| |
LOCATION :
The major part of the Iberian
peninsula and Balearic Island in the Mediterranean. Also included
are the Canary, Islands off north-west Africa and the enclaves of
Ceuta and Mellila on the North African coast.
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES :
Spain's
tumultuous past moulds the present. The Muslim Moorish occupation
lasted 700 years, ended in 1492. The World-wide Spanish empire
lasted for three centuries. The last two centuries have been marked
by instability, civil wars and dictatorships; the latter under
General Franco lasted from 1939 to 1975. Constitutional monarchy
with an effective multi-party democracy. Wide powers have been given
to 17 autonomous communities as a means preserving national unity.
The left-wing Basque ETA terrorist campaign for full Basque
independence has plagued Spain and divided the Basque community
since 1961. During Franco's dictatorship, Catholicism was the state
religion. Non-Catholics, especially Evangelicals, were subject to
discrimination and even persecution. The 1978 constitution
guaranteed equality of rights of all ideologies and religions,
though Catholicism remains the official religion. Equality for
Evangelicals, Muslims and Jews was only established in 1992. There
are still evidences of covert discrimination against religious
minorities. Madrid is the capital and the
population 39,759,775 (in year 2000), Indigenous 98% and
foreign 2%. Official language is Castilian.
People Groups :
|
|
