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.