Spain formally known as the Kingdom of Spain, is a nation that is situated on the Iberian Peninsula, in the south western part of Europe. It is a member state of European Union. The Mediterranean Sea borders the south and eastern side of the Spain Mainland excluding a tiny land border line with Gibraltar’s British Overseas territory. France, Bay of Biscay and Andorra border the north side of Spain. The Atlantic Ocean and Portugal borders the country on the northwest and west respectively.

The Spanish territories comprises of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediteranean Sea, The Canary Islands off the African coast in the Atlantic Ocean. It also consists of two independent North African cities – Melilla and Ceuta. These towns are on the borders of Morocco.

In the 15th century, Spain surfaced as a combined country, subsequent to the Catholic Monarchs’ marriage, and the Iberian reconquest in the year 1492. During the modern era, Spain on the other hand, had become vital source of influence to other areas. It has indeed emerged as a global empire that boasts of a legacy of nearly 500 million Spanish speakers. This has med Spanish as the globe’s second most widely spoken language.

Under a constitutional monarch, Spain is democratic country that follows the parliamentary form of Government. This developed country boasts of having the 12th biggest economy on the globe through nominal GDP. Also excessive living standards prevails in the country, it occupies the 20th slot in the Human Development Index. The country also has the credit of holding the 10th rank in terms of quality life of index rating. Spin is also a member in the European nation, United Nation, OECD, NATO, and WTO.

Capital: Madrid

Languages: Spanish (official), other recognized languages are Galician, Catalan/Valencian and Occitan.

Currency Euro (€) (EUR)

Religions: Catholicism 76%, Non-religious 13%, Atheism 7.3%, No answer 1.6%, others 2.1%.

Time: Time zone CET (UTC+1), Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2).

History of Spain

The Celts and the Iberians were the primary people of the present day Spain. Subsequent to a tough conquest, the Iberian Peninsula became part of the Roman Empire called as Hispania. Spain was under the Germanic rule during the middle ages, but later during the start of 1711, the North African Moorish invaders conquered Spain was called by the name as al- Andalus. But later Spain was called by the name as Reconquista. The Iberian Peninsula was again regained by the north Christian Kingdoms. Granada was the last Moorish kingdom to fall in the year 1492, which was also the year in which Columbus discovered America. In the 16th century and the first half of the 17th century, Spain emerged as Europe’s most powerful kingdom and the foremost global power.

The country was late ravaged by series of consecutive wars and was on the decline. The country was unstable as it was invade by France in the early part of the 19th century. After suffering a shocking defeat, Spain came under the rule of a dictatorial government in the 20th century that led to stagnant years. Democracy was finally reinstated in the year 1978, in the shape of a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Spain later joined the European Union in the year 1986. The country experienced a stable economic growth and cultural renaissance.

The present head of State is King Juan Carlos I, he is in office ever since from 22 November 1975.

The present prime minister of Spain is José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero