ROMAN TIMES

More than two thousand years ago, the Romans defeated the Carthaginians and conquered the Iberian peninsula. The peninsula became part of the Roman Empire. The Romans called it Hispania.


At first, the conquered tribes did not participate in Roman government. Later, they adopted Roman customs and spoke Latin, the language of the Romans. Many people from Hispania, such as the philosopher Seneca, became important figures in the Roman Empire. The emperors Trajan and Hadrian were also from Hispania.

Hispania was Roman for 600 years.

However, after about 400 A.D. the Roman Empire weakened. Visigotic invaders entered the peninsula from northern Europe.

ROMAN CITIES

The Romans founded many cities in their empire. In Hispania, important Roman cities included Tarraco (now Tarragona) and Sagunto in the east, and Hispalis in the south.

Roman cities were modelled on Rome, the imperial capital. They all had two main streets and a forum.

The forum was a large public square where important events were cellebrated. Roman cities were connected by excellent stone roads.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE

The Romans built many different types of monuments.

Temples were used for religious purposes.

Theatres, amphitheatres and circuses were used for entertainment.

Aqueducts transported water to the cities.

Public bath houses used hot water.

PREHISTORY

Prehistory is the long period before the invention of writing. It can be divided into the Stone Age and the Metal Ages.

The Stone Age began two and a half million years ago. Stone tools were used.

- In the early Stone Age, called the Palaeolithic period, people moved from place to place. They lived by hunting, fishing and gathering wild plants.

- Later, in the Neolithic period,people lived permanently in one place. They were farmers, had crops, learned to cultivate plants and had domestic animals.

The Metal Ages began about seven thousand years ago. Metal tools were used. The wheel and the plough were invented. The first cities were built.

THE FIRST CRAFTSMEN

In the Palaeolithic period, craftsmen made tools and weapons by hitting one stone against another.

In the Neolithic period, craftsmen made polished stone tools and weapons. They also made pots and cloth.

In the Metal Ages, craftsmen made metal tools, weapons and jewellery.

THE FIRST ARTISTS

Cave paintings, for example in the Altamira Cave in Cantabria, are magnificent works of art.

They were painted on cave walls and ceilings.

Early artists often painted animals like bison and deer.

ACTIVITY " PREHISTORY AND ANTIQUITY"

Reorganise the letters of each word that is spelt incorrectly.

1. In the Palaelolithic period craftsmen made OLOTS _________ by hitting one stone against another.

2. In the Neolithic period craftsmen made polished stone NOPEWAS _____________.

3. They also made SPOT ________.

4. They also made THOCL ____________.

5. In the Metal Ages craftsmen made metal RELELJEWY_________________.

CLIMATE

Climate is not the same as weather.

Weather can change in just a few minutes.

Climate is a region´s characteristic temperature, wind and precipitation over a very long time.

THE EARTH´S CLIMATE

The distance of an area from the equator determines how much heat it gets from the Sun.

- Tropical zone: It is very hot all year round near the equator.

- Temperature zone: There are warm summers and cool winters. In some regions, it is rainy all year round. In other regions, it is dry and sunny in the summer.

- Polar zone: It is very cold all year round at the North and South Poles.

CLIMATE IN SPAIN

There are different types of climate in Spain.

- The Atlantic climate: This is the mild climate on the Cantabrian coast and in Galicia. Rainfall is abundant all year round.

- The Mediterranean climate: This is the climate near the Mediterranean. Summers are hot, and winters are mild. Rainfall is light.

- The subtropical climate: This is the climate in the Canary Islands. It is hot all year round. Rainfall is limited to a few months of the year.

- The continental climate: This is the climate of central Spain. Summers are hot and winters are cold. Rainfall is irregular.

VEGETATION AND FAUNA

Plant and animal life depend on the climate. Each climate has its own flora and fauna.

Flora is all the plant life or vegetation in an area.

Fauna is all the animal life in an area.

In rainy areas, such as tropical rainforest, there is abundant vegetation and fauna.

In very dry areas, such as deserts, there is little vegetation or fauna.

NATURAL PRESERVES

Flora and fauna are affected by many things. The growth of cities, pollution and the exploitation of our natural resources all affect animal and plant habitats. Many animal and plant species disappear, or are in danger of extinction.


Goverments and regional authorities create special areas where the environment is protected.


In Europe, four important National Parks are Teide in Spain, Snowdonia in the United Kingdom, Vanoise in France and Harz in Germany.

ACTIVITY " VEGETATION AND FAUNA"

COMPLETE THE SENTENCES WITH THE CORRECT WORD

rainy  / plant  /  climate /  dry  / fauna  / animal

1. Plant and animal life depend on the ________________.

2. Each climate has its own flora and _________________.

3. Flora is all the ____________ life or vegetation in an area.

4. Fauna is all the ____________ life in an area

5. In ___________ areas, there is abundant vegetation and fauna.

6. In very ____________ areas, there is little vegetation or fauna.

A river´s course and flow

A river is a body of moving water. It starts high in the mountains. It flows into a sea, a lake or another river.

-The course is the route which a river takes.

- The flow is the amount of water which a river carries. The flow is greater when it rains or if snow melts in the mountains.

LAKES AND RESERVOIRS

Water can also be found in lakes and reservoirs.

- Lakes are large bodies of water surrounded by land.

- Reservoirs are artificial lakes. Water from reservoirs is used to irrigate fields and for urban consumption. Canals and irrigation channels transport water away from reservoirs. Reservoirs are also used to produce energy.

THE WATERSHEDS OF SPAIN

Watersheds are areas where all the rivers flow into the same sea. There are three watersheds in Spain.

-The Cantabrian watershed has short, rapid rivers. Their flow is abundant and regular.

- The Mediterranean watershed covers about one third of Spain. Except for the Ebro, the rivers are short and their flow is irregular.They sometimes overflow when it rains a lot. They are sometimes dry in the summer.

- The Atlantic watershed covers more than half of Spain. The flow of these rivers is abundant and fairly regular, but they carry less water in the summer.

ACTIVITY "RIVERS"

WRITE THE CORRECT FORM OF THE JUMBLED ADJECTIVE.

1. The Cantabrian watershed has short DAPIR rivers.
2. Their flow is abundant and ARLEGUR.
3. The Mediterranean watershed has TROSH rivers.
4. Their flow is GRELARILU.
5. The Atlantic watershed has rivers with an NUDBATNA flow.  

SPANISH COASTS

Spain has more than 6,000 kilometres of coastline in the peninsula.

There are five types of coast.

- The Cantabrian coast has rocky cliffs, estuaries and gulfs.

- The Atlantic coast is very varied. In the northwest, it is high and rocky. There are many estuaries.
   In the south, it is low-lying and sandy.

- The Mediterranean coast is low-lying and sandy. There are many long beaches.

- The coastline in the Canary Islands varies greatly.

- In the Balearic Islands, high coasts alternate with long beaches.

ACTIVITY " SPANISH COASTS"

ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS

1. How long is the Spanish coastline?
2. How many types of coast are there?
3. What is the coast in the north called?
4. Which coast is very varied?
5. Which coast is low-lying and sandy?
6. Which islands have coastlines?

THE COAST

The coast is the place where the land meets the sea.

There are two types of coast:

- Low-lying coasts are plains by the sea.They often have sandy beaches.

- High coasts are mountains or high areas by the sea. They often have rocky cliffs.

TYPES OF COASTLINE

Coastlines have different shapes.

- A cape is land which extends into the sea.

- A gulf is a place where the sea extends into the land.

- A peninsula is land which is almost completely surrounded by water.

- An island is land which is completely surrounded by water.

- An archipelago is a group of islands.

- An estuary is the part of a river which opens into the sea.

- A marsh is wet land near the mouth of a river.

ACTIVITY "THE COAST"

MATCH AND THEN WRITE THE SENTENCES

1. The coast is the place                             a. which opens into the sea.
2. A cape is land which                              b. extends into the sea.
3. A gulf is a place                                     c. where the land meets the sea.
4. A peninsula is land which                       d. which is completely surrounded by water.
5. An island is land                                     e. where the sea extends into the land.
6. An archipelago is                                   f. is almost completely surrounded by water.
7. An estuary is the part of a river               g. a group of islands.
8. A marsh is wet land                               h. near the mouth of a river.

MOUNTAINS AND PLAINS IN SPAIN

The Iberian peninsula has many different landscapes. The map shows the mountains and plains.

Central Spain is dominated by a large plateau, called the Central Plateau.

This is divided into two parts by the Central Mountain Chain.

There are mountains to the north, east and south of the Central Plateau:

- The Pyrenees is a mountain chain to the north of the Central Plateau.
- The Betic Chain is a mountain chain to the south of the Central Plateau.

The highest peaks on the peninsula are in these chains.

The Iberian peninsula has narrow coastal plains.

There are two extensive depressions:

- The Ebro depression is in the north.
- The Guadalquivir depression is in the south.

ACTIVITY " MOUNTAINS AND PLAINS IN SPAIN"

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS:

1. Which countries make up the Iberian peninsula?
2. What is the highest mountain in Spain? Where is it?
3. Where are the Pyrenees?
4. Which mountains divide the Central Plateau into two parts?
5. Where are the highest peaks on the Iberian Peninsula?
6. Where is the Betic mountain chain?
7. Where is the Ebro depression?
8 Where is the Guadalquivir depression?

THE LANDSCAPE

All the different features of the Earth´s surface make up the landscape.

There are high mountains in some areas. There is low flat land in other areas.

There are mountain landscapes, flat landscapes and coastal landscapes.

MOUNTAINS

Mountain landscapes are made up of mountains and valleys.

- Mountains are raised parts of the Earth´s surface. Hills have a lower altitude than mountains. ( Altitude is the height of something above sea level, or the Earth´s surface).

- Several mountains grouped together are called a mountain range. A long line of mountain ranges is called a mountain chain.

- Valleys are low areas between mountains. Rivers are often found in valleys.

PLAINS

Plains are large areas of flat land with no hills or slopes.

A plateau is a plain at a high altitude.

Depressions are plains which are lower than the surrounding land.

Coastal plains are flat land near the coast.

ACTIVITY "THE LANDSCAPE"

COPY THE SENTENCES AND COMPLETE THEM WITH THE CORRECT WORD

FLAT   CHAIN   FEATURES  PLATEAU    ALTITUDE    LOW

1.Valleys and mountains are .......of the landscape.
2. Hills have a lower .... than mountains.
3. A mountain ..... is a long line of mountain ranges.
4. Valleys are ..... areas between mountains.
5. Plains are large areas of  ..... land.
6. A .... is a plain at a high altitude.

THE THREE STATES OF MATTER

The states of matter are solid, liquid and gaseous. Each state has different properties.

-SOLIDS: have a fixed volume and shape. For example, if we put a ball in a bag, the shape of the ball stays the same.

-LIQUIDS: have a fixed volume, but not a fixed shape. Liquids take the shape of their container. For example, if we pour water into a glass, the water takes the shape of the glass.

- GASES do not have a fixed volume or a fixed shape. For example, if a ballon bursts, the air escapes and expands into the room. It acquires the volume and shape of the room.

Liquids and gases are fluid. They flow through openings in solid bodies. They can be transported through pipes.

CHANGES OF STATE

Matter can change from one state to another.

This change of state sometimes occurs when the temperature changes.

- MELTING: A solid changes into a liquid. For example, snow melts when it is warm.

- SOLIDIFICATION: A liquid changes into a solid. For example, water changes into ice when it is very cold.

- BOILING: A liquid changes into a gas. For example, water boils when it is very hot: one hundred degrees centigrade ( 100º C).

- EVAPORATION: A liquid changes into a gas. For example, water in a pond evaporates.

- CONDENSATION: A gas changes into a liquid. For example, water vapour in the air forms condensation on car windows when it is very cold.

- SUBLIMATION: A solid changes into a gas. For example, solid air fresheners change into a gas when they mix with air.

ACTIVITY "CHANGES OF STATE"

COMPLETE THE MISSING WORDS:

- ........... a solid changes into a liquid.
- ........... a liquid changes into a solid.
- .......... a liquid changes into a gas.
- .......... a liquid changes into a gas.
- .......... a gas changes into a liquid.
- .......... a solid changes into a gas.

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT OF DENSITY

HANDS ON

DECANTATION

- Pour some oil into a container and add water.

- Quickly cover the container and shake it to mix the liquids.

- Let the container stand and answer:

- What is going to happen?

- Which liquid will be on top?

- Which is less dense, the oil or the water?

CHANGES IN MATTER

There are two types of change in matter:

- Physical changes: The object or substance changes, but the matter remains the same. When water freezes, it is still water.

- Chemical changes: The original matter changes into a different substance. When paper burns, it changes into ashes and gases.

PHYSICAL CHANGES

- Movement: The object changes position, but the matter remains the same.

- Expansion: When the temperature of an object increases, it gets bigger. If the temperature rises, mercury expands in a thermometer.

- Contraction: When the temperature of an object decreases, it gets smaller. If a balloon filled with air is put in a refrigerator, the air contracts: the balloon gets smaller.

- Changes of state: When the temperature rises, the state changes. If water is heated, it changes into steam.

- Fragmentation: The object is divided into small pieces. If a glass breaks, the pieces are still made of glass.

CHEMICAL CHANGES

- Oxidation: one substance changes into another when it reacts with oxygen. For example, iron changes into rust.

- Combustion: when an object or substance is burned, it changes into another subtance. For example, when wood burns, it changes into ashes and gases.

- Putrefaction: this occurs when a living thing decomposes. For example, when an apple decays, its appearance, colour, smell and taste change.

Chemical industries use chemical reactions to manufacture substances. Some substances, such as plastic, are artificial. Plastic is made from petroleum.

MASS

Mass is the amount of matter in an object. Some objects have more mass than others.

For example, a football has more matter than a pencil. The football´s mass is greater.

The unit of measure for mass is the kilogram ( kg ), or kilo. One kilo is equal to 1.000 ( one thousand ) grams ( g ). 1.000 ( one thousand ) kilos are equal to one ton ( t ).

VOLUME

Volume is the amount of space which an object occupies. For example, a football has more volume than a pencil. It takes up more space.

The unit of measure for volume is the litre ( l ). One litre is equal to 1.000 ( one thousand ) cubic centimetres . 1.000 ( one thousand ) litres are equal to one cubic metre.

DENSITY

Density is mass per volume. To calculate density, divide the mass of a substance by its volume.

Each object or substance has its own density:

- Water has a density of one kilo per litre of water: 1 kg/l. This means that one litre of water has a mass of 1 kilo.

- Iron has a density of 7.9 kilos per litre of iron: 7.9 kg/l. This means that one litre of iron has a mass of 7.9 kilos.

ACTIVITY "THE PROPERTIES OF MATTER"

MATCH
1. Mass                                                a. mass per volume.

2. Unit of measure for mass                   b. the kilogram

3. Volume                                             c. the litre

4. Unit of measure for volume                d.the amount of matter in an object.

5. Density                                             e.the amount of space which an object occupies.

MATTER

Everything in the universe is made of matter. The Sun, rocks, plants, human beings and manufactured objects are all made of matter.

Matter is made up of tiny particles called atoms. Atoms are extremely small. They are invisible to the human eye.

There are approximately one hundred different types of atoms. When they are combined in different ways, they make up all the substances in the world.

- An element is matter which consists of only one type of atom.

- A compound is matter which consists of more than one kind of atom.

TYPES OF MATTER

Matter can be classified into two groups:

- Pure substances are made up of a single type of element or compound. For example, gold, iron and salt are pure substances.

- Mixtures are made up of several pure substances. For example, sea water is a mixture which is formed by water and salt.

PROPERTIES OF MATTER

We can classify properties into two types:

- General properties: All matter has general properties like mass and volume. Everything which is made of matter has mass and takes up space.

- Characteristic properties: Properties like odour, colour, shininess and density are characteristics. They are different for each substance.

ACTIVITY "MATTER"

TRUE OR FALSE: Read the following sentences and write if they are true or false. If they are false, they correct them.

1. Matter is made up of tiny particles called atoms.
2. Atoms are visible to the human eye.
3. There are about 100 similar types of atoms.
4. An element is matter which consists of only one type of atom.
5. Salt is a pure substance.
6. Sea water is a pure substance.
7. All matter has mass and volume.