Phoenicians to Carthaginians, history of Andalucia
Phoenicians - 1,050 to 650 BC
The Phoenicians were a Semitic people who called themselves the ‘Canaan’ and lived in city-states on the coastal strip of what is today Lebanon. Tyre was their main territory but it would be difficult to call Tyre the capital of Phoenicia in the modern sense as all Phoenician city-states had their own kings or rulers — rather like the city-states in Greece.
Around 1,050 BC the Phoenicians reached the southern coasts of the Iberian peninsula. Around 1,050BC the Phoenicians reached the southern coasts of the Iberian peninsula. They pushed on and sailed further and further westward in search of trade and eventually made a leap of faith, sailed through the Pillars of Hercules and into the Atlantic Ocean. They turned north (they also turned south but that is another story), sailed up the coast and founded their trading port of Gadir, which is today’s Cádiz.
This led to the emergence of other towns and cities on the southern coast and Atlantic coast of Iberia. Many artefacts from this period can be seen in the Archaeology Museum of Cadiz, Museum of Malaga, and Archaeology Museum of Huelva.
Around 850 BC, Phoenicians from the city-state of Tyre founded the colony of Malaka (Málaga) at Cerro de Villar and Carthage (Tunisia).
The Phoenicians had great influence on Iberia with the introduction of Iron and the production of olive oil and wine. Other cities founded were Sexs (Almuñecar), Abdera (Adra), Baria (Villaricos) and Carthago Nova (Cartegena). There is also evidence of the Phoenicians mining at Rio Tinto
However around 700 BC saw the rise of the colonial might of Carthage, which replaced the Phoenicians. Phoenicia becomes part of the Persian Empire.
Next: More about the Phoenicians in Andalucia
Greeks - 750 to 500 BC
The Greeks tended to keep to the Eastern Mediterranean, however they founded a colony at what now is Marseilles and began trading with the Iberians on the eastern coast around the 8th century BC. The Greeks finally founded a colony at Ampurias (Girona). There were no Greek colonies west of the Strait of Gibraltar, only voyages of discovery.
Tartessian - 720 to 520 BC
Legendary kingdom of Tartessus, in Guadalquivir basin has never been found, however there is plenty of evidence of the distinct Tartessian culture, beginning about 720 BC. It was actually the earlier local culture modified by the influence of eastern Mediterranean elements, especially the Phoenician. Its influence was initially the lowlands of modern Huelva and Sevilla provinces, but later extended to Eastern Andalucia, Extremadura, Murcia and Valencia.
The physical elements of the Tartessian culture were distinctly different from their predecessors. One notable elements is the introduction of the potter's wheel by the Phoenicians, which results in a major improvement in the quality of the pottery.
Other major advances are seen in craftsmanship in jewelry, weaving and hut construction as the traditional circular huts were then gradually replaced by well finished rectangular buildings which lead to the construction of tower-like burial monuments. Agriculture also experienced major advances with the introduction of steel tools, the steel yoke and animal traction for the plough.
Tartessus or Tartessos was a semi-mythical harbour city at the mouth of the Guadalquivir River. It appears in sources from Greece starting during the first millennium BC. Roman authors tend to echo the earlier Greek sources however there are indications that Tartessos had fallen out of use and the city may have been lost to flooding or to Carthaginian advance. Its locatioin has never been found.
Cancho Roano is the best preserved Tartessian site dates back to at least the sixth century BC. It is located in Zalamea de la Serena, in the province of Badajoz, in Extramadura region north of Huelva. There are no visitable sites in Andalucia.
You can see the Egyptian-influenced Tesoro de Carambolo, intricately-detailed gold jewellery found near Seville dating from 600 BC, in the Sevilla Archaeology Museum.
CELTIC TRIBES - 520 BC
Celtic tribes move down to northern Spain from northern Europe about 800 BC, merging with the Iberian culture. After the fall of Tartesus in 520 BC three different tribes expand south.
The Celtici expand into southern Extremadura, Alentejo (Portugal) and northern Algarve.
The Turduli became established in northern Huelva and around the Guadiana river.
The Turdetani, probably descendants of the Tartessians, although celticised, became established in the area of the Guadalquivir river.
Carthaginians 575 TO 206 BC
The Carthaginians (from Tunisia), reached southern Iberia and took over the Phoencian's the western Mediterranean trade routes.
During the 4th century BC, Rome began to rise as a Mediterranean power rival to the north African based Carthage. After suffering defeat to the Romans in the First Punic War (264-241 BC), the Carthaginians founded Qart Hadasht (New Town), now Cartegena in 227 BC and began to extend their power into the interior of Iberia from their south eastern coastal settlements but this empire was to be short lived. In the Second Punic War (218-202 BC), the Carthaginian general Hannibal marched his armies, which included Iberians, from Iberia, across the Pyrenees and the Alps and attacked the Romans in Italy. Despite many victories, he was finally defeated and the Romans took revenge by destroying Carthage. Starting in the north-east, Rome began its conquest of the Iberian Peninsula. The Carthaginian presence in Iberia lasted from 575 BC to 206 BC when the Carthaginians were defeated by the Roman Republic at the Battle of Ilipa in the Second Punic War. The Battle of Ilipa was considered by many as Scipio Africanus's most brilliant victory in his military career. It is believed to have taken place on a plain east of Alcalá del Rio, Sevilla, near the village of Esquivel.
Next: Romans in Andalucia
Pre Roman Archaelogical Sites in Andalucia
Where to see Pre-Roman artefacts
Several museums in Andalucia also have spaces dedicated to artefacts drawn from many of the sites above, or simply found in various locations over the years. Most towns have a municipal museum with local finds. However the main museums include Huelva Museum, Seville´s Archaeological Museum, Seville´s Antiquarium, Seville´s Palacio de Lebrija, as well as the Antequera Municipal Museum, Malaga Museum and Almeria Museum and Cadiz Museum Jaen Museum Iberian Museum.
Next: Romans in Andalucia