic cultures.

The definition of a national Spanish culture has been characterized by tension between the centralized state, dominated in recent centuries by ], and numerous regions and minority peoples. In addition, the history of the nation and its Mediterranean and Atlantic environment have played strong roles in shaping its culture. After Italy, Spain has the second highest number of ] in the world, with a total of 40.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/list|title=World Heritage List|publisher=UNESCO|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref>

=== Religion ===
{{bar box
|title=Religions in Spain
|titlebar=#ddd
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|Christianity|blue|73.2}}
{{bar percent|Non-religious|gray|22.7}}
{{bar percent|Islam|green|2.3}}
{{bar percent|Judaism|purple|0.1}}
{{bar percent|Others|pink|1.7}}
}}
{{Main|Religion in Spain}}
{{See|History of the Jews in Spain}}

]ism has long been the main religion of Spain, though it no longer has official status. According to a July 2009 study by the Spanish Center of Sociological Research about 73% of Spaniards self-identify as Catholics, 2% other faith, and about 22% identify with ]. Most Spaniards do not participate regularly in religious services. This same study shows that of the Spaniards who identify themselves as religious, 58% hardly ever or never go to church, 17% go to church some times a year, 9% some time per month and 15% every Sunday or multiple times per week.<ref name=CIS>{{cite web|url=http://www.cis.es/cis/opencms/-Archivos/Marginales/2800_2819/2811/es2811.pdf|title=Barómetro julio 2009, Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas, July 2009|accessdate=2009-10-16}}</ref>

But according to a December 2006 study, 48% of the population declared a belief in a supreme being, while 41% described themselves as atheist or agnostic.<ref>, Angus Reid Global Monitor, December 30, 2006</ref> Altogether, about 22% of the entire Spanish population attends religious services at least once per month.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mas.lne.es/documentos/archivos/20-11-06-cis.pdf|publisher=Centre of Sociological Investigations|title=October poll, questions 32 and 32a|format=PDF|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref> Though Spanish society has become considerably more secular in recent decades, the influx of Latin American immigrants, who tend to be strong Catholic practitioners, has helped the Catholic Church to recover.
] (]), the destination of the ]]]

] churches have about 1,200,000 members.<ref></ref> There are about 105,000 ]. ] has approximately 46,000 adherents in 133 congregations in all regions of the country and has a ] in the ] of Madrid.<ref></ref>

].]]
The recent waves of ] have also led to an increasing number of ]s, who number approximately one million in Spain. Presently, ] is the second largest religion in Spain, accounting for approximately 2.3% of the total population.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4385768.stm#spain|publisher=BBC|title=Muslims in Europe: Country guide|accessdate=2008-08-13 | date=2005-12-23}}</ref> After their expulsion in 1492, Muslims did not live in Spain for centuries. Late 19th-century colonial expansion in northwestern Africa gave a number of residents in ] and ] full citizenship. Their ranks have since been bolstered by recent immigration, especially from Morocco and Algeria.<ref>{{cite web
|url= http://www.hudson-ny.org/1424/spain-burqa-ban-muslim-immigration
|title=Spain Debates Burqa Ban; Muslim Immigration Soars
|work=Hudson New York
|accessdate=28 July 2010
}}</ref>

] was practically non-existent in Spain from the 1492 expulsion until the 19th&nbsp;century, when Jews were again permitted to enter the country. Currently there are around 62,000 Jews in Spain, or 0.14% of the total population. Most are arrivals in the past century, while some are descendants of earlier Spanish Jews. Approximately 80,000 ]s are thought to have lived in Spain on the eve of the ].<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Spanish Inquisition: A Historical Revision|year=1999|publisher=]|authorlink=Henry Kamen|last=Kamen|first=Henry|pages=29–31}}</ref>

=== Schools ===
{{Main|Education in Spain}}
State education in Spain is free and compulsory from the age of 6 to 16. The current education system was established by an educational law of 1990, Ley Orgánica de Ordenación General del Sistema Educativo – Law on the General Organization of the Educational System.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spainexchange.com/educator_info/spain_education.php|title=Spain Education System|publisher=SpainExchange.com|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref>
]' ] is considered to be the ].<ref name="The top 100 books of all time">{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/may/08/books.booksnews|title=The top 100 books of all time|publisher=The Guardian|accessdate=2008-08-14 | location=London | date=2006-05-11}}</ref>]]

=== Literature ===
{{Main|Spanish literature}}
The term Spanish literature refers to ] written in the ], including literature composed in Spanish by writers not necessarily from Spain. For literature from Spain in languages other than the Spanish, see ], ] and ]. Equally, for Spanish-American literature specifically, see ]. Due to historic, geographic and generational diversity, Spanish literature has known a great number of influences and it is very diverse. Some major literary movements can be identified within it.

] is probably Spain's most famous author and his ] is considered the most emblematic work in the canon of Spanish literature and a founding classic of Western literature.<ref name="The top 100 books of all time"/>

=== Royal Spanish Academy ===
{{Main|Royal Spanish Academy}}
The Royal Spanish Academy (''Real Academia Española'' or ''RAE'', in ]) is the institution responsible for regulating the ]. It is based in ], but is affiliated with national language academies in 21 ] through the ]. Its emblem is a fiery crucible, and its ] is ''Limpia, fija y da esplendor'' ("It cleans, sets, and gives splendor").<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rae.es/rae/gestores/gespub000001.nsf/voTodosporId/CEDF300E8D943D3FC12571360037CC94?OpenDocument&i=0|title=Origins|publisher=Real Academia Española|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref>

=== Institute for Catalan Studies ===
{{Main|Institut d'Estudis Catalans}}
The Institute for Catalan Studies (''Institut d'Estudis Catalans'' or ''IEC'', in ]) is an academic institution which seeks to undertake research and study into "all elements of Catalan culture". The IEC is known principally for its work in standardizing the Catalan language. The IEC is based in ], the capital of ]. Officially the IEC provides standards for Catalonia proper, ] (located in ]), the ], and the ] (the only country where Catalan is the sole official language). The ] has its own language academy, the ]. In an area known as the ], the eastern edge of ] adjacent to Catalonia where Catalan is spoken, the rules are used de facto although Catalan is not an official language.

=== Art ===
] in Bilbao]]
{{Main|Spanish art}}
Artists from Spain have been highly influential in the development of various European ]. Due to historical, geographical and generational diversity, Spanish art has known a great number of influences. The Moorish heritage in Spain, especially in ], is still evident today in cities like ], ], and ]. European influences include Italy, Germany and France, especially during the ] and ] periods.

=== Cinema ===
{{Main|Cinema of Spain}}
Spanish cinema has achieved major international success including ] for recent films such as '']'' and '']''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Jordan|first=Barry|coauthors=Rikki Morgan-Tamosunas|title=Contemporary spanish cinema|publisher=]|year=1998}}</ref> In the long history of Spanish cinema, the great filmmaker ] was the first to achieve world recognition, followed by ] in the 1980s. Spanish cinema has also seen international success over the years with films by ] like ], ], ], ], ] and ].

=== Architecture ===
] in Madrid]]
] in Santa Cruz de Tenerife]]
{{Main|Spanish architecture}}
Spanish architecture refers to ] carried out during any era in what is now modern-day Spain, and by Spanish architects worldwide. The term includes buildings within the current geographical limits of Spain before this name was given to those territories, whether they were called ], ], or were formed of several Christian kingdoms.

] Temple in Barcelona]]
Due to its historical and geographical diversity, Spanish architecture has drawn from a host of influences. An important provincial city founded by the Romans and with an extensive ] infrastructure, ] became the cultural capital, including fine Arabic style architecture, during the time of the Islamic ].<ref>{{Cite book|first=Jo|last=Cruz|title=Western Views of Islam in Medieval and Early Modern Europe: Perception and Other|editor=Edited by David R. Blanks and Michael Frassetto|location=New York|publisher=Saint Martin's Press|year=1999|pages=56}}</ref> Later Arab style architecture continued to be developed under successive Islamic dynasties, ending with the ], which built its famed palace complex in ].

Simultaneously, the Christian kingdoms gradually emerged and developed their own styles; developing a ] style when for a while isolated from contemporary mainstream European architectural influences during the earlier Middle Ages, they later integrated the ] and ] streams. There was then an extraordinary flowering of the gothic style that resulted in numerous instances being built throughout the entire territory. The ] style, from the 12th to 17th&nbsp;centuries, was developed by introducing Arab style motifs, patterns and elements into European architecture.

], Cantabria]]
The arrival of ] in the academic arena produced much of the architecture of the 20th&nbsp;century. An influential style centered in ], known as ], produced a number of important architects, of which ] is one. The ] was led by groups like ]. Spain is currently experiencing a revolution in ] and ] like ], ], ] as well as many others have gained worldwide renown.

=== Music ===
{{Main|Music of Spain}}
Spanish music is often considered abroad to be synonymous with ], a West Andalusian musical genre, which, contrary to popular belief, is not widespread outside that region. Various regional styles of ] abound in Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, Castile, the Basque Country, Galicia and Asturias. Pop, rock, hip hop and heavy metal are also popular.
]s or ''gaiteros'', in ] (])]]

In the field of ], Spain has produced a number of noted ] such as ], ] and ] and singers and performers such as ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. In Spain there are over forty professional orchestras, including the ], ] and the ]. Major ] include the ],the ], ] and the ].

Thousands of music fans also travel to Spain each year for internationally recognised summer music festivals ] which often features the top up and coming pop and techno acts, and ] which tends to feature alternative rock and dance acts .<ref>http://www.spoonfed.co.uk/london/festivals/ | Summer Festival Guide</ref> Both festivals mark Spain as an international music presence and reflect the tastes of young people in the country.

The ] originating in Spain most popular is undoubtedly the ]. Also typical of the northern ] (''gaiteros''), mainly in Galicia and the Principality of Asturias.

=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Spanish cuisine}}
], a dish originating in the Valencian Community, Spain<ref name="paella">{{cite news
|url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/article2277058.ece
|title=Spain's perfect paella |date=19 August 2007 | last=Richardson |first=Paul
|work=Times Online |publisher=Times Newspapers |location=London
|accessdate=6 August 2010
}}</ref>]]
Spanish cuisine consists of a great variety of dishes which stem from differences in geography, culture and climate. It is heavily influenced by seafood available from the waters that surround the country, and reflects the country's deep ] roots. Spain's extensive history with many cultural influences has led to a unique cuisine. In particular, three main divisions are easily identified:
* ''Mediterranean'' Spain – all such coastal regions, from Catalonia to Andalusia: heavy use of seafood, such as ''pescaíto frito''; several cold soups like ]; and many rice-based dishes like ] from Valencia<ref name="paella"/> and ] from Catalonia.<ref>{{cite news
|url= http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-12-01/restaurants/spain-gain-at-mercat-negre/
|title=Spain Gain at Mercat Negre
|work=Village Voice |publisher=Voice Media Group |date=1 December 2009 |last=DiGregorio |first=Sarah |location=New York
|accessdate=6 August 2010
}}</ref>
* ''Inner'' Spain – Castile: hot, thick soups such as the bread and garlic-based ''Castilian soup'', along with substantious stews such as ]. Food is traditionally conserved by salting, like ], or immersed in ], like ].
], in ]: the largest ] in Europe]]
* ''Atlantic'' Spain – the whole Northern coast, from Galicia to Navarre: vegetable and fish-based stews like ''pote gallego'' and ]. Also, the lightly cured ] ham.

=== Sport ===
{{Main|Sport in Spain}}
Sport in Spain has been dominated by ] since the early 20th century. ] and ] are two of the most successful ] clubs in the world. ] won the ] in 1964 and 2008 and the ] in ].

], ], ], ], ] and, lately, ] are also important due to the presence of Spanish champions in all these disciplines. Today, Spain is a major world sports power, especially since the ] that were hosted in ] and promoted a great variety of sports in the country. The tourism industry has led to an improvement in sports infrastructure, especially for ], ] and ].

] is the leading Spanish tennis player and has won several Grand Slam titles including the Wimbledon 2010 men's singles. In north Spain is very popular play ].

=== Public holidays ===
{{Main|Public holidays in Spain}}
Public holidays celebrated in Spain include a mix of religious (]), national and regional observances. Each municipality is allowed to declare a maximum of 14 ]s per year; up to nine of these are chosen by the national government and at least two are chosen locally.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bank-holidays.com/holidays_2007_58.htm|title=Bank holidays in Spain|publisher=bank-holidays.com|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref>

] in ].]]

== See also ==
{{Portal|Spain}}
{{Main|Outline of Spain}}
* ]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=note|colwidth=30em}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
* {{citebook|author=Gates, David|title=The Spanish Ulcer: A History of the Peninsular War|publisher=Da Capo Press|year=2001|isbn=978-0-306-81083-1|pages=20}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links}}
; Government
<!--Do not add a link to your or your friend's website or to a website that contains less information than this article. Before adding any links read Misplaced Pages:External links to make sure your link is appropriate-->
*
*
*
*
* Congress of Deputies
*
*
*
*

; General information
<!--Do not add a link to your or your friend's website or to a website that contains less information than this article. Before adding any links read Misplaced Pages:External links to make sure your link is appropriate-->
* from ]
* from ]
* {{CIA World Factbook link|sp|Spain}}
* from the ]
* from the U.S. ] (December 1988)
* from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
* {{dmoz|Regional/Europe/Spain}}
* {{wikiatlas|Spain}}
* satellite images, relief maps, outlines and themed maps of Spanish autonomous communities, provinces and municipalities

; Travel
*
* {{Wikitravel}}

; Other
<!--Do not add a link to your or your friend's website or to a website that contains less information than this article. Before adding any links read Misplaced Pages:External links to make sure your link is appropriate-->
*
* A guide to the environment, geography, climate, wildlife, natural history and landscape of Spain
*
*
*
<br />
{{Geographic Location (8-way)
| Northwest = '']''
| North = '']'' • {{flag|France}}<br />'']''
| Northeast = {{flag|France}} • {{flag|Andorra}}
| West = {{flag|Portugal}}
| Centre = {{flagicon|Spain}} ]
| East = '']'' • {{flag|Italy}}
| Southwest = {{flag|Portugal}}<br />'']''
| South = {{flag|Gibraltar}} • '']''<br />{{flag|Morocco}}
| Southeast = '']''<br />{{flag|Algeria}}}}
{{Spain topics|state=collapsed}}
{{Countries of Europe}}
{{Countries and territories bordering the Mediterranean Sea}}
{{Monarchies}}
{{Members of the European Union (EU)}}
{{Council of Europe}}
{{WTO members}}
{{North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)}}
{{Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development}}
{{Latin Union}}

]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

{{Link FA|arz}}
{{Link FA|ia}}
{{Link FA|ko}}
{{Link FA|mr}}
{{Link FA|tt}}
{{Link GA|es}}
{{Link GA|lv}}
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Revision as of 14:40, 13 August 2010

spain is the rainiest county in the world and is currently going through its monsoon season with an average rain fall of 15 inches per day anyone who has booked a holiday to spain is a fooooooool