The exact origin of Linares is unclear, since there is little documentary or archaeological evidence to determine a specific starting point for the local population. Nonetheless, various estimations have been offered; the proximity of the enclave to important communication routes, together with its rich mining, aquifer and agricultural resources, mean that a settlement was firmly established by the Late Roman period, which would eventually become a village in the eighth century.
Cave paintings discovered in the north of the municipal area suggest that early settlement of the district dates from the Neolithic period; indeed these paintings are the first known traces left by man. In the second millennium BC, mining began in the deposits of Baños de la Encina, rich in copper and bronze, which gave rise to the formation of a social organisation that continued until the founding of Cartago. This mining attracted Greek and Phoenician civilisations.
Bailén has an important history due to its strategic position. Since prehistoric times, it has been inhabited by populations scattered throughout its municipal territory.
The oldest settlement remains unearthed locally date from the Palaeolithic and Neolithic eras, corresponding with camps located in the nearby mountains. Its more formal occupation dates back to the third century BC, as a consequence of the colonization carried out by the Iberians.
This letter, handwritten by Joseph Gage in July 1936, addressed to Maria Herbert’s father, the Duke of Powis, requests the Duke to give consent for Mary's hand in marriage.
Alcalá la Real is situated in a strategic area connecting the Guadalquivir Valley (through the Guadajoz River) with the Granada plains, through the Frailes and Velillos Rivers. Its position has made it fundamentally important to communication routes throughout history, particularly when the surrounding area became a border zone with the Kingdom of Granada during the Middle Ages.
History of Villatorres
History of Villardompardo
History of Torredonjimeno
History of Torredelcampo
History of Higuera de Calatrava
From Prehistory and Ancient History, Fuerte del Rey has one of the best studied archaeological sites in Spain, Las Atalayuelas, which dates from the second millennium BC. Abandoned for a time, it was repopulated in the first millennium BC, until the Iberian period, when a fortress was built.