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2024年5月18日发(作者:)
The Spanish call their country
España
. The name comes from the ancient
word
Span
, which means hidden or remote land. It’s a fitting name, since
Spain stands somewhat apart from the rest of Europe.
Facts About Spain
Official name Kingdom of Spain
Capital Madrid
Official language Castilian Spanish
Population 40,500,000 people
Rank among countries in population 30th
Major cities Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville
195,000 square miles
Area
506,000 square kilometers
Rank among countries in area 50th
Pico de Teide
Highest point
12,188 feet/3,715 meters
Currency Euro
THE IBERIAN PENINSULA
Spain is on a peninsula, a piece of land that juts into water. It’s
called the Iberian Peninsula, and it lies between the Atlantic Ocean and
Mediterranean Sea. Spain covers most of the peninsula, apart from a small
area occupied by the country of Portugal to the west.
The steep Pyrenees Mountains cross the neck of the peninsula. For
centuries, the Pyrenees isolated Spain from its European neighbors to the
north.
In the south, Spain almost touches northern Africa. Only a narrow strip
of water called the Strait of Gibraltar separates Spain from the African
continent. For this reason, African influences are an important part of
Spain’s history.
SPANISH ISLANDS
Spain has numerous islands, too. They include the Balearic Islands in the
Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the
coast of Africa.
A HIGH, ROCKY PLATEAU
A huge, rocky plateau called the Meseta Central rises in central Spain.
It’s a high, mostly treeless region that covers more than half the country.
The best farmland lies along a narrow coastal plain in the north. Even
here, rocky ridges come right to the ocean. They cut the plain into short
strips.
SUNNY AND DRY
Spain has sunny weather and a dry climate. Spanish farmers herd animals
such as sheep and cattle. They grow crops such as olives, grapes, and
almonds. Spain is the world’s biggest producer of olives. They are picked
for eating and used to make olive oil. Spain also grows plenty of cork
oak trees. Cork is cut from the bark of this tree.
The sunny weather, sandy Mediterranean beaches, and scenic islands make
Spain a playground for visitors. In fact, Spain is one of the world’s
most popular tourist destinations.
MADRID AND BARCELONA
Spain’s capital and largest city is Madrid. It stands near the very
heart of the Iberian Peninsula. Madrid is a modern city that’s home to
about 3 million people. It’s also filled with famous old landmarks, such
as the Plaza Mayor, a huge public square lined with impressive buildings.
Barcelona, on the northeast coast, is Spain’s second largest city.
Barcelona is Spain’s chief port and main industrial center. The city’s
most famous landmark is the Church of the Holy Family. The ornate spires
of the cathedral rise more than 328 feet (100 meters).
BULLFIGHTING
Perhaps no sport is more Spanish than bullfighting. The Spanish consider
it an art form. Bullfighters, called matadors, seek to show bravery and
dignity in the bullfighting ring. The danger and excitement of the sport
inspired American author Ernest Hemingway to write about bullfighting in
two books,
The Sun Also Rises
and
Death in the Afternoon
.
Every summer, Spaniards celebrate the beginning of bullfighting season
with a week of festivities. In the city of Pamplona, celebrations include
the running of the bulls. Each morning, bulls are set loose in the city
streets. Those who dare get in front of the bulls and try to race ahead
of them. Sometimes, people are wounded or even killed by the bulls.
THE MUSLIM PAST
In
AD
711, Muslim invaders from Africa captured Spain. The Muslims had
conquered their way across North Africa before invading Spain. Spain
remained a Muslim-ruled land for hundreds of years.
The Muslim rulers built dazzling cities such as Granada and Córdoba.
Muslim palaces such as Alhambra in Granada still amaze visitors. Spain
became a center of learning under Muslim rule. Philosophers, scientists,
and artists produced important works.
CHRISTIANITY TRIUMPHS
Christian kingdoms in northern Spain fought the Muslims fiercely. Slowly,
Christian forces recaptured Spain. In the late 1400s, two Roman Catholic
monarchs got married—Ferdinand of Aragón and Isabella of Castile. In 1492,
Ferdinand and Isabella drove the last Muslim rulers from Spain.
Afterward, Spain became a Catholic nation. In fact, the Spanish
government set up a court called the Spanish Inquisition. This court
caught and punished people who refused to convert to Catholicism.
A WORLD EMPIRE
Ferdinand and Isabella made Spain a great power. In 1492, Isabella
sponsored a voyage led by a sailor named Christopher Columbus. Columbus
was seeking a westward route to Asia. Instead of finding Asia, Columbus
found the Americas. It proved to be a turning point in Spanish history.
Spain got to the Americas ahead of most other European countries. It
quickly built an empire in parts of North and South America. Spanish ships
carted huge amounts of silver and gold back to Europe. Spain became
Europe’s richest country. It ruled a world empire.
SPAIN’S GOLDEN AGE
Spain’s great wealth led to a Golden Age in Spain. In the 1500s and 1600s,
Spanish writers and artists reached great heights of achievement. Miguel
de Cervantes Saavedra wrote
Don Quixote,
a masterpiece of European
literature. Artists such as El Greco produced brilliant paintings.
LOSS OF EMPIRE
Spain used most of its wealth to build military power, including a great
navy called the Spanish Armada. When the gold and silver ran out, it had
little to fall back on. Spain grew poor and weak. Its colonies broke away.
In 1898, Spain lost a war with the United States. That forced Spain to
give up Cuba, Guam, and Puerto Rico, its last holdings in the Americas.
CIVIL WAR
In 1936, a terrible civil war broke out in Spain. It ended with a general
named Francisco Franco taking over. This tough dictator executed
thousands of people and put thousands more in prison. Franco died in 1975.
SPAIN TODAY
After Franco’s death, Spain appointed a king. They chose Juan Carlos I,
who was descended from Spain’s last king. But Spain also adopted a new
constitution that made the king a symbol rather than the ruler. It gave
real power to an elected prime minister. Today, Spain is a vibrant
democracy.
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