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.
History of Santiago de Calatrava
History of Mengíbar
The origins of Martos date back to prehistory. The development of a town in this location is undoubtedly due to the existence of the much earlier population nucleus of La Peña. Its strategic location, offering natural defenses, and abundant springs offering natural water sources were the determining factors that led to human settlement on its slopes. Despite the defense that La Peña offered, different civilizations that have passed through this human settlement have reinforced it with new defensive constructions.