Exploring the History of Barcelona Barcelona, the vibrant city many know and love today, was initially founded by the Phoenicians and Carthaginians. The original name of the city was Barcino, most likely named after the Carthaginian ruler himself, Hamilcar Barca. The Romans then arrived and claimed the city. After the Romans, the Visigoths occupied the city and changed its name to Barcinona in the 5th century A.D. During the 8th Century, Barcelona was occupied by the Moors and remained under their control for another century until the Franks conquered the city once again. The Spanish Reconquest then underwent which divided the region into counties, the most important being the County of Barcelona. Catalonia then became a part of the Crown of Aragon, however, with the Union of the Kingdoms of Aragon and Castile, Barcelona's importance and power declined. During the following years, conflicts raised between Barcelona and Madrid, the capital of Spain. In fact, Barcelona was banned from trading with the American colonies and in the 17th century, Catalonia entered war with Spain, declaring its independence with the support of France. Barcelona began to gain importance once again during the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, being sent to the World's Fair in the year of 1888. In the 20th century, however, political repression during the dictatorship of Franco impeded the independence of Catalonia. After the government of Franco, Catalonia recovered its political authority and the city of Barcelona became one of the most important and attractive cities in Spain. In the somewhat recent history of the city, Barcelona hosted the Olympic Games of 1992 with great international success. It was also the seat for the Universal Forum of Cultures in 2004 and continues to flourish today. |
Various Maps of Barcelona
Enjoy a taste of the Olympic Legacy hosted in Barcelona in the year of 1992, providing a glimpse of the flourishing city Barcelona evolved into,
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Works Cited
"History of Barcelona." History of Barcelona. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.
"Barcelona." History of. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.
"History of Barcelona." History of Barcelona. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.
"Barcelona." History of. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.