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Spain Facts & Worksheets

Officially known as the Kingdom of Spain, Spain is located on the Iberian Peninsula in Europe, bordered by Portugal in the east, south of France, and almost completely surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea.

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Officially known as the Kingdom of Spain, Spain is located on the Iberian Peninsula in Europe, bordered by Portugal in the east, south of France, and almost completely surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. Madrid is the capital of Spain.

See the fact file below for more information on the Spain or alternatively, you can download our 21-page Spain worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

  • Early in its history, Spain was under Roman rule for six centuries. The Romans left four influential social elements in Spain, including the Latin language, Roman law, the municipality, and Catholicism.
  • By the end of the 6th century, Suevi and the Vandals entered Spain after the collapse of the Roman Empire. However, they were defeated by the Visigoths.
  • In the 8th century, Arabs entered southern Spain. They conquered much of Spain which divided the Muslim period into three: the Emirate, the Caliphate, and the Reinos de Taifas.
  • In 1469, Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon married which united the two kingdoms and formed the Catholic monarchs supreme power. This union marked the beginning of the golden age of Spain.
  • In 1492, Isabella and Ferdinand reconquered Granada from the Arabs which resulted in Spain’s funding of Christopher Columbus’s exploration and later discovery of America.
  • In 1495, the Canary Islands became part of the Spanish territory. In addition, the Kingdom of Naples and Navarre became part of the Spanish Kingdom.
  • By the 16th and 17th century, the Spanish Empire became one of the world’s superpowers.
  • The Habsburg dynasty ended after the War of Succession and followed by the Bourbons.
  • In 1713, the British occupation of the Rock of Gibraltar was formalized under the Treaty of Utrecht. By 1808, Joseph Bonaparte succeeded the Spanish throne after the invasion of Napoleon.
  • In 1898, the Spanish-American War resulted in the loss of Spanish control over Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.

FLAG

  • In 1978, Spain adopted its current flag as mandated by the Constitution. The flag consists of three horizontal stripes: red, yellow, red. The yellow stripe in the middle is twice the size of each red stripe. Both yellow and red are traditional Spanish colors, which is also used in their coat of arms located off-center toward the hoist.

PEOPLE AND CULTURE

  • As of March 2019, Spain has 46, 429, 567 inhabitants. About 75% are Spaniards, 16% Catalans, 6.5% Galicians, and 2% Basques.
  • Spain’s official language is Castilian, but many also speak Basque, Catalan, and Galician. The official religion has been Roman Catholic since 589. Among the traditions intertwined with religion is the sacredness of baptism, marriage, and burial.
  • By the second half of the 20th century, the field of sports in Spain is dominated by football. In addition, bullfighting is also popular. Every year, the Running of the Bulls Festival is held on Fermina’s Day in July.
  • Culturally, Spain is known for Flamenco music and dance. Held every August, La Tomatina is the largest food fight, wherein thousands of people throw tomatoes in the streets of Spain.
  • The famous Sagrada Familia Church has been under construction for over 130 years. Moreover, the Tower of Hercules, the oldest lighthouse in the world constructed in the 1st century, is located in Spain.
  • Don Quixote written by Spaniard Cervantes in 1605 is considered as the first modern novel.
  • There are 47 World Heritage Sites all throughout Spain, which includes historic cities and buildings.
  • Spanish is the second most-spoken language in the world. As a matter of fact, there are more Spanish-speaking people in America than in Spain.
  • The national anthem of Spain has no words.

GOVERNMENT

  • Spain was one of the first countries that practiced constitutional monarchy in history. As of 2014, King Felipe VI served as the king of Spain after the abdication of his father King Juan Carlos I.
  • As a sovereign, the king of Spain serves as the chief of state and it passes through inheritance. The executive branch is headed by the President of the Government, which is similar to prime minister. The head is the presider of the Council of Ministers and is elected by the National Assembly as proposed by the monarch.
  • The legislative branch is composed of the Congress of Deputies, which consists of 350 members who are elected by popular vote every four years. The Senate has 259 seats from combined popular vote and appointment from the regional legislature.
  • Spaniards are allowed to vote at the age of 18.
  • The Supreme Court is the highest judicial body and consists of professional judges and magistrates.
  • Spain is divided into 17 autonomous communities, including the following: Aragon, Andalusia, Asturias, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Catalonia, Valencia, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarre, and Basque Country.
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Madrid, Spain

Spain Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Spain across 21 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Spain worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Spain, officially known as the Kingdom of Spain, which is located on the Iberian Peninsula in Europe, bordered by Portugal in the east, south of France, and almost completely surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. Madrid is the capital of Spain.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Spain Facts
  • Spanish History
  • Let’s Dance!
  • Tour Around Spain
  • The Spanish Empire
  • Roman Influence
  • Crossing Spain
  • The Catholic Monarchs
  • La Sagrada Familia
  • Spain and the New World
  • Then and Now

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Link will appear as Spain Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, June 7, 2019

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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