1. Southern Europe: Spain, Italy, and Greece

2. SPAIN Population: 40.4 million More than ¾ of population lives in cities & towns Life expectancy: Men – 78 years Women – 84 years Ethnicity is historically Mediterranean... BUT... recently an influx of immigrants has occurred. From where???

3. Languages in Spain Almost all speak Castilian Spanish. Regional languages include: –Catalan 17% –Galician 7% –Basque 2% (in Pyrenees)

4. Brief History of Spain As many as 17 different regions were united by the monarchs, Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon, in the 15th century to create the Spanish nation. Spain was once a great empire thanks to the help of financing from these monarchs and the courage of explorers like Christopher Columbus.

5. Spanish Empire By colonizing the Americas, Spain became one of the richest and most powerful countries of the 16th century. At the height of its power in 1588, the Spanish Empire included the West Indies, Cuba, Florida, Mexico, Central America, much of South America, and the Philippines. What happened in 1588?

6. Regionalism Spain is a “country of different countries.” Some regions (Catalonia & Basque, in particular) still want independence & threaten to secede! Basque leaders are troublemakers !

7. In the village of Axpe, Basque Country, where you can see some of the highest peaks of the Pyrenees Valley Fog, Guipuzcoa, Basque Country Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Basque Country Basque protests

8. Montserrat, Catalonia, w/ natural rock formations rising to 4,000 ft. A rural farmhouse in Catalonia Hotels in Barcelona, Catalonia Catalonian countryside

9. The dictatorship of Generalissimo Francisco Franco was in place from 1939 to 1975. Remind you of anyone? Franco

10. Spain’s government is now a Constitutional Monarchy Hereditary monarch, King Juan Carlos I (since 1975), is head of state but elected officials run the government Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy since 2011 Parliament = Cortes

11. 94% of Spain is Roman Catholic When La Sagrada Familia (the Sacred Family) is finished, it will be over 500 feet tall, or 40% of the height of the Sears Tower in Chicago. The central dome will be 50% taller than these spires, and will be egg-shaped. It was started in 1882, and at one point, the estimated completion date was to be around 2200.

12. More views of La Sagrada Familia

13. Barcelona Spain’s leading seaport & industrial center

14. Madrid, capital of Spain has nearly 5 million people one of Europe’s leading cultural centers; faces challenges of heavy traffic & air pollution

15. Plaza de Toros de las Ventas Madrid Templo de Debod Church of Santa Monica

16. Madrid at night

17. Spain was a Founding Member of the EU

18. Spain’s Economy Manufacturing, mining of iron ore, gas & oil Depends on Tourist Industry, employing 11% World’s leading producer of olive oil Dry Farming, irrigation not used Dry farming field in summer

19. Culture & Tourism Running of the Bulls Parade of Giants World’s Largest Tomato Fight Castellers (Human Towers)

20. Arts Spanish dances, such as the bolero and flamenco have become popular throughout the world. Joaquin Cortes, flamenco dancer

21. Famous Spanish Actors Antonio BanderasPenelope Cruz

22. References www.3dphoto.net www.googlemaps.com www.iom.int www.learnnc.org www.islamicaweb.com www.encarta.msn.com www.claremontmckenna.edu www.images.google.com www.picturehistory.com www.img.timeinc.net www.brittanica.com www.webpages.csus.edu