The History of Spain: Land on a Crossroad

The origins of human settlement on the Iberian Peninsula; learning how the rich spiritual life of early hunters in Spain is reflected in the cave paintings; studying the geography of the peninsula; discovering the extraordinary megalithic tombs.

Tracing the impact of the Celts and the technology they bring to the region; learning about the Phoenicians and their legacy of trade and engineering; the singular influence of the Greeks, who shape the history and culture of the peninsula.

Tracking the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage; observing how Rome joins the Iberian provinces together and creates thriving cities; learning about the marvels of Roman engineering, infrastructure, and mining, through which Spain grew rich.

Learning about early Christian communities in Spain; charting the role of Spanish churchmen in the establishment of the Roman Catholic Church; how pagan practices are transformed into Christian ones; how Spain becomes a bulwark of church orthodoxy.

Germanic and Iranian tribal groups besiege Spanish territories; taking the measure of these people and the new innovations they bring; observing how they partition and rule; how their culture keeps them separate from Spain's Roman population.

Learning how the Goths penetrate Roman territories; studying the structure of Visigoth society, which gave rise to influential legal codes and monasticism; Toledo as a center of learning; the diffusion of Visigothic scholarship and culture.