The Bronze Age begins in the Iberian Peninsula. The El Argar civilization begins to form

The Phoenicians begin to settle in the region. They introduce iron and the potter's wheel

The Celtics arrive and settle northern Spain

The Second Punic War between Carthage and Rome is fought. Part of Spain becomes a Roman province called Hispania

All of Spain comes under the rule of the Roman Empire

The Visigoths take over much of Spain

The Moors invade Spain and name it al-Andalus

The Reconquista begins by the Christians to retake Spain

El Cid conquers the city of Valencia from the Moors

The Kingdom of Aragon is formed

The Kingdom of Portugal is first established on the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula

Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon are married

The Spanish Inquisitions begins

The Kingdom of Spain is formed when Isabella and Ferdinand are made King and Queen uniting Aragon and Castile

The Reconquista ends with the conquest of Grenada. The Jews are expelled from Spain

Queen Isabella sponsors the expedition of explorer Christopher Columbus. He discovers the New World

Spanish explorer Hernan Cortes conquers the Aztecs Empire in Mexico

Explorer Francisco Pizarro conquers the Incan Empire and establishes the city of Lima

Philip II becomes King of Spain

The English fleet led by Sir Francis Drake defeat the Spanish Armada

Miguel de Cervantes publishes the first part of this epic novel Don Quixote

The Thirty Years' War begins

The War of the Spanish Succession begins

Spain joins the Seven Years' War against Great Britain

The Peninsular War is fought against the French Empire led by Napoleon

The Spanish American wars of independence begin. By 1833, the majority of the Spanish territories in America have gained their independence

The Allies win the Peninsular War and Spain is free of French rule

Artist Pablo Picasso is born in Malaga, Spain

Architect Antoni Gaudi begins work on the Sagrada Familia Roman Catholic church in Barcelona

The Spanish-American War is fought. Spain gives up Cuba, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam to the United States

Spain remains neutral as World War I begins

Spain becomes a republic

The Spanish Civil War begins between the Republicans and the Nationalists led by Francisco Franco. Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy support the Nationalists

The Nationalists win the civil war and Francisco Franco becomes dictator of Spain. He will remain dictator for 36 years

World War II begins. Spain remains neutral in battle, but supports the Axis Powers and Germany

The 'Spanish miracle', a period of economic growth and prosperity in the country, begins

Dictator Francisco Franco dies. Juan Carlos I becomes king

Spain begins a transition to a democracy

The Spanish Constitution is issued granting freedom of speech, press, religion, and association

Spain joins NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

Spain joins the European Union

The Summer Olympics is held in Barcelona

Jose Maria Aznar becomes Prime Minister of Spain

Terrorists bomb trains in Madrid killing 199 people and injuring thousands

Spain enters economic crisis. Unemployment will rise to over 27% by 2013

Spain wins the FIFA World Cup in soccer