The Culture, Traditions, and Heritage of Spain

Spain's Roots

Spain has a unique and deeply-rooted Western European culture, one that is based on a combination of historical influences, primarily that of Ancient Rome, but also with hints of the pre-Roman Iberian and Celtic cultures, as well as that of the Phoenicians and of the Moorish, who ruled the country for nearly eight centuries (711 AD to 1492 AD).  From a religious and linguistic standpoint, there can be no doubt of the lasting legacy of Ancient Rome in Spain, but after the fall of the Roman Empire, the subsequent course of Spanish history added many other cultural elements and traditions.  Because of its deep Roman heritage, the Spanish culture is often described as Latin, but it has also been strongly influenced by that of other European and Mediterranean countries as well.

Zamora's Cathedral, Romanesque StyleDuring its very early time as a Visigoth Kingdom, Spain’s culture was a reflection of the deeply-held Christian values of the region’s people—values that would later be welded in the Reconquista of 1492.  Moorish, or Muslim, influences were strong during the Middle Ages, and can still be seen in some of the country’s art and architecture.  The language of Spain derives directly from Vulgar Latin, though there are also minor influences from both the Iberian and Celtic languages, as well as the Gothic and Arabic tongues.  Religion has always been a defining element of the Spanish culture.  Following the defeat of the Moors during the Christian Reconquista, a period between 1000 and 1492, Spain became an almost entirely Roman Catholic country, which it remains to this day.