| The first sign of any real settled existence | | | | |
| in Northern Spain probably began around about | | | | The Carthaginians who had invaded Spain in |
| the time circa 4000 BC. The evidence to | | | | the third century B.C. had settled widely in |
| support this claim comes from some of the | | | | southern and central Spain. While there was |
| striking archaeological remnants to be found | | | | contact with those in the north the biggest |
| right across the north of Spain known as | | | | effect upon this was when Hannibal the most |
| Dolmens.. | | | | famous of Carthaginian leaders decided to |
| | | | take on Rome. |
| These were the large stone burial chambers | | | | |
| that were actually quite common across much | | | | The conflict between the Carthaginians and |
| of northern Europe at the time. With regards | | | | the Romans had long been in the offing and if |
| to Spain the majority of these can be found | | | | the truth be known could best be described as |
| in Galicia. There are other archaeological | | | | an accident waiting to happen. |
| remnants to be found such as various standing | | | | |
| stones and much simpler pit burial sites. | | | | The end result of this conflict was that the |
| | | | Romans started to take a more serious |
| As befits an area all of Europe known as the | | | | interest in Spain viewing it potentially as |
| Iberian Peninsula the inhabitants of Spain | | | | the next Carthage. In an attempt (as |
| logically are referred to as Iberians by | | | | successful as it turned out) to prevent |
| default. Little is actually known of their | | | | another regional superpower, the Romans |
| origins apart from the fact that they spoke | | | | invaded Spain and under the leadership of a |
| languages that are not from the Indo-European | | | | Augustus and Agrippa finally succeeded in |
| group that unites the vast majority of | | | | establishing a secure base in Spain in the |
| European and Western-Asian languages under | | | | first century B.C. |
| its umbrella. | | | | |
| | | | While the Romans managed to establish secure |
| With regards to Galicia the most important | | | | fortresses in settlements throughout the rest |
| grouping were the Celts who descended in | | | | of Spain it goes without saying that the more |
| waves in the late second millennium B.C. They | | | | feisty northern Spaniards made life slightly |
| spoke an Indo-European tongue and settled | | | | hotter and more difficult for the Romans. |
| mostly in the north and west of the | | | | |
| peninsula. | | | | The Basques and Galicians especially were |
| | | | very resistant to Roman interference and |
| Their influence is very apparent in place | | | | after a series of "bloody noses", the Romans |
| names, language and culture. | | | | decided to adopt a live and let live stance |
| | | | towards those in the north. |
| There are still very close parallels between | | | | |
| European areas settled by Celts; sitting over | | | | As with the rest of the Roman Empire anything |
| a cider while listening to bag pipes in | | | | that happened in Rome ultimately filtered out |
| Asturias you might begin to ponder how old | | | | to the periphery of the empire. Such was the |
| these traditions actually are? The principle | | | | case with Christianity and as a result |
| architectural remnant of the Celts is the | | | | Christianity spread fairly rapidly right to |
| Castro, a fortified hill top or trading | | | | Spain and the first major diocese was |
| compound of which there are very many to be | | | | established in the Zaragossa in the first |
| found in Asturias and Galicia. | | | | century A.D. |
| | | | |
| The inhabitants of Northwest Spain have long | | | | As with all forms of religious imperialism |
| been a very fiercely proud and independent | | | | which effectively Christianity was, |
| bunch and the history of resistance down | | | | Christianity moulded itself around a lot of |
| through the years and against most invading | | | | the existing practices and nowhere was this |
| parties is long and varied. | | | | more evident than Northern Spain especially |
| | | | with the Basques and the Galicians. The |
| Initially the Galicians and Basques who were | | | | Basques especially had a problem with the |
| very resistant to most forms of invasion had | | | | Virgin Mary as they already had their own |
| very good links with the more peaceful and | | | | earth mother figure called Mari but as was |
| trading seafarers, the Phoenicians however it | | | | the case Christianity moulded itself around a |
| was their descendents, the Carthaginians who | | | | lot of the local pagan festivals. |
| first started to cause problems. | | | | |