Andalusia

Comunidad Autónoma de Andalucía

85px Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Andalucía por sí, para España y la humanidad (Andalusia by herself, for Spain, and for humankind)
Anthem: La bandera blanca y verde
Capital	Seville
Official language(s)	Spanish
Area  – Total  – % of Spain	Ranked 2nd  87,268 km²  17.2%
Population  – Total (2006)  – % of Spain  – Density	Ranked 1st  7,975,672  17.84  91.39/km²
Demonym  – English  – Spanish	Andalusian  Andaluz, andaluza
Statute of Autonomy	December 30 1981
Parliamentary representation  – Congress seats  – Senate seats	62  40
President	Manuel Chaves González (PSOE)
ISO 3166-2	AN
Junta de Andalucía

Alamillo Bridge, Seville designed by Santiago Calatrava

Malecón of La Caleta, Cádiz

Andalusia, located in the southern portion of Spain, is one of the seventeen autonomous regions of the country. It contains eight distinct provinces, all with indivual cultural traditions and identity. With eight provinces : Almeria, Cadiz, Cordoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaen, Malaga, Seville , Andalusia boasts the largest population of any of the autonomous Spanish states. In terms of land mass, Andalusia is the second largest of the autonomous regions of Spain, second only to the region of Castilla y Leon.

Andlusia lies to the south of Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha, meeting the Mediterranean Sea on its southern border. It's eastern neighbor is the autonomous community of Murcia, while the country of Portugal lies along its western border. Past Portugal to the west lies the Atlantic Ocean. Andulalusia also conveninently located along the strait og Gilbraltar, the passsage between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The prime position along the strait was also recognized by Great Britain, who controls a small area of land bordering Andalsia.

Geography

The terrain of Andalusia varies greatly depending on the area of the region. Towards the coast the terrain descends into the famous beaches of Spain, notable for their fine sands and constant sun. The weather along the coast is also far more temperate than the interior of the region, another reason that attracts the tourists. The beach, however, is not the only the only reason toursits flock to Andalusia. The mountains are also spectacular, and they most a unique combination of plant life and wildlife.

The main geographic feature of the region is the Andalusian Plain, which runs from the Sierra Morena in the north to the Sistema Penibetico in the south. The plain is fundamentally a large river valley that surrounds the Rio Guadlquivir, and it broadens whenever possible. The valley reaches its narrowest point where the Sierra Morena and the Sistema Penibetico meet int eh eastern portion of the region. Minor valley are also common in Andalusia, although none rival the breath and size of the Andalusian Plain.

Economy

Andalusia is particularly rich in natural resources, but, despite this fact, Andalusia continues to have one of the lowest GDP per capita in Spain . The economic difficulties of the region are commonly attributed to poor soil conditions. With rocky soil throughout the state and a subtropical climate, Andalusia is agriculturally comparable to North Africa. Major agriculural products of the region include olive oil and wine, whose production levels are gradually increasing with increasing mechanization. The natural wealth of the region is found in its mineral deposits, particularly copper, iron, zinc, and lead. These minerals have been drawn from the region since Phoenician and Roman times.

While the agricultural portions of the economy continue to struggle, the service sector is becoming a significant part of the national product of Andalusia. Manufacturing and service sectors are growing exponentially, with the growth rates in Andalusia exceeding those found elsewhere in Spain. High growth rates in the service sector are expected to continue, especially as tourism becomes more prominent in the area.

History

The earliest records of settled civilization in Andalusia describe colonial occupation in Pre-Roman times. In the early 12th century B.C.E. the Phoenician empire formed colonies along the coast to help with trade. The settlement founded by the Phoenicians was called Tartessos, which later rose to become a major political force in the region.

The colonies of the Phoenicians eventually declined in power following the dissolution of the Phoenician empire. The next major political force to emerge in the regian was the city of Carthage, whose emphasis on trade gave the straits of Gibraltor and the Andalusia region economic importance. As a trading center, Carthage saw the economic value of controlling the strait, and began a campaign to gain control of the region. Between the first and second Carthaginian wars, Carhage extended its power over Andalusia, using the coast to launch many of its invasions into Roman territory. Carthage, however, was unsucessful in its campaign against Rome. With the decline of Carthage, Andalusia remained for a brief period without a strong political identity. Rome stepped in to fill the power vacuum, renaming the area Betica.

Roman control over the area did not last long, with the area briefly falling under the control of the Vandals. As the Vandals passed through the region on their way to North Africa, they took control of Andalusia. Following their brief occupation, the Visigoths took control, only to be replaced by Muslim rule in the early 8th centuey C.E. The Muslim invasion proved to be an extrememly influential action in the formation of a distinct Andalusian identity. Under Muslim rule, Andalusia became an extrememly wealthy and influential political force that actively cultivated scholarship and advances in medicine.

In 1248 C.E. Seville fell to Castilian rule. After the fall of Seville, the Andalusia region became to experience a large influx of Moors who were fleeing the Reconquista. The Moorish influx contributed significantly to the Andalusian culture that is apparent today. Moorish influences were particularly strong in architecture, with prominent examples found at the Alhambra and the Giralda towers.

Andalusia began its own distict political force in 1978, when the Spanish constitution established historical nationalities. Historical nationalities in Spain, like Andalusia, were granted a special, autonomous status that was based on the idea that the area contained a specific nationality. Another major idea behind historical nationalites was their supposed independence from Spain as a whole. Under this idea Historical Nationalies were areas that were considered culturally independent prior to the second Spanish War. Andalusia is one of only four such regions in Spain, with the other historical nationaties found in Catalonia, Basque, and Galicia. Many other communities in Spain were recognized as a result of the constitution, but other communities were not granted the political and cultural independence of historical nationalities.

Culture

The modern day culture of Andalusia draws heavily on its Morrish history. It is considered to be one of the most colorful regions of Spain, with ornemantation playing a large role in clothing. Dance and music are also vital to the culture of Andalusia, with the most popular performance dance being the flamenco. Flamenco, while most often performed by Roma gypsies in its nativeland, has gained popularity around the globe. Two distinct types of flamenco exist in Andalusia, those which are choreographed, and those which are not. Unchoreagraphed flamenco dance is refered to as cante jondo, and has a less structured musical rhythm than choreographed flamenco.

External links

• Official Tourism Website of AndalusiaRetrieved November 18, 2007.
• History of the Andalusian FlagRetrieved November 18, 2007.
• Andalucia Photo and History PagesRetrieved November 18, 2007.
• Fairs and Festivals in Andalusia Retrieved November 18, 2007.
• AndalusiaRetrieved November 18, 2007.

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