History of Barcelona

There are different theories of the founding of Barcelona. According to one of these theories Barcelona should have been founded 400 years before the founding of Rome by Hercules. Later should the Carthager Hamilcar Barkas, the father of Hannibal, have expanded the city in the 3th century before Chr., and named it to himself (Barcino). According to another legend Hamilcar would have founded the city himself.

However, the first traces of civilisation in and around Barcelona are from the period of 2000-1500 before Chr. The first people that ever civilised the land where the city is now situated were the "Layetanos", Iberian people.

During the second Punic war Barcelona was taken by the Carthagers, and in 218 before Chr. by the Romans. Barcelona was given the name "Julia Augusta Paterna Faventia Barcino". Barcino was being used as a military fort in that time.

In the 3rd century after Chr. Barcelona (Barcino) counted about 6000 civilians, but was just one of the many establishments in the Roman route from Rome to Cádiz. Also Barcelona wasn't even the most important establishment in that time. "Tarraco", know known as "Tarragona" was the most important establishment at that time. "Tarraco" was the capital of "Hispania Tarraconensis", a big Roman province.

In the 5th century "Barcino" was invaded by the the Visgots, who turned Barcelona into an important economic center. In the 7th century Barcelona was taken by the Mores. A big part of the civilisation of Barcelona of that time flee to the Pyrenees.

In 801 Barcelona was possessed by the Francic empire. In 985 a big part of Barcelona was ravaged by heavy attacks of the Arabic leader of the Califat of Córdoba: "Almansur", who never managed to take over Barcelona.

At the end of the 9th century Barcelona was part of the "Empire of Aragón", and Barcelona was being rebuilt under the leadership of count "Borrel II". He managed to make a rich and powerful countship of Barcelona. In the 13th and 14th century Barcelona became one of the most important cities of the Mediterranean area, together with Venetia and Genua.

After the king of the Spanish empire married Isabella of Castilia, the country was the victim of many conflicts. Also Barcelona was the victim of many conflicts. It started with the "Catalan Revolt" from 1640 to 1651 and later the "Spanish Succession War" from 1706 to 1714, which ended the independency of Catalonia.



After the long grey period Barcelona became an important political, economical and cultural center again in the 19th century. This period is also known as the "rebirth" of Barcelona. IN 1897 a lot of the city walls were being broken down to connect Barcelona with the surrounding villages again and to grow again. The expansion started with the building of the area of Eixample, designed by "Ildefons Cerdà".

At the beginning of the 20th century the economy and the industry of Barcelona started to grow and new modern idologies entered the town.